Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Quick apply
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Quick apply
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Quick apply
Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller. * Individuals must ... forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather ...
Forward Air Controller information
See salary details
$55K - $66K
1% of jobs
$66K - $76.9K
4% of jobs
$76.9K - $87.9K
9% of jobs
$97.2K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$87.9K - $98.8K
13% of jobs
$98.8K - $109.8K
15% of jobs
The median wage is $115.6K / yr.
$109.8K - $120.7K
15% of jobs
$120.7K - $131.7K
15% of jobs
$134.7K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$131.7K - $142.6K
11% of jobs
$142.6K - $153.6K
9% of jobs
$153.6K - $164.5K
5% of jobs
$164.5K - $175.5K
3% of jobs
$55K
$119.5K
$175.5K
How much do forward air controller jobs pay per year?
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Forward Air Controller, and why are they important?
What are the main challenges Forward Air Controllers face when coordinating between ground and air units?
What are Forward Air Controllers?
What is the difference between Forward Air Controller vs Forward Observer?
| Aspect | Forward Air Controller | Forward Observer |
|---|---|---|
| Certifications | Military aviation and combat training, sometimes specialized certifications | Military or tactical communication training, basic observation skills |
| Work Environment | Combat zones, military operations, airstrikes coordination | Field operations, tactical observation, artillery or air support coordination |
| Employer & Industry | Military, defense, combat units | Military, tactical units, defense operations |
Both roles involve coordinating support in military operations, but Forward Air Controllers primarily direct airstrikes and coordinate aircraft, while Forward Observers focus on observing and relaying target information for artillery or air support. The roles overlap in communication skills and tactical environment, but their specific responsibilities and training differ.

Full-time
Posted 20 days ago
Job description
SUMMARY:
Responsible for the safe, orderly, andexpeditiousflow of air traffic control duties inaVisualFlight Rules (VFR) Airport Traffic Control Tower.
DIMENSIONS OF POSITION:
Works under the general supervision of the tower manager who relies on the incumbent to perform established duties independently. On new or revised procedures, the manager gives detailed instructions andobservesand checks work, during orimmediatelyafter completion, according to the complexity of the task until satisfied the incumbent can perform it independently.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Must have a minimum of (2) years of experience as an Air Traffic Controller.
- Individuals must have a current orpreviousControl Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) Certificate and a current Class II Medical Certificate.
- Individuals must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating for a minimum of two years in an Air Traffic Control Tower.
- The position is subject to drug and/or alcohol testing per the DOT/FAA requirements (pre-employment, random, reasonable cause/suspicion, post-accident).
ACCOUNTABILITY:
Makingdecisions involving:
- The order of departures willensureallaircraftequitabletreatment and willensurethatdepartingInstrument Flight Rules(IFR)flightsoperateat thefixedaltitude, andthe timedesignatedby the center or approach control clearances.
- The times and direction of takeoff and any turn necessary after departure.
- Whether inboundaircraftis to landimmediatelyor circle and whether distances are lengthened to control the arrival ofan aircraftat a given point.
- The active runway and possible simultaneous use of other runways.
- The time and methods by which arrivals and departures can be interspersed with the least delay to traffic.
- When landing anddeparting,aircraftare cleared to use the runways toensurestandard separation betweenaircrafton the runways.
- The sequence of arriving traffic, before it enters the traffic pattern, toensurea safe, orderly flow ofaircrafton the final approach to the landing runway.
- Endure thatInstrument Flight Rules (IFR)separation standards are applied, as delegated by approach control or the center, in limited areas around the airport to provide initial separation between IFR arrivals and IFR departures and between successive IFR departures.
- The sequence ofVisual Flight Rules (VFR)andInstrument Flight Rules (IFR)traffic, and when delegated, using radar equipment to provide initial separation for arrival verse arrival and arrival verse departure IFR traffic.
- WhenVisual Flight Rules (VFR)flights through the ClassD airspacecan be authorized.
Determinesthe usability of communications frequencies and other navigational aids used to control air traffic. Monitors navigational aids and control panels, including tower radar display todeterminethe acceptability of its alignment and display presentation. Instructs pilots to change radio frequencies/transponder codes.
- Whenappropriate, coordinate with other controllers on the movement of both arrival and departureaircraft.
- When traffic conditionswarrant, controllers in non-approach terminalsare responsible for:
- Preplanning traffic sequencing and separation over an area, which may reach out to a radius of 5 miles or more.
- Preplanning and setting up checkpointsrequiredto ensure the maintenance of necessary traffic separation.
- Maintaining a continuous mental picture and evaluation of constantly changing traffic, frequency dispersed throughout his/her area of jurisdictional responsibility.
- Maintaining continuous radio watch withaircraftthat have previously contacted the facility.
MANAGINGInstrument Flight Rules (IFR)TRAFFIC FOR AIRPORT:
- Studies weather reports and forecasts, obtain LAWRS/SAWRS weather certification, observes weather from the tower, and records pilot reports to determine the effect of present and anticipated weather on traffic; furnishes aircraft with information such as field conditions, altimeter settings, weather conditions, operating status of navigational aids, and observed malfunctioning of aircraft; forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather reports and reports based upon personal observation of weather conditions; operate light guns, runway lights, field lighting, jet barriers, etc.
- Orients pilots ofaircraftlost or in difficulty;determineswhether a given situation may develop into an emergency; and notifies airlines operations offices, airport management offices, and airport rescue and firefighting services.
- Performs lower grade level duties as necessary to meet operational requirementsandproficiencymaintenance.
- ProvidesOn-the-job (OJT)training to others.