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Resume example

Air traffic controller resume example

An air traffic controller in France keeps aircraft safely separated and the traffic flowing, from the tower of an airport to the en-route control centres that manage the upper airspace.

In a tower, the controller clears aircraft to taxi, take off and land; in an approach unit, they sequence arrivals and departures around a busy airport; in an en-route centre (CRNA), they work in pairs on a radar sector, one talking to pilots and the other coordinating with neighbouring sectors. The work is done in short, intense periods of attention with mandatory breaks, on rotating shifts covering days, nights, weekends and holidays. Controllers also train regularly on simulators, keep their unit endorsements current and pass medical checks. At small aerodromes, AFIS agents give flight information without issuing clearances.

Resume example

[First name Last name]

Air Traffic Controller | Approach and Tower Ratings, [Airport]

[City] · [phone] · [email]

Profile

Licensed air traffic controller with aerodrome and approach ratings, [x] years at [Airport]. On-the-job training instructor (OJTI) endorsement. Experience of peak summer traffic, low visibility procedures and runway works.

Experience

Air Traffic Controller, Approach and Tower, [Airport]

[month year] to present

  • Controlled arrivals and departures on approach radar and tower positions, including mixed general aviation and commercial traffic
  • Applied low visibility procedures during winter fog episodes in coordination with airport operations
  • Trained [x] student controllers on the tower position as OJTI
  • Took part in the safety study before the introduction of a new departure procedure
  • Wrote incident reports and contributed to local safety meetings

Resume headlines

  • Air Traffic Controller | Approach and Tower Ratings, [Airport]
  • En-route Air Traffic Controller | Radar Sector Endorsements, On-the-job Training Instructor
  • Student Air Traffic Controller | ENAC Course, Fluent French and English

Summaries for your profile

Entry level

Engineering graduate preparing the competitive exam for air traffic controllers. Pilot licence holder (PPL) with radio experience in French and English. Strong spatial reasoning and calm under pressure, tested in [context].

Experienced

Licensed air traffic controller with aerodrome and approach ratings, [x] years at [Airport]. On-the-job training instructor (OJTI) endorsement. Experience of peak summer traffic, low visibility procedures and runway works.

Career change

Former military air traffic controller moving to civil aviation. I hold experience of radar approach control on a busy military airfield, including mixed civil and military traffic, and want to join a civil unit after completing the required conversion.

Tips

  • Present your licence, ratings and unit endorsements clearly with their validity dates.
  • Mention your English language proficiency level as stated on your licence.
  • Include instructor roles, safety work and project participation, which matter for career progression.
  • For students, show how you prepared for the exam (scientific level, English, aviation knowledge).
  • Mention a PPL or gliding experience: it shows you understand the pilot's side.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Listing airports without saying which ratings and positions you held there.
  • Presenting unit endorsements from another country as if they carried over: each French unit requires its own local training.
  • Overloading the CV with technical system names that recruiters outside your unit will not recognise.
  • Forgetting your medical certificate class and validity.

Working as an air traffic controller in France

In France, civil air traffic control is provided mainly by the DSNA, part of the DGAC, and controllers are civil servants (ingénieurs du contrôle de la navigation aérienne, ICNA). Recruitment goes through a competitive exam with education and nationality conditions, followed by training at ENAC and on-the-job qualification in a unit. The job requires a European controller licence, unit endorsements, a class 3 medical certificate and English proficiency. AFIS agents work at smaller aerodromes and military controllers serve in the armed forces. Search for « contrôleur aérien », « ICNA », « aiguilleur du ciel » or « agent AFIS ».

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Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign air traffic controller work in France?

Most French controllers are civil servants of the DGAC, recruited through a competitive exam with nationality and education conditions. An EU licence holder may have a path, but endorsements are specific to each unit and require local training. Check the current recruitment rules with the DGAC before applying.

Is a CV useful if recruitment is through a competitive exam?

For the public exam, the file and the exam results matter most. A CV is still needed for AFIS posts, private aerodrome operators, international organisations and posts abroad. It also helps in interviews and later internal applications.

Should I mention my pilot licence?

Yes. A PPL or gliding licence shows familiarity with flying, radio and airspace. Put it in a short section after your main qualifications, with the date obtained and your total hours if they are significant.

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