Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Air Traffic Technician

🎯 Role Definition

An Air Traffic Technician is a specialized maintenance professional responsible for the installation, troubleshooting, calibration, repair and ongoing maintenance of air traffic control (ATC) systems and ground-based navigation, surveillance and communications equipment. This role ensures 24/7 operational availability of radar, ADS‑B, SSR/PSR, ILS/VOR/DME and voice/data communications infrastructure while complying with regulatory standards (FAA/EASA/ICAO) and organizational safety policies. The ideal candidate blends hands-on electronics and RF experience with strong documentation practices, avionics-oriented diagnostics, vendor coordination, and customer-facing communication with air traffic controllers and operational teams.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Avionics Technician (civilian or military)
Electronics Technician or Maintenance Electrician
Radar or Communications Specialist (military/industry)

Advancement To:

Senior Air Traffic Technician / Lead Technician
Air Traffic Systems Engineer / Systems Integrator
Maintenance Supervisor / Operations Maintenance Manager
ATSEP (Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel) or certification-based specialist

Lateral Moves:

Field Service Technician (avionics/ground systems)
Calibration Laboratory Technician
Technical Trainer or Documentation Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform end-to-end preventive maintenance, fault isolation, repair and calibration of ATC surveillance systems (primary/secondary radar, SSR, PSR) and associated signal processing equipment to ensure continuous detection and tracking of aircraft.
Inspect, maintain and calibrate navigation aids including ILS (localizer/glide path), VOR, DME and marker beacons, ensuring alignment, signal integrity and compliance with technical tolerances and regulatory performance requirements.
Troubleshoot and repair radio communication systems (VHF/UHF, HF where applicable), intercoms and remote communications units; diagnose RF signal path problems using spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes and communication test sets.
Install, configure and maintain ADS‑B receivers, multilateration (MLAT) systems and associated network interfaces to support surveillance redundancy and data fusion for ATC systems.
Conduct software and firmware updates for controllers, data processors and field equipment following approved change control and configuration management procedures; validate post‑update performance and roll back if required.
Execute scheduled and unscheduled maintenance during planned outages and emergency events, coordinating closely with air traffic control personnel to minimize operational impact and ensure safety.
Perform system-level acceptance testing and commissioning of new or upgraded ATC equipment, prepare test reports and verify performance against manufacturer and regulatory specifications.
Maintain accurate maintenance logs, service records and technical reports in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), ensuring traceability for audits and safety investigations.
Read, interpret and apply technical drawings, wiring schematics, RF system diagrams and manufacturer manuals to support effective maintenance and modifications.
Utilize diagnostic tools (multimeters, insulation testers, signal generators, spectrum analyzers, time domain reflectometers) to identify component, cable or subsystem failures and effect repairs.
Manage spare parts inventory for field sites, recommend replenishment levels, liaise with procurement and vendors to expedite critical components and maintain spares to support rapid recovery.
Provide on-call support as part of a rotating duty roster for night/weekend emergencies, responding to remote alarms, performing remote diagnostics and dispatching field support where necessary.
Implement grounding, bonding and lightning protection maintenance tasks for antenna sites and equipment shelters to preserve system reliability and personnel safety during adverse conditions.
Coordinate with vendors, OEM technical support and external contractors for warranty repairs, upgrades and technical escalations; evaluate vendor proposals for technical and cost effectiveness.
Participate in incident investigations and root-cause analysis after equipment failures; develop corrective actions, preventive measures and lessons learned to improve system uptime.
Execute alignment and calibration procedures for precision timing, phase alignment and synchronization across surveillance and navigation networks to maintain coherent system performance.
Conduct site visits to remote radar and communications installations, performing site surveys, site acceptance activities and routine infrastructure checks (power systems, fuel/backup generators, HVAC).
Support air traffic controllers and operational staff with system status briefings, technical explanations of faults and recommended mitigations to enable safe continuity of service.
Enforce and promote occupational health, electrical safety and RF exposure procedures while working at heights, confined spaces and antenna towers; ensure compliance with local and international safety rules.
Participate in upgrade planning and systems integration projects, providing technical input on feasibility, testing requirements and potential operational impacts during cutover and implementation.
Support frequency management activities by coordinating with spectrum authorities, updating frequency assignment records and ensuring transmitter emissions comply with regulatory allocations.
Calibrate and verify measurement instruments and test equipment on a scheduled basis or after repairs to ensure measurement traceability and repeatability.
Maintain and update technical documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and preventive maintenance checklists to reflect system changes and continuous improvement.
Execute network troubleshooting for IP-based ATC systems, including VLANs, SNMP monitoring, NTP and time synchronization, cybersecurity patch verification and physical cabling checks.
Provide mentorship, on-the-job training and technical guidance to junior technicians and apprentices, promoting skills development and knowledge transfer within the maintenance team.

Secondary Functions

Assist in developing maintenance plans, reliability improvement programs and spare parts strategies that align with operational KPIs and safety targets.
Support internal audits, regulatory inspections and certification activities by preparing evidence, presenting maintenance records and validating corrective actions.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives—standardizing procedures, reducing mean time to repair (MTTR) and documenting best practices for field maintenance.
Participate in cross-functional project teams for system upgrades, facility improvements and new site rollouts, offering technical requirements and risk assessments.
Provide input to technical procurement specifications for replacement equipment, upgrade modules and test instruments to meet long-term performance and maintainability goals.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proven experience troubleshooting and maintaining ATC surveillance systems: primary radar, secondary radar (SSR) and PSR/SSR data processing.
Strong understanding of navigation aids (ILS, VOR, DME) including alignment, calibration and flight inspection support.
RF and microwave knowledge: signal propagation, antennas, feedlines, transmission loss, VSWR and interference mitigation.
Proficiency with test equipment: spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope, time domain reflectometer (TDR), signal generator, power meters and antenna analyzers.
Familiarity with ADS‑B, multilateration (MLAT), flight data interfaces and sensor fusion concepts.
Experience with IP networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, VLAN, SNMP), NTP/time synchronization and basic network troubleshooting.
Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, block diagrams and manufacturer technical manuals.
Experience with maintenance management systems (CMMS) such as IBM Maximo or similar for logging work orders and tracking MTTR/MTBF metrics.
Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and standards (FAA, EASA, ICAO, ITU) and experience supporting compliance and inspection activities.
Competence in performing firmware/software updates, rollback procedures and configuration management for field equipment.
Skilled in calibration, measurement uncertainty, and maintaining traceable calibration records for test equipment.
Practical experience working at heights, antenna towers and remote field sites, including safe operation of tower climbing equipment and fall protection.
Proficient in diagnostic methodologies and root-cause analysis (RCA) tools to identify systemic faults and implement corrective actions.
Familiarity with electrical safety, grounding/bonding practices and EMC/EMI mitigation for sensitive avionics and communications equipment.

Soft Skills

Clear, concise communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders, including air traffic controllers, operations managers and vendors.
Strong attention to detail and disciplined documentation habits for maintenance logs and regulatory compliance.
Problem-solving mindset with the ability to prioritize tasks under pressure during service degradations and emergency repairs.
Team-oriented approach to collaborate effectively across engineering, operations and procurement teams.
Time management and scheduling skills to handle preventive maintenance windows, on-call response and multiple concurrent tasks.
Customer service focus to minimize operational impact and maintain positive working relationships with ATC personnel.
Adaptability to evolving technology, procedural changes and work environments (indoor equipment rooms to outdoor antenna sites).
Mentorship and coaching ability to develop junior technicians and share institutional knowledge.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent plus a technical certificate in electronics, avionics, RF communications or related trade.

Preferred Education:

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering Technology, Avionics, Electrical Engineering or Telecommunications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Avionics / Aircraft Electronics
Electrical / Electronics Engineering
Telecommunications / RF Engineering
Instrumentation and Control
Computer Networking / Information Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–7 years of hands-on electronics or avionics maintenance experience; 2–4 years minimum in ATC-related systems preferred.

Preferred:

3–5+ years specifically on ATC surveillance, navigation and communication systems or equivalent military experience (radar/communications technician).
Experience with regulatory compliance (FAA/EASA/ICAO) and participation in field trials, site acceptance tests or flight inspections.

Certifications & Clearance (Recommended)

ATSEP certification (where applicable) or equivalent air traffic systems safety/electronics certification.
FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License, or national equivalent for transmitter operations.
Manufacturer-specific certifications for radar, ADS‑B, ILS and communications equipment.
Occupational safety certifications: working at heights, confined space entry, electrical safety and first aid/CPR.
Security clearance or airport ID/access privileges as required by employer/airport authority.

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