ATSA Practice Test 2024 Air Traffic Controller Aptitude Test: Try our free Air Traffic Selection and Training Aptitude Test (AT-SAT) review question answers. It will help your ATSA Test Prep better. Air Traffic Control Career Prep was written with two purposes in mind. First, to introduce the reader to the aviation industry, the role of the FAA, and what to expect as one pursues a career in air traffic control.
Secondly, it will discuss the general format of the Air Traffic Selection and Training Aptitude Test (AT-SAT) and give readers ample practice sets to study in preparation for that test. We provide pertinent information about an air traffic control career designed to help readers improve their chances of earning a high score on the test and becoming a candidate for an air traffic control position.
ATSA Practice Test 2024
AT-SAT Exam
The Air Traffic Selection and Training (AT-SAT) Examination is divided into eight separate parts: seven cognitive tests and one non-cognitive. The cognitive tests are Applied Math, Air Traffic Scenarios, Scan, Letter Factory, Analogies, Angles, and Dial Reading. The non-cognitive measuring portion of the AT-SAT, the “Experience Questionnaire,” is now called the Biographical Questionnaire (BQ) and is completed at the front end of the application process.
FAA Air Traffic Control System
The FAA provides air traffic services for the world’s largest and busiest airspace. Thousands of aircraft are guided safely and expeditiously daily through America’s National Airspace System to their destinations.
The United States has had a federal air traffic control (ATC) system since 1935. Today’s FAA results from many citizens, pilots, legislators, airline companies, military services, and government agencies seeking ways best to serve this country’s aviation interests and needs.
The FAA is not independent; it is part of the Department of Transportation (DOT). The Secretary of Transportation manages the DOT, a cabinet-level position secured by direct presidential appointment and confirmed by Congress. The NAS comprises air traffic control, airports, airmen, aircraft, and airways. (Think of them as highways in the sky.) The FAA employs over 45,000 people to keep the airways and airspace safe and ensure the efficient use of the NAS 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Training & Qualifications
To become an air traffic controller, a person must pass a pre-employment test that measures his or her ability to learn the controller’s duties to qualify for job openings. The Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program is one of several methods used by the FAA to recruit and hire controller applicants; the others include military veterans, military retirees (Phoenix-20 program), FAA reinstatements (PATCO), Flight Service employees, AT-SAT direct hire, and Academy applications.
As of November 2013, the AT-SAT pre-employment test is offered only to students in the CTI program, but this might change if the FAA decides to hire again from the general population (known as “off-the-street”). In addition, applicants must have 3 years of full-time work experience, four years of college, or a combination of both. Combining education and experience, 1 year of undergraduate study (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) equals nine months of work experience.
ATSA Study Guide
Some further good sources of background and study materials are as follows (check for the most current versions of the FAA Orders at www.faa.gov/atpubs/):
• Air Traffic Control (FAA Order 7110.65)
• Facility Operation and Administration (FAA Order 7210.3)
• Air Traffic Technical Training (FAA Order 3120.4)
• Aeronautical Information Manual
• Fundamentals of Air Traffic Control, by Michael S. Nolan, 5th Edition (Cengage Learning, 2010), ISBN 978-1-4354-8272-2
• ATCsimulator®2 provides a re-creation of approach/departure control (TRACON) for the MS Windows PC. www.atcsimulator.com
• TOWER CAB is the NextGen 3D tower simulator for the MS Windows PC. www.towercab.com
The software includes the AT scenarios practice test and is available for download (www.asa2fly.com/reader/atc). These websites also may help:
ATCSimulator2: http://www.atcsimulator.com/
Big Fat Aviation Simulations: http://www.bigfatsimulations.com