Among Nation's Top Four, Best Among Private Schools
Long-recognized for its
nationally-accredited Air Traffic Control (ATC) Management Program,
Daniel Webster College was pleased to learn recently its program
ranked #1 in New England -- and #4 in the nation -- among the
FAA-approved CTI (College Training Initiatives) colleges and
universities. The college was also the top private institution for
Air Traffic Control programs, with the first three being public
colleges or universities.
Air traffic control consists of communicating to pilots and
maintaining aircraft separation with the use of radar and radio
communication. Air traffic controllers are set up all over the
world, including all of the busy airports. Controllers abide by
Federal Aviation regulations and work in a control tower or a dark
room in front of a monitor watching the aircraft on radar, while
maintaining contact with them within a certain airspace.
Daniel Webster's ATC programs include courses in federal
regulations, math, law, and ATC labs, along with required ATC
courses. DWC's program is a 4-year program leading to a bachelor's
degree and rapid placement in the career field, and it is one of
only 23 nationwide programs recognized by the FAA as part of its
Collegiate Training Initiative.
The FAA implemented these partnership agreements in October
1997. CTI colleges will serve as one of the primary hiring sources
for FAA air traffic control specialists during the next ten
years.
Daniel Webster's ATC baccalaureate program recently saw
significant upgrades to its simulation facilities. Housed in The
Business Center and DWC, adjacent to the Nicholas N. Tamposi
Aviation Center a short walk from campus, the ATC's facilities
boast new radar and air traffic control tower simulators that
provide very high fidelity simulations of the tower, terminal
radar, and en-route radar environments.
The radar simulator is a full voice-recognition system for
highly realistic simulation of the procedures used in the control
of air traffic.
The tower simulation is based upon a very high-quality,
three-screen visual display system allowing for simulations of a
wide variety of training scenarios for an air traffic control
tower.
Daniel Webster teaches a variety of skills and knowledge that go
beyond FAA standards, ensuring that graduates will be well prepared
to begin working as an air traffic controller.
Students learn CRM (crew resource management), which provides
the ability to work as a team and accomplish tasks within a group
setting. Because the field requires controllers to work with other
controllers, with each controlling a sector of the radarscope, DWC
provides its students with the required skills to handle group
work.
DWC also offers sector management and other ATC management
programs to give graduates the experience and skills needed in the
management field of ATC.
Daniel Webster ATC graduates may qualify for appointment as Air
Traffic Control Specialists with the Federal Aviation
Administration.
Additionally, they possess the broad education, management, and
communication skills to serve effectively in supervisory or
management positions with the Air Traffic Division of the FAA,
supervisory or management positions in a variety of aviation
business settings, or for continued education in an appropriate
masters degree program.
DWC students who have graduated with a bachelor's degree in ATC
have done well, according to Provost Dr. Michael Fishbein. With a
few years of experience, ATC DWC graduates can expect to make
$75,000 to $100,000.
Daniel Webster's ATC program was among the 13 original programs
approved by the CTI.