Embry-Riddle Prescott Adds Air Traffic Management Program
New Bachelor of Science program will train students to be Air Traffic Controllers
Prescott, AZ, February 25, 2010
Students conduct simulations in the Prescott Campus air traffic control tower simulators and the terminal radar approach control (TRACON) laboratory.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is pleased to announce the addition of a Bachelor of Science in Air Traffic Management (ATM) program at the Prescott, AZ. campus. The new ATM program is designed to provide qualified applicants with the necessary skills to fill FAA Air Traffic Control specialist positions. Embry-Riddle is one of the few training schools authorized to enroll students under the FAA Collegiate Training Initiative.
This degree is designed for students who endeavor to become an air traffic controller or seek employment in a related industry. The academic courses provide exposure to the procedures and operations consistent with those found in Federal Aviation Administration air traffic facilities. The ATM curriculum provides the knowledge and foundation designated by the FAA for eventual student entry into the FAA Academy where they will be integrated with graduates from other Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) schools for additional air traffic control training.
Embry-Riddle has a formal partnership agreement with the FAA that designates the university as an FAA-approved air traffic control training school. This partnership ensures that the learning objectives and the standards of student achievement are relevant to the needs of the FAA.
Students in the ATM major will get hands-on industry-advantage instruction from experienced faculty while working in Embry-Riddle's new Air Traffic Control Lab which has a tower simulator and terminal radar approach control (TRACON) laboratory.
Dr. Cass Howell, Dean for the College of Aviation, states, "The job outlook for our graduates from the ATM program is very promising. Our students will be equipped with the knowledge, skill sets, professional attitude, and real-world experience to be some of the best in the system. I am proud to be part of this exciting opportunity."
Air Traffic Controllers are responsible for monitoring and directing the movement of commercial airplanes, helicopters, and recreational aircraft within a designated airspace. They also send information to such aircraft and regulate the movement of aircraft and service vehicles on the ground. Air Traffic Controllers work at airports and enroute centers that track and assist aircraft movement. Over the next decade, 85% of U.S. Air Traffic Controllers (14,000) will be eligible for retirement. Graduates of the Embry-Riddle program will have the advantage of securing these positions, which are among the highest paid in government service.
To celebrate the new program, Embry-Riddle's College of Aviation will host an Open House for the New Air Traffic Control Lab, located in Building 50, on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event will showcase the technology being used by students in the ATM major.
For more information on Embry-Riddle's new Air Traffic Management major, contact Bob Fiegl, Chairman of the Aeronautical Science Dept. at 928-777-3882 or Robert.Fiegl@erau.edu. Individuals interested in learning more about any of our degree programs, admissions standards, and available scholarships should visit the Embry-Riddle Prescott website or contact the Admissions Office.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 40 baccalaureate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business and Engineering. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., and through the Worldwide Campus with more than 150 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada and the Middle East. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit http://www.embryriddle.edu, follow us on Twitter (@EmbryRiddle) and facebook.com/EmbryRiddleUniversity, and find expert videos at YouTube.com/EmbryRiddleUniv.
