Belgocontrol - Become an Air Traffic Controller

Become an Air Traffic Controller

Competitive Recruitment Exam 2010

In March 2010 a competitive recruitment exam for candidate air traffic controllers for the Air Traffic Services will take place with a view to build up a recruitment reserve. In order to participate in this competitive recruitment exam you can apply by means of the Application Form Candidate Air Traffic Controller
until 8 February 2010.

Applications must be sent to the following address :

Belgocontrol
Service Ressources Humaines
Gestion des Recrutements et Carrières
att. of Eric Habils
Tervuursesteenweg 303
1820 STEENOKKERZEEL

All detailed information about the competitive recruitment exam and the entrance and application requirements can be found below.

Important documents :

For more details on the participation conditions for the recruitment exam and on the job of ATCO, please consult:

Entrance Requirements

Medical Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Application Form

The recruitment exam will take place starting March 2010 until (approximately) June 2010. The candidates who succesfully pass through the recruitment exam will be included in a recruitment reserve. This recruitment reserve is valid for a 2 year period (with possibility of extension) and will be called upon at the moment an ATCO training course will be organised by Belgocontrol.

The training

To become an air traffic controller (ATCO – Air Traffic COntroller), you need dedication and personal commitment. Our training plan will help you to reach your peak.

The training to become an air traffic controller comprises two important successive phases:

Basic Training (Ab initio): this phase enables you to become acquainted with aviation and your future working environment in the broad sense of the term. The theoretical part includes, among others, aviation law, aircraft and flight rules, meteorology, operational procedures. For practice, you will work on the first exercises in the simulators and in the operational room for your first steps on the spot.
Rating Training: qualification training after which you will obtain your air traffic controller licence. During this phase, you will specialize in ‘tower air traffic controller’ (ADR), ‘approach air traffic controller’ (APS) or ‘en-route air traffic controller’ (ACS).

Both phases consist of theoretical and practical courses and include an on-the-job training. The whole training, conducted in English, takes about 2 to 3 years. You will receive a salary from the first day of your training onwards, but your definitive appointment is subject to the passing of all training phases.

The job

The air traffic controller works in a technological, dynamic and flexible environment where responsibility and professionalism are the priorities. This means flexible working hours, but also a genuine development of the employees’ personality and a very attractive salary plus a very interesting social benefit schemes.

Career prospects are interesting and varied: expert or manager in the Departments ATS Operations or ATS Strategy and Planning, instructor in our Training Centre or a representative of the company in international forums.

Admission conditions and prerequisites

To participate in the recruitment exams, you must:

Be Belgian or citizen of the European Union.
Enjoy full civil and political rights.
Comply with the conscription laws.
At least be holder of a higher secondary school diploma or equivalent. Holders of a higher diploma beyond secondary school level and students in their final year of higher secondary school are also welcome.
Have a good knowledge of English.
Be prepared to undergo a medical examination. In order to give you an idea of the examination criteria, please consult the Medical Requirements.
Have the following qualities: motivation, perseverance, stress resistant, team player (24hours a day), an aptitude for analytical thinking, a good capacity of judgement, a sense for synthesis as well as a high level of concentration.