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Transport & Logistics · Updated Aug 2026

Air Traffic Controllers

Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport, and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers, according to established procedures and policies. Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
63/100
High

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
53/100
Moderate

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence82/100
Task coverage86%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.High
72
Direct ground traffic, including taxiing aircraft, maintenance or baggage vehicles, or airport workers.High
73
Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.High
70
Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.High
72
Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.High
73
Determine the timing or procedures for flight vector changes.High
71
Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references.High
56
Check conditions and traffic at different altitudes in response to pilots' requests for altitude changes.High
72
Relay air traffic information, such as courses, altitudes, or expected arrival times, to control centers.High
72
Compile information about flights from flight plans, pilot reports, radar, or observations.High
71
Organize flight plans or traffic management plans to prepare for planes about to enter assigned airspace.High
64
Inspect, adjust, or control radio equipment or airport lights.High
55
Analyze factors such as weather reports, fuel requirements, or maps to determine air routes.High
71
Conduct pre-flight briefings on weather conditions, suggested routes, altitudes, indications of turbulence, or other flight safety information.High
72
Complete daily activity reports and keep records of messages from aircraft.Medium
71
Review records or reports for clarity and completeness and maintain records or reports, as required under federal law.Medium
71
Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.High
22
Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement.High
24
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Direct ground traffic, including taxiing aircraft, maintenance or baggage vehicles, or airport workers.73
  2. Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.73
  3. Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.72
  4. Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.72
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.01
  2. Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement.02
  3. Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.03
  4. Direct ground traffic, including taxiing aircraft, maintenance or baggage vehicles, or airport workers.04
  5. Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

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Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency81
Physical dependency34
Adoption pressure65
Labour-market resilience60
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence82/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →