Improved communication between computers on airplanes and those on the ground also is making the controller's job a little easier. In addition to airport towers and enroute centers, air traffic controller specialists also work in flight service stations operated at over 100 locations. These specialists provide pilots with information on the station's particular area, including terrain, preflight and inflight weather information, suggested routes, and other information important to the safety of a flight. Flight service station specialists help pilots in emergency situations and participate in searches for missing or overdue aircraft. However, they are not involved in actively managing air traffic.
Controllers carefully monitor the progress of each plane.
During busy times, controllers must work rapidly and efficiently. This requires total concentration to keep track of several planes at the same time and make certain all pilots receive correct instructions. The mental stress of being responsible for the safety of several aircraft and their passengers can be exhausting for some persons. Employment Air traffic controllers held about 23,000 Federal Government jobs in 1992, at airports in towers and flight service stations and in enroute traffic control centers. In addition to controllers employed by the Federal Government, some worked for private air traffic control companies providing service to non-FAA towers.