Become an Air Traffic Controller

Air traffic is in full development. In order to manage this traffic, skeyes is regularly looking for new and motivated candidates for the job of air traffic controller.

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What do our air traffic controllers do?

As an air traffic controller you are responsible for safe and efficient incoming, outgoing and overflying air traffic in the controlled airspace above Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Every year, skeyes controls over 1 million aircraft movements. Both during the day and at night our air traffic controllers are on hand to give the pilots the necessary instructions regarding their flight level, flight paths and most importantly, to ensure that aircrafts remain at a safe distance from one other. Ladies and gentlemen, please board for this exciting job and reach the sky!

Will you help us keep our airspace safe? Become an air traffic controller!

Compensation and Benefits

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Hospitalization insurance
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Mobility allowance
Meal vouchers & Ecocheques
Individual or collective training
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Healthy work/life balance
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Varying schedules
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Training starting salary ±€2500
Gym & Restaurant on site

Are you eligible?

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You’re a Belgian or European Union citizen
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You’re at least 18 years old on 31/12/2024 and 30 years maximum on 11/10/2024
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You’re holding at least a secondary school degree or equivalent, or you will have it for the start of training
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You’re fully entitled to your civil and political rights
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You have not participated in the previous skeyes selection-program during the past 2 years
Test Your Eligibility
*To be eligible for the air traffic controller recruitment program, you must meet all the requirements listed above.

Please note that during the selection procedure you will also be subject to a medical examination and security screening. You will need to be deemed medically fit and obtain a positive safety clearance to continue the procedure.

Only registrations via the official registration form will be taken into account. If you can not provide one of the above mentioned documents, please refer to the FAQ.

Selection Process

*This schedule is indicative and may change.
1

Register online

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Date to be confirmed

2

FEAST I + FEAST III

FEAST (First European Air Traffic Controller Selection Test) is a collection of computer tests that allow Airspace Navigation Service Provides (ANSP's) to identify the most suitable candidates for the job as Air Traffic Controller. FEAST I, the first part of FEAST, is developed to measure your basic competencies and abilities in decision making, planning, memory, thinking logically, visual perception, multi-tasking and spatial orientation. FEAST I also includes an English proficiency test.

Following FEAST I, without knowing your results, FEAST lll follows. You will be asked to complete a personality questionnaire based on the Big Five model. This will enable us to assess your character traits and interpersonal skills. This stage is not eliminatory and the results will be taken up and discussed later during the final oral stage: the competency-based interview (CBI).

Date to be confirmed

3

FEAST Il

Only if you pass FEAST I, you will be invited to take a second round of tests (FEAST II) at a later date. These tests measure, among other things, your multi-tasking skills. During these tests, you will be required to perform several tasks simultaneously, like an Air Traffic Controller does. It is important to know that any prior knowledge of Air Traffic Control (ATC) procedures or other specific knowledge is not necessary. These tests are developed for beginners without ATC background.

Date to be confirmed

4

Simulation Exercise & Motivation Interview

During the first oral round, you will explain your motivation to a jury and prove that your knowledge of English fulfills the requirements. You will also solve an individual simulation exercise that you will present to the jury.

Date to be confirmed

5

Competency-based Interview

During this second oral round, you will take part in a competency based interview. During this interview, the focus is on a number of competencies that are crucial for working successfully as an Air Traffic Controller. Depending on the language you choose when applying, it will take place in Dutch or French.

Date to be confirmed

6

Medical Examination

The penultimate step, is a medical examination. Before applying, we recommend you to thoroughly read this document stating all the medical requirements. The medical fitness for air traffic controllers is a very important aspect. During the medical examination, the following aspects are examined : Bloodwork, blood pressure, lung capacity, nose-throat-ear, eye-sight, and so on. You can check with your general practitioner if you have doubts about your medical fitness.

Date to be confirmed

7

Security Screening

Before you can start as a skeyes employee, you must obtain approval after a security screening.

Date to be confirmed

8

Onboarding day at skeyes

If you successfully complete all stages of the selection process, you'll be ready to begin your training. The onboarding day will be filled with valuable information and networking opportunities. You'll meet your new colleagues and management team, allowing you to get acquainted with the environment and the expectations of the program.

Date to be confirmed

Training

A row of people during the Initial Training.

Initial Training (IT)

The Initial Training (IT) takes place in Steenokkerzeel and consists of:

  • The Basic Training (BT):
    In this phase the candidate familiarizes with aviation and his/her future working environment in the large sense. In the theoretical training of this first phase the focus is on airlaw, airplace and principles of flight, meteorology and operational procedures. The practical training consists of executing exercices in the simulators.
  • The Rating Training (RT):
    The actual qualification training. After the candidate succesfully finishes this part, he/she receives the training license of air traffic controller (Student license). In this phase, the candidate will specialise into 'tower air traffic controller' (ADV/ADI), 'approach air traffic controller' (APS) or 'en-route air traffic controller' (ACS). As soon as the candidate has obtained the student license, he/she can start phase 2 of the training.
A man looking at multiple screens with flight data and camera's during Unit Training.

Unit training  (UT)

Unit training consists of 3 parts: a theoretical part (transitional training), a practical part in the simulator (pre-on-the-job-training) and a practical part on the actual operational working position (on-the-job-training).
During this last part, you will control real air traffic as an aspiring air traffic controller, under the supervision of an OJTI (On the Job Training Instructor).

A man and woman during training. The man is talking through a microphone while looking at a screen with flight data.

General Information

During the training, there are several assessments. Depending on the results of these assessments, you can continue the training, receive remedial action (if applicable) or your training is discontinued.The entire training is in English and all evaluations (written and oral) are in English.

FAQ

What does an air traffic controller do?

Air traffic controllers are responsible for the guidance and control of flights entering, leaving and flying over the controlled airspace of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. They give the necessary instructions to the pilots concerning the flight altitude to be used, the air routes to be followed and make sure that the aircraft respect a minimum safety distance, fixed by international rules. In addition, air traffic controllers must take into account external factors such as bad weather, problems at airports, technical instrument failures and difficulties encountered by the aircraft. Wondering what types of air traffic controllers there are? Be sure to read this article.

I have already participated in the recruitment process at skeyes. Can I enter again?

If you participated in the skeyes selection examens in 2023 or 2024, you are not allowed to take part again this time.

What are the medical requirements?

Throughout the training and your entire career, you will be medically examined on a regular basis and you will need to meet strict requirements. If you want to know more about these requirements: Download the document here.

Will I receive a salary during the training?

Yes, during your training you will already be considered an employee of skeyes. Therefore, you will receive a salary from the start, together with a number of extra-legal benefits.

At the beginning of the training, the salary is around 2500€.

Am I assured a job after having completed training?

Yes, every candidate who successfully completes the full training course is guaranteed a job as an air traffic controller.

See all FAQ

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Picture of the Skeyes Air Traffic Control Tower