TERMS:

Listed here are some acronyms and terms along with their associated definitions.

          ATC: Air Traffic Control

AT-CTI: Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative; a program of study leading to employment at ATC facilities.

FAA: Federal Aviation Administration; the division of the United States Department of Transportation that regulates all aviation-related activities and operators in the United States.

AT-SAT:  Air Traffic Selection and Training; the aptitude test given to those who wish to be air traffic controllers.

DESCRIPTION OF CTI PROGRAM:

The Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) ATC program is one of fourteen AT-CTI institutions in the United States.  See

http://www.faa.gov/jobs/job_opportunities/airtraffic_controllers

for a complete description of this initiative.  The FAA established AT-CTI programs as a pathway to an ATC career.  AT-CTI students receive preferential hiring along with those that have previous military ATC experience.  Any of MTSU’s Aerospace degrees, coupled with the AT-CTI classes and a recommendation by the MTSU AT-CTI Program Coordinator, qualifies students to be hired by the FAA.  Students should be familiar with the MTSU AT-CTI Program policies and procedures available online or in the AT-CTI office.

FAA AGE RESTRICTIONS:

MTSU has no restrictions on age or physical condition of students entering into the program. However, students desiring employment with the Federal Aviation Administration should be aware of FAA employment requirements, such as:

The FAA states that individuals must not have reached his/her 31^st birthday before the date of initial appointment.  See above web link for a complete description.  MTSU recommends that prospective students do not attempt to enter the CTI program unless completion of the program can be attained by the age of 30, as you must be employed by the age of 31.

MTSU ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Entrance requirements to the university are continually updated.  Contact the admissions office (http://www.mtsu.edu/apply or 615-898-2111) to find out the current admission requirements.  New students should follow the schedule recommended in the course catalog for the degree they decide pursue.  Students with some college credit or previous bachelor’s degrees are considered transfer students.  To find out what courses transfer to MTSU students should view the transfer website (http://www.mtsu.edu/~admissn/team.htm).  Students with a previous bachelor’s degree do not have to have a minor.  Graduate students should contact the University Graduate office (http://www.mtsu.edu/~graduate or 615-898-2840) as well as the Aerospace Graduate School Coordinator at 615-898-2788.

AEROSPACE DEGREES:

MTSU offers 5 undergraduate degrees: Administration, Flight Scheduling and Dispatch, Maintenance Management, Professional Pilot, and Technology and 2 graduate degrees in Aerospace Education or Administration.  All degrees are either Bachelor’s or Master’s of Science and are accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Every MTSU CTI student must choose a degree and then work the CTI classes into the degree in place of electives.  Most CTI students choose the Flight Scheduling and Dispatch or Aerospace Administration concentrations.  These degrees share more classes with the CTI program than the other concentrations and it is common for most of the Dispatch students to gain employment with regional air carriers after graduation.

AT-CTI CLASSES:
MTSU offers nine classes that makeup the AT-CTI curriculum: AERO 1010, 1020, 1230, 2010, 2220/2230, 3210, 3230, 4530, and 4560.  These classes must be added to the selected Aerospace degree in place of electives.

AT-CTI PROGRAM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

This section details the requirements necessary to enroll in the AT-CTI program at MTSU.  Meeting these requirements does not guarantee employment as an air traffic controller.

Students applying for Conditional Admission in the AT-CTI program:

Q     Must meet Middle Tennessee State University entry requirements;

Q     Must submit AT-CTI application*, citizenship form*, copy of MTSU letter of acceptance, recent photo, and transcripts from any colleges/universities attended to the AT-CTI office upon enrolling in the university;

Q     Must have completed or be able to complete AERO 1010, 1020, 1230, and 2010 before applying for candidacy in the AT-CTI program.

*forms available at http://aerospace.web.mtsu.edu/programs.htm

Students applying for Candidacy in the AT-CTI program:

Q     Must be a student in good standing with the University

Q     Must have the following items on file in the AT-CTI office: CTI application*, Citizenship form*, Candidacy form*, Information release form*, recent photo and transcripts from any colleges or universities attended.  The packet must be submitted to the Aerospace CTI office by the dates below. 

*forms available at http://aerospace.web.mtsu.edu/programs.htm

Summer and Fall applicant files must be complete by the first Monday in April. 

Spring applicant files must be complete by the first Monday in November.

Q     Must have completed AERO 1010, 1020, 1230, and 2010 with an AERO GPA of at least 3.0 and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 by the end of the semester during which the application is made. Please contact the AT-CTI office if you wish to transfer credit for these courses.

Q     Must have scored at least 75% on the MTSU CTI entrance exam (see below). 

APPLICANT FILE:

The documents in your file will provide MTSU with your name, address, social security number, etc., which will be faxed and sent electronically to the FAA.  This includes a statement from each student declaring they are a US citizen.  You cannot be hired by the FAA for ATC positions until US citizenship is obtained.  (Any international student may begin taking ATC classes before citizenship has been obtained; however,  MTSU cannot enter the student officially into the CTI program or send information to the FAA until citizenship is obtained.)  Also included in these documents is a waiver permitting MTSU to provide your personal information to the FAA.  These documents are sent electronically to the FAA headquarters in Oklahoma City, and place the student on a national list containing information from all CTI schools.  The student’s projected graduation date is one item on these documents that is very important.  The FAA is reviewing this date as the potential date the student will be available for hiring as an air traffic controller. This date also determines when the FAA allows the student to take the AT-SAT test (see “Aptitude Testing” below).

APPLICANT TRACKING:

Air Traffic Controllers are some of the most watched and scrutinized employees in the federal government.  Every action and statement is recorded and analyzed.  The students’ tenure at MTSU will be similar.  Aerospace faculty will confer with each other and may submit reports on students to the AT-CTI coordinator and the recommendation review panel.  These reports will document the student’s attendance, habits, personality, manners, attitude and participation.

SUGGESTED TIMELINE:

Any student interested in the AT-CTI program must submit the AT-CTI application and citizenship form along with a copy of MTSU’s letter of acceptance prior to starting classes.  The student should have chosen a degree program at this point.  The first four AT-CTI classes should be completed as soon as possible so that the student can submit the candidacy and information release form and take the entrance exam.  Because the entrance exam is administered after registration students should schedule classes with the intent of continuing the AT-CTI program. 

After the entrance exam the student’s progress will be reviewed by a panel composed of the AT-CTI program coordinator and two additional faculty members.  A recommendation will be given as to whether or not the student should continue in the AT-CTI program.  Students will be notified about the results.  Those that passed will have his/her information sent to the FAA to be included in the national AT-CTI database.  During the next year undergraduate students will need to file an upper division form.  These should be completed during meetings with your advisor.   

Based on the student’s graduation date he/she will be scheduled to take the AT-SAT approximately one year before graduation.  Upon passing the AT-SAT the FAA will send students more information regarding geographic preferences and other information about employment with the federal government.  Students must give a copy of the score report to the AT-CTI office. 

At this point students should concentrate on fulfilling all the requirements for graduation and recommendation.  During the students’ last semester a request for recommendation must be filed in the AT-CTI office and the entire file will be reviewed by a panel of Aerospace professors after graduation.  A recommendation for hire or release will then be sent to the FAA.  Keep in touch with the AT-CTI office and let us know when you are called and where you are sent.

ENTRANCE EXAM:

Part of the application process includes an entrance exam.  This exam will test applicants on material covered in AERO 1010, 1020, 1230, and 2010.  Applicants must score at least 75% to enroll in the CTI program.  The exam will be administered on the Friday after final exams of the spring and fall semesters to all new applicants.

EXIT EXAM:

At the end of the Advanced Air Traffic Control Class (AERO 4560) all students eligible to graduate before the next offering of the course will take the MTSU AT-CTI exit exam.  This exam will test students on basic aeronautical knowledge, weather, and air traffic regulations and procedures.  Students must pass this test with a grade of 80% or higher; there is no retake.

APTITUDE TESTING:

AT-CTI students will be required to take an FAA authorized pre-employment (aptitude) exam.  Recently, the FAA implemented a new exam called Air Traffic Selection and Training (AT-SAT).  It evaluates the skill sets identified as contributing to successful ATC careers.  Areas of evaluation include but are not limited to applied mathematics, geometric visualization, memory, basic ATC skills and pattern recognition.  See http://www.faa.gov/jobs/job_opportunities/airtraffic_controllers/ for further explanation.

All students must pass this aptitude exam in order to be employed as a controller, and each student receives two opportunities to pass; however, there is a one-year waiting period between retakes.  It is a timed exam administered by the FAA. We will assist you in preparing for the exam prior to its being administered; however, MTSU has no control over the date, time or location of the exam or the results.  You will be scheduled to take the test based on the projected graduation date you listed upon enrollment.  The test provider will contact you directly about the date, time, and location of your AT-SAT testing.

GEOGRAPHICAL PREFERENCES:

Once the student has passed the AT-SAT exam, the FAA will contact the student regarding the selection of geographical preferences.  The student will be asked to identify a minimum of one and a maximum of five states in which he or she will accept employment.  All locations are of equal preference.  The student will only be referred for employment consideration at locations you select, and the student will only be referred for one location at a time.  If the student declines a position, you are not guaranteed another offer of employment.

INTERNSHIPS:

Nashville Tower and Chattanooga Tower offer an internship program to one or two students a semester.  These students must be in his/her final year at MTSU.   

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:

Students must follow university requirements for graduation.  Other requirements may be added as needed.

RECOMMENDATION PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS:

After every university convocation a panel of three Aerospace professors chaired by the MTSU AT-CTI coordinator will review the following items for each candidate.  In order to be recommended for hire to the FAA the following requirements must be satisfied:

Q     Fulfill University requirements for Graduation

Q     2.75 Cumulative GPA on all college coursework

Q     3.0 GPA Core Cumulative Aerospace GPA

Q     No grade lower than a “C” on a AT-CTI class

Q     Score 80% or higher on AT-CTI exit exam

Q     Score 70 or higher on AT-SAT exam

Q     Exit Interview with AT-CTI coordinator during last semester

Q     Submit Recommendation request form on or before Graduation

The MTSU AT-CTI office reserves the right to change or add requirements as necessary to maintain the high standards of MTSU’s prospective air traffic controllers.

GETTING HIRED:

Please note that neither attendance at nor completion of a CTI program will guarantee employment with the FAA.

After graduation MTSU will send the student’s hiring recommendation to FAA headquarters.  This recommendation consists of name, social security number, date of graduation, and GPA.  The FAA hires controllers in order of highest AT-SAT score and GPA, so maintaining a good GPA is central to the hiring process. 

Once the FAA has received your graduation recommendation, the student has a two-year window in which to be employed.  Waivers are available, through the FAA, if the waiting period exceeds the two year limit.  At this point, your geographical preferences become important.  If the FAA has an opening in one or more of the states you have identified, they will contact the graduate for position acceptance.

HIRING REQUIREMENTS:

These are Federal Aviation Administration requirements

Candidates who are being considered for employment will begin the pre-employment process including suitability, medical, and security clearances.  Detailed information is available at: 

http://www.faa.gov/jobs/job_opportunities/airtraffic_controllers

MTSU recommends that students research these areas carefully before becoming an AT-CTI student.  If an individual has medical concerns relating to the above FAA qualification standards, it is recommended that he/she obtain an appropriate medical examination prior to starting the program.  The Federal Aviation Administration background check will look for patterns of behavior not isolated incidents.  Any information indicating a lack of responsibility such as history of arrests, late or no payments including child support, credit cards, etc. will be scrutinized and may rule out some candidates.

FAA ACADEMY:

Every AT-CTI graduate must go to the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City before working at an FAA air traffic facility.  For a Tower position, the duration of your stay in Oklahoma City is approximately six to eight weeks, and a Center position is approximately twelve weeks.  The employee goes directly from the FAA Academy to the accepted position.  Salary information is available on the FAA’s website.