Airservices is a government-owned corporation providing safe, secure, efficient and environmentally responsible services to the aviation industry. We manage air traffic operations for around 75 million passengers on more than three million flights every year.

Training and posting

Training location

All air traffic control theory training (College Phase) is conducted at the Airservices Learning Academy in Melbourne.

Training duration

Applicants with no prior experience (ab initio):

  • Learning Academy: 12 months approximately
  • Final field training: 4 – 6 months approximately

Postings for final field training

En route trainees

Applicants who are selected for en route training will be notified, at the time they are given a formal offer of employment, of whether they have been posted to Melbourne or Brisbane (based on the preference of the candidate and review of the selection panel). This will be their location for final field training and ongoing employment as a controller.

More information on Airservices en route centres.

Tower trainees

Tower trainees may be posted to any of our control towers for final field training. A graduate controller is expected to achieve the required licensing standards in any of the tower air traffic control environments. There are three tower environments – radar, regional and GAAP (General Aviation Aerodrome Procedures).

Tower postings (based on operational and training requirements) will be notified during training.

Acceptance of postings

It will be an express condition of the offer of training and employment that trainees agree to serve at any location in Australia at which Airservices has an an air traffic control presence.

Candidates are asked to indicate their preference for stream, which may have an effect on location.