I am considering getting my air traffic controler's license in Europe (maybe in Switzerland or Luxembourg), but it is my intention to live and work in the USA. However, I found information that in order to be an ATC in the USA you need to be an American citizen. Would having a license bypass that requirement? It's hard to believe that American ATCs get jobs in Europe and that the other way around isn't possible...
Air Travel - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
i dont think so. it doesnt seem like it, at least to me.
2 :
Having a European license does nothing for you in the US. American ATCs do not get jobs in Europe either.
3 :
No it doesn't because they both fall under different jurisdiction. Although already having a license on another country does help! All you need to do is take some courses or do whatever the FAA requires to transfer the credits from the JAA (I think that's what is called..) But I think you need to be an american resident to become an ATC in the USA. So I would say unless you don't have american citizenship or residency you can't just have your European license and come over and expect them to be transferred that fast. So I would say just get residency in the USA if you don't already? Or why not just be an ATC there in Europe? There are some nice airports there and also high density airports where ATC is in high need like London Heathrow, Charles de Gaulle, Madrid Barajas, Amsterdam Schipoll, Frankfurt, Dublin, Milan Malpensa and more!
4 :
The FAA (the agency overseeing aviation and air traffic controllers in the USA) and JAA (Parallel institution in Europe) do allow SOME degree of certificate overlaps, but only for pilots and never at a professional level. This does not apply to Air Traffic Controllers. The job is seen differently in the US as it is in Europe. In the US the vast majority of controllers are government employees and the job is considered essential to national security, therefore there are certain security clearances to pass and citizenship is a requirement. In Europe on the other hand, specifically Germany and several surrounding countries including I believe Switzerland and probably Luxembourg, air traffic control is a service provided by private companies under government contract, Eurocontrol is one company that comes to mind. Typically when you allow a private company to operate a service you allow them to set employment standards. There is no way arround the citizenship requirement unfortunately.
