Air Traffic Controllers: Safety in the SkiesThis summer, I took my first flight, when my sister and I flew to Los Angeles to return visit our family. From the moment I entered the airport, my mind started wondering about how planes work and how everything went smoothly. I had never been exposed to anything like this before. When I go to the airport, I love the energy of everyone hustling to get where they need to go. It's fascinating to me to watch planes take off and land. I'm probably the only person you'll ever meet who enjoys going through security. The airport is probably in my top 10 favorite places to go. I can never be bored in an airport. However, when I boarded my plane, the nervousness set in. I was alone, with my 11-year-old sister, on a plane for the first time. Granted, it was a direct flight and I knew where I would meet my family when we landed, but it was scary to think that a few people were going to throw this huge piece of steel onto a runway and then have it fly at 500 mph , almost. 400 miles from the California coast. I was scared. Then I looked out the window and saw the control tower. Again, I had a lot of questions about who was there and what they did. I thought it would be really cool to be able to watch planes land and take off all day while you teach them how to do it. This is how I discovered the career of air traffic controller. Air traffic controllers control planes in certain airspaces and guide planes on their routes and around hazards. There are two different types of air traffic controllers, tower controllers and radar controllers. Tower controllers (the type I'm most interested in) use their eyes, headset communications,...... middle of a sheet...... controller would be that for me. Works cited Career as an “air traffic controller” Cruise. Anaca Technologies Ltd., 2014. Web. February 7, 2014. “Air Traffic Control – How Does It Keep You Safe?” Watchtower Online Library. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2013. Web. February 19, 2014. “Air Traffic Controllers.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 8, 2014. Web. February 9, 2014. “Air Traffic Management.” Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, 2014. Web. February 14, 2014. “Careers – Air Traffic Controllers – Transportation.” » Careers - Air Traffic Controllers - Transportation. Collegeboard.org, 2014. Web. February 9, 2014. “FAA Academy.” Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, 2014. February 18, 2014. Korbas, Crystal. Personal interview. February 21 2014.