The Aviation and Aerospace students traveled to Tulsa Riverside Airport on September 30 for an exclusive tour of the air traffic control tower.
Students toured the tower in small groups, observing firsthand how controllers manage flight operations and maintain airspace safety. The visit offered valuable career insight, introducing students to another vital job opportunity within the aviation industry: air traffic control.
This career exploration trip is part of the Tiger Aviation Aces program’s ongoing effort to expose students to high-demand careers across the aviation field, and FAA training is offered within the State. Oklahoma is home to the FAA’s primary training facility, located in Oklahoma City, where air traffic controllers begin their initial instruction before being assigned to one of the agency’s operational facilities across the country.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, as of late October 2024, approximately 3,400 individuals were enrolled in various stages of air traffic control training—from introductory courses at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City to specialized on-the-job instruction at air traffic facilities nationwide.
Visiting the Riverside Tower gave students a closer look at the essential role air traffic controllers play in ensuring safe, efficient travel in the skies—and underscored the expanding career opportunities awaiting those pursuing aviation pathways.