Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on recruitment

It is understandable that people want to be successful in these tests, but preparing for them is not the same as the kind of preparation you might have made in the past for school examinations. In reality, you have to be confident in your skills and ability. Even though similar tests are available on the market, it would not be of any help to be successful in the testing procedure, because you have been able to practise, if you don’t feel really at ease with the cognitive and behavioural requirements. In these circumstances, even if you started the training, you might well fail later on. Therefore, we recommend that you do not focus too much on the psychological tests.

On the other hand, we believe it is important for you to look up for information about air traffic control (ATC), EUROCONTROL, Maastricht UAC, the job of an en-route controller, etc. to familiarise yourself with the challenges and demands of the job. You can try to visit and see first-hand ATC locations as well as the Maastricht UAC. You can use the Internet, you can read flight magazines, visit our Institute in Luxembourg. The more you understand about the job you are applying for, the better you will feel as an applicant.

The selection rate of a student controller recruitment campaign is about 6%. This means that we need to test 100 candidates to find 6 of them who meet our standards. Unfortunately, some of those six might not be accepted for medical reasons.

Although this might sound a little discouraging, compared with selection rates for similar cognitively demanding jobs, this is not in fact particularly low. Knowing that cognitive requirements are the most important, a vast majority of applicants are tested (the ones who fulfil the basic requirements). In other kinds of competitions, the majority of applicants are eliminated through their CVs. Only few people have the chance to be tested or interviewed.

Stress is a physiological syndrome. You feel it when you are put under mental or physical constraint. Stress can be a positive and necessary stimulator of action to help you work out a difficult situation. Due to its multivariate pattern, stress might also be inappropriate to solve the problems with which you are faced.

Obviously, some aspects of the air traffic controller tasks make the mental workload rather high (monitoring and managing routine traffic, switching attention, solving conflicts, updating spatial mental picture, providing services). A high level of stress, including its physical component, might therefore be undesirable. Nevertheless, the tolerances to stress manifestation vary from one individual to another. It is then not easy to say whether air traffic control is a stressing activity as such.

In a recent survey about professional attitudes amongst controllers at Maastricht a large majority of the responses showed that controllers see themselves as able to rest and relax when they need to, are unafraid and not nervous about problems faced in work. This high level of agreement is interesting and will convince you about the need to be assessed against stress-related criteria. This is not something easy to do by oneself. Some measurement of stress in trying conditions is therefore included in our selection procedure.

The career of an operational controller is clearly structured and will depend on your progress in attaining and maintaining the necessary levels of proficiency and experience. If you want, you may spend your whole career as an operational controller. As you acquire more experience and follow technical and operational developments, your progress could lead to the attainment of the grade of principal controller. You would continue to benefit from the advantages of shiftwork, including flexibility of working patterns and shift-work payments on top of an already good salary. Shiftwork can allow you to profit from off days to take further study for instance at university level. If relevant for your career, there might also be the possibility of financial support in some circumstances.

Different career development opportunities exist for those with the right abilities (principal air traffic controller, deputy supervisor, duty supervisor) and those who wish to progress to management responsibilities. After a certain number of years, you could use your acquired operational experience in another field. You might then apply for positions like “Training Expert” or “Operations Expert” or to work within the framework of Research and Development activities as an experienced operational support to development projects in the various fields related to air traffic control.

An operational (shiftworking) controller will cease active operational service at the age of 55 (which could be extended to a maximum of 57) and will receive a retirement pension calculated according to the pension rights acquired at that date.

Applicants must:

• Be nationals of one of EUROCONTROL's Member States.
• Hold a certificate of secondary education showing that they have successfully completed studies at advanced level (university entrance). Students who are expected to obtain a certificate of education at this level in the near future may also be allowed to participate.
• Have a good command of spoken and written English. Knowledge of other European languages would be an advantage.
• Meet the medical fitness requirements laid down for controller duties.
• Not yet be 25 years of age on 1 October 2012.
• If a candidate already participated in a selection, at least two years must have elapsed.
• Not have started a similar training at a national administration.
• Not have failed a similar training elsewhere.

The Tower Controller (normally abbreviated to TWR) works at airports and aerodromes. Communicating with the pilot by means of radiotelephony the controller co-ordinates the traffic on the runways and taxiways by using instructions, issuing the necessary clearances to the cockpit crew before and after landing and take-off.

Most of the time, the Tower Controller works from visual reference, by keeping the aircraft in sight. Soon after take-off and for a period prior to landing, the pilot communicates with an Approach Controller (APP) or a Terminal Controller (TMA), depending on the configuration of the airspace. The Approach or Terminal Controller, using radio communication and surveillance devices, directs arriving flights to the point where they are handed over to the Tower and directs departing flights to the point where control is assumed by an Area Control (ACC) unit (sometimes called an "en-route" unit).

When "en-route", the aircraft may transit several control areas. It maintains course with the help of radio beacons and modern airborne navigation systems but remains under constant control from qualified controllers in an Area or En-Route Control Centre. EUROCONTROL’s Control Centre in Maastricht is a special type of Area Control Centre, called an Upper Area Control Centre (UAC); it provides a service to aircraft transiting in the upper airspace. You as a Maastricht UAC controller would guide aircraft through your zone of responsibility. You would see the picture of all the movements in the sky even though you cannot physically see the aircraft.

The Upper Area Controller works with radar and flight profile displays and telecommunication devices. He/she builds up a three-dimensional mental picture of the traffic on the basis of two-dimensional radar display information, supported by other available information. As an Area Controller, your main role would be to ensure safe passage to air traffic by providing minimum distance between flights. In addition, you would offer information services (e.g. meteorological information) and, subject to meeting the primary concern, which is safety, help the aircraft operators to keep flight costs and delays to a minimum.

Salary is commensurate with the demands of a challenging and responsible job. A salary is paid even whilst under training.

Remuneration includes a basic salary and further add-on elements payable according to personal circumstances e.g. allowances for head of household, expatriate, dependent child, school.

“Head of household” allowance is paid to employees who are married or have at least one dependent child.

“Expatriation” allowance (16%) is normally payable to nationals of a country other than the one in which they are employed.

For those with children a “child allowance” and if they are attending school a “school allowance” is payable.

A compulsory deduction of 1.479% of salary is made to cover membership of EUROCONTROL’s own medical insurance provisions.

EUROCONTROL operates its own pension scheme and a compulsory deduction of 10% covers this.

Remuneration and allowances are not liable to any scheme of national taxation but are subject to the Organisation’s own internal tax system.

Remuneration during the training will be in accordance with the appropriate regulations in force. (These are in process of being adapted.)

In the first phase of the training (14 weeks) you will receive € 1439 as monthly basic salary, for phase 2 (approx. 20 weeks) you will receive € 1802 as monthly basic salary. Finally, for the last part of the training, you will receive € 2153 as monthly basic salary.


On successful completion of the last training phase, you will be appointed as a qualified and licensed air traffic controller who is then authorised to provide air traffic control services to flights in the airspace for which the Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre is responsible. This appointment is for an undetermined period. You will first be nominated as “advanced trainee air traffic controller” with only one sector validation with € 3570 as a basic monthly salary. After getting the other required validation, you will be established and promoted to “air traffic controller” with € 4239 as a basic monthly salary. The information below shows you what you might expect to receive as an advanced trainee air traffic controller and as an air traffic controller after all deductions. “Household” and “Child” allowances and the "ATC allowance" are not included.

Monthly Net Salary - Single national:
Advanced trainee air traffic controller: € 3178
Air traffic controller: € 3716

oMonthly Net Salary - Single expatriate:
Advanced trainee air traffic controller: € 3802
Air traffic controller: € 4457

Working shifts entitles staff to payment of a flat-rate shift allowance which is set at € 1530 for those working a 24/7 shift .

The selection procedure is divided in several phases. The result of each phase is taken into account to decide whether you can go a step further. Obviously, the procedure is subject to continuous review and improvement.

There are currently 2 selection phases.

• The first phase is aimed at measuring your basic skills in English, mental arithmetic, decision-making, logical reasoning, working memory, visual perception, attention, and spatial orientation.
• The second phase is aimed at measuring whether you can apply those skills in working conditions i.e. multiple-task ability, trainability, collaboration, and stress management, and a personality questionnaire.

This is followed by an interview by active controllers, psychologists, and training and human resource experts. The aim of the interview board is to probe you on your motivation to become an air traffic controller. In addition, personal background, education, work experience, general career expectations, job-related aspects of personality, and leisure activities are all covered in the questions.

The interview board finally assesses your suitability on the basis of professional motivation, general motivation, co-operation, stress resistance, and interactive proficiency.

If successful in this phase there will still be a medical examination before the start of the course for which you have been selected.

The first and second phase of the training will take place at a selected Air Navigation Service Provider (still to be determined).

If successful at the examinations and continuous assessment, you will be doing the so called "Unit Training" at the Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre.

We do not hide from applicants that air traffic control is not an easy occupation. However, the material rewards for success are good and the job is mentally stimulating, but you will need ability and determination to succeed.

Students are selected after a careful evaluation of their basic cognitive skills (English language, mental arithmetic, decision-making, logical reasoning, working memory, visual perception, attention, spatial orientation) and their ability to apply them under multitasked dynamic conditions (co-ordination, integration, stress management).

Nevertheless, at various stages of the training, some students fail to meet the standards particularly in the practical aspects of simulation and on-the-job training.

Air traffic control requires a mix of skills and a clear motivation to succeed during sometime difficult periods. Those who start training must be equipped for success since training is long and expensive.

Failures can happen due to several factors. Firstly, it is not possible to guarantee a 100% correct prediction of success.

In addition to questions of lack of ability or aptitude, maturity, homesickness, culture, weather, fear in live traffic conditions, etc. are not easy to predict but any of them can occur. But there again, life is full of challenges and difficulties, and being aware of this fact should not refrain you from applying.

Yes. All the information linked to the application is saved in the system. To re-use your information:

1. Log in;
2. Select the Competition title;
3. Click on “Apply now”;
4. Save or modify the personal and/or professional information, depending on the post;
5. Attach the existing CV or a new one;
6. Submit your application.

1. Go to “My tools” and click on application(s);
2. Click on the “Printable version” icon next to the application you wish to print.

Note that only the application will be printed, not the attachment. If you wish to print the attachment please go back to the “My tools” page.

1. Go to www.eurocontrol.int.
2. Click on "Jobs at EUROCONTROL" in the main menu and then on "Vacancies" in the left navigation;
3. Click on the link "Vacancies" to apply in English or "Avis de vacances" to apply in French;
4. Log in by entering a user name and a password of your choice;
5. Click on "Register Now".

You can only apply to a vacancy at EUROCONTROL via our e-recruitment system.

You may attach only 1 file using either Word or PDF.

Please ensure the title does not contain one of these symbols: / -

For each part of the application, save the information you have entered.

If the system displays the "Your page is expired" message, click on the "Back" button on your toolbar, in the upper left side of the screen.

If your application has been sent successfully, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt via email.

If you receive no acknowledgement, it means the application has not been submitted.

Click on the "Next" button, above the list on the right, in order to view all published competitions.

Click on the "Back" button on your toolbar, in the upper left side of the screen.

An official candidate is anyone applying with the support of the national aviation authority which is his/her employer and who can provide a letter of recommendation.

Candidates for military posts must be official candidates.

Please send an e-mail to the Recruitment Service at recruitment_and_mobility@eurocontrol.int providing the following information:

• name
• telephone number
• competition number, and
• error message print screen.

1. After logging in, do not select the competition;
2. Click directly on "x Application(s)", mentioning the number of applications already created, in the "My tools" section;
3. Select "All applications" from the "Display applications from:" menu.