Air Traffic Controller

$30–50/hr

rate as listed

Workload: ~15h/week
Engagement: Project-based
Location: Worldwide
Field: Generalist

Review authentic air traffic control audio and produce structured transcripts that capture headings, altitudes, frequencies, clearances, and other operational details. Use aviation phraseology, charts, aircraft-position data, and operational context to resolve noisy or ambiguous transmissions.

The work

This remote contractor role supports an AI project focused on aviation communications. Day to day, you would listen to authentic ATC radio transmissions, create structured transcripts, and extract operational details such as headings, altitudes, frequencies, and clearances. Airport diagrams, approach charts, navigation resources, and real-time aircraft positions may be used to interpret unclear audio.

Quality standards

The project expects close adherence to detailed annotation guidelines and may apply an accuracy threshold such as a 2% word error rate or lower. Reviewers are likely to examine whether you preserve aviation phraseology, distinguish speakers and instructions accurately, use context without inventing content, and respond consistently to feedback. Current or previous air traffic controller certification is preferred, including tower, approach, center, or ground experience. Demonstrated fluency in English, written and verbal, is also a preferred qualification, along with proficiency in aviation phraseology and comprehension of international pilot accents.

Screening

The platform is likely to verify your ATC background through specific questions about facilities, positions, traffic types, phraseology, charts, and difficult radio scenarios. Expect judgment questions about handling clipped transmissions, conflicting contextual clues, uncertain call signs, and transcript errors. No prior AI experience is required, but you should be prepared to explain how you apply written guidelines and quality feedback to repeated annotation work.

Logistics

The engagement is remote and structured as contractor work. The listing asks for reliable internet, a distraction-free workspace, and quality headphones, but it does not specify whether tasks are asynchronous or state typical weekly hours. Candidates should give a realistic schedule during screening and confirm their ability to protect confidential project data. Pay band: $30–50/hr

What they look for

air traffic control certification
aviation communication
audio transcription
attention to detail
aviation phraseology
english fluency
critical listening
comprehension of accents
confidentiality
independent work
use of aviation charts and diagrams

Included with this listing

Interview prep — 10 questions

Matched to what this platform's screening actually measures. Answer each out loud in 60–90 seconds: claim → concrete example → implication.

What it tests: This verifies whether your experience comes from tower, approach, center, or ground operations and whether you can describe the traffic and responsibilities attached to those positions.
A strong answer: Give specific facility types, positions, certification status, approximate periods of service, and the traffic environments you handled. Distinguish clearly between positions you certified on and those you only observed or trained for.
Where people lose it: Candidates lose credibility by naming broad ATC functions without identifying the position, facility environment, or level of operational responsibility.

Summary, eligibility guidance and screening preparation are prepared by Sidequest from the platform's posting. Check the source listing before applying.