Transportation Officers and Controllers (NOC 227)

What They Do Air pilots fly aircraft, including helicopters. Flight engineers monitor aircraft functions and may assist in flying aircraft. Flying instructors teach flying techniques and ground school subjects to student pilots, and train licensed pilots for additional certification. Air traffic controllers manage the flow of air traffic in the air and on the ground. They specialize in one of two areas: controlling aircraft during the enroute portion of their flight or directing departing, landing and taxiing aircraft at an airport. Flight dispatchers authorize flights over assigned routes. Deck officers operate ships and other vessels and supervise deck crew activities. Engineer officers operate and maintain vessels' main engines/equipment and supervise engine room crew activities. Railway traffic controllers operate centralized traffic control systems. Marine traffic controllers regulate marine traffic using radar, remote radio systems, and other telecommunications equipment. Flight Service Specialists provide flight information, weather briefings, and airport advisory services to pilots as they fly through Canada airspace.

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Transportation and warehousing 79% Public administration 8% Educational services 3% People in this group work for: Port, canal, and other marine authorities Airline, air freight, and air service companies Flying schools The Canadian Forces The Canadian Coast Guard Rail and marine transportation companies NAV Canada The unionization rate (61%) is above the average (32%) for all occupations. The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Transportation Officers and Controllers are found in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland while the lowest concentrations are in Quebec and Saskatchewan .

Related Occupation(s) Fishing Vessel Masters and Skippers and Fishermen/women (NOC 826) Other Transport Equipment Operators and Related Workers (NOC 743) Supervisors, Railway and Motor Transportation Occupations (NOC 722) Air Pilots, Flight Engineers and Flying Instructors (NOC 2271)

Something to Think About To enhance your professional knowledge and broaden your opportunities, consider: Continually updating your knowledge Improving interpersonal skills Setting standards and guidelines for safety/operations Learning how to build and maintain customer relations

Use the "Where They Find Work" graph to target your worksearch. It may be easier to get into industries with the most people in this field. Want to work in an industry that hires fewer workers in this field? To be more marketable, check out whether you have the most up-to-date knowledge and technology skills for that industry. Check the provincial/territorial or local information (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca) for opportunities in your area.

What You Need To be a transportation officer or controller, you usually need a high school diploma and specialized training in your area of transportation. You may need certification or a special licence such as pilot's, air traffic control or radio licence. You may need training, special certificates, and endorsements from Transport Canada. To be a transportation officer or controller who works on ships and other vessels, you must usually complete a cadet program at a nautical or marine training institute or have several years' experience. Most recent entrants have a community college diploma and almost 3 in 10 have a undergraduate unversity degree. To be air traffic controller and flight services specialists, you usually need a high school diploma and specialized training provided by NAV Canada or the Canadian Forces.

Required/Related    Educational Programs* This will let you explore the program(s) of study that lead to this (these) occupation(s). Engineering Technologies - Other (C370) Transportation Engineering Technologies (C390) Computer Science (C720) Engineering - Other (U370) *  These educational programs are listed in the order in which they are most likely to supply graduates to this occupation.

Useful Experience/Skills Report writing Interpersonal communication skills Supervisory experience		Useful High School Subjects Math Physics Geography Computer-related courses English
Depending on your background, this Education, Training, and Experience info will help you to: Choose your high school courses Plan your post-secondary program Choose relevant volunteer work Decide what new skills to learn Read job ads, professional journals, and newspapers for what the industry needs and employers want. Talk to employers and employees to find out the exceptional skills and knowledge that will help you land a job.

Current Conditions Your work prospects are rated FAIR because: Employement grew at a below-average rate. The retirement rate is above average, and the number of retiring workers contributes to job openings. Hourly wages ($27.22) are above the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is below average. The unemployment rate (4%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).

Work Prospects Current   Fair   2009   Fair

Outlook to 2009 Your work prospects will continue to be FAIR because: The employment growth rate will likely be average with demand stimulated by a stronger airline industry based on restructuring and passengers' renewed confidence in travel. The retirement rate will likely be above average and the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job openings will likely exceed the number of job seekers. This will not be significant enough to have an impact on the work prospects.

Preparing for the Competition You'll be competing with recent graduates. You're more likely to succeed if you build your "people" and teamwork skills.

If you are beginning your career investigation, national outlooks will give you a good overview of trends. Ready to explore an occupation in more detail? Check provincial/territorial or local outlooks (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca).

What you can expect to make (Average Hourly Earnings ($/hour))
Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 $15.43 $11.74 25-54 $27.38 $19.76 55+ $29.50 $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $27.22 $18.07		Hourly wages ($27.22) are above the national average ($18.07). These earnings are close to the average for occupations in the natural and applied sciences and related occupations and above average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at a below-average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Your salary can be affected by your background, the company's size and benefits, and the region and setting (urban or rural). Check out salaries in your own region by seeking info from: Employees/unions/associations Employers/human resource people Training institutions and placement services Company websites Professional/trade journals

Close to the average
The unemployment rate (4%) is close to the 2004 average (7%). This rate is close to the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations. A low unemployment rate often means less competition for the jobs available. But you still need to have the required training and experience. A high unemployment rate doesn't necessarily mean you'll have great difficulty getting hired. But it can mean a fluctuating demand for workers, and you may experience bouts of unemployment.		Year This Occupation All Occupations 1991 7% 10% 1992 6% 11% 1993 8% 11% 1994 6% 10% 1995 6% 10% 1996 5% 10% 1997 4% 9% 1998 4% 8% 1999 5% 8% 2000 3% 7% 2001 4% 7% 2002 5% 8% 2003 5% 8% 2004 4% 7%

% of part-time work is about the same as average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 85% 81% Part-time 15% 19%		There were 25,900 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, a decrease of 6% since 1997. The percentage of part-time workers is 15% compared to the 2004 average (19%) and has dropped since 1997.
When full-time work is difficult to find, look at alternatives such as contract work, consulting, shared positions, and telework.

Average
The percentage of self-employed workers is 6% compared to the 2004 average of 15%.		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 6% 15%
Does this occupation have an above-average rate of self-employment? Consider being your own boss if you can't find work with an employer.

Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 4% 10% 25-54 80% 72% 55+ 16% 12%		The older-than-average age (43) of worker will likely result in an above-average retirement rate to 2009.
Look at the youngest group. A low percentage means fewer openings for brand-new workers. A high percentage means more openings for brand-new workers. Look at the oldest age group. A high percentage means positions could open up from retirements. This could be significant for both mid-career changers and brand-new workers.

Below average
The percentage of women (9%) is below the 2004 average of 48% and has dropped significantly since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 9% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31