Air Traffic Controller

Clear and succinct, this Cool Vocational Careers series entry briefly reflects upon the history of flight, before going into a more thorough examination of various interconnected air traffic control roles. Labrecque concisely explains the duties, training, physical requirements, and expectant salaries of the bevy of workers who keep planes flying and landing smoothly and safely. There’s no sugarcoating here: “Working in air traffic control is one of the most stressful jobs a person can have. . . . People’s lives are your responsibility.” Photos of air traffic controllers at work and occasional boxed anecdotes on different decades of aviation history round out the text. The level of detail might dissuade casual browsers, but for readers interested in vocational careers, especially more modern ones, this is full of valuable information.