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Control Tower Operator Program

Become an Air Traffic Controller

The Control Tower Operator Program (CTO-P) provides a pathway for individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in air traffic control. 

CTO-P is an intensive, full-time training program designed to prepare students with the foundational knowledge, technical skills, and professional competencies expected of entry-level air traffic controllers. Students will train in a highly immersive learning environment that combines classroom instruction, realistic simulation, and scenario-based exercises.

The program meets five-days per week for ten consecutive weeks in-person in Columbus, Indiana. Due to the accelerated nature of the curriculum, students should expect a rigorous schedule and should plan to devote themselves fully to the program during that time.

For more information, complete the form linked below.

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Launch Your Career with Ivy Tech's 10-Week Program

CTO-P will launch you into one of the nation’s highest‑demand careers.

The FAA expects to hire 8,900 new controllers by 2028, and salaries start around $70–80K.

How the Ivy Tech Columbus Control Tower Operator Program prepares you for this high-demand career:

  • 10‑week in-person accelerated classroom and simulator training
  • 100+ hours of real‑world tower scenarios
  • FAA‑approved curriculum and Control Tower Operator exam prep
  • Build experience for the Federal Contract Tower hiring pathway

Plus, the new Columbus, Indiana, Municipal Airport Control Tower opens in Summer 2027, creating even more opportunity close to home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Discover More about CTO-P

We anticipate welcoming the inaugural class in late 2026 or early 2027. The curriculum and facilities are currently in the final stages of the FAA approval process, and we look forward to opening enrollment as soon as that process is complete. If you would like to be notified as additional program information and application dates become available, please let us know by emailing rroll6@ivytech.edu. 

Students entering the Control Tower Operator Program must meet specific federal aviation age requirements designed to align with training, certification, and hiring pathways. To begin the program, participants must be at least 18 years old, ensuring they are eligible for the foundational training and assessments tied to FAA standards. Additionally, students must be no older than 30 at the time of entry, a limit set by federal aviation regulations that govern the age window for progressing into air traffic control roles. These parameters help maintain compliance with national hiring criteria and ensure students can successfully advance through the full FAA‑regulated career pipeline.

Tuition for the CTO-P program is $15,500. Payment plan options will be available.

CTO‑P offers a limited number of seats per 10-week course, operating with a small, capacity‑controlled cohort to ensure high‑quality training and alignment with FAA standards. Because enrollment is intentionally capped, prospective students are encouraged to apply early to secure one of the available spots.

Throughout the ten-week program, students will develop a strong understanding of topics including:

  • Air traffic control phraseology and FAA communications

  • Airport operations and airspace structure

  • Aircraft performance and flight operations

  • Aircraft separation standards

  • Weather interpretation and its effects on flight operations

  • Navigation systems and airport lighting/signage

  • Federal Aviation Regulations applicable to air traffic control

  • Tower procedures, sequencing, and traffic flow management

  • Emergency and abnormal operations

  • Professional decision-making, teamwork, workload management, and situational awareness

Students will spend significant time applying these concepts in an air traffic control simulator, allowing them to gain practical experience handling aircraft movements in a realistic tower environment while receiving coaching and feedback from instructors.

Instruction is conducted in-person at the Columbus Municipal Airport in Columbus, Indiana, providing students the opportunity to learn in an active aviation environment.

The program meets Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. for ten consecutive weeks. Due to the accelerated nature of the curriculum, students should expect a rigorous schedule and should plan to devote themselves fully to the program during that time.

To help students focus on their training, lunch is provided Monday through Thursday, while Fridays are designated as student-driven lunch days.

For students relocating to the Columbus area, housing is available approximately 10 minutes from the airport and can be rented for the duration of the 10-week program.

Questions? Let's connect!

If you have questions about the program, admissions process, housing, career opportunities, or whether the CTO-P program is a good fit for your goals, please reach out to Rachel Roll at rroll6@ivytech.edu.

To request more information, please complete this short form.