A good mentor can point you in the right direction and a great mentor can change your life. When Bobbie Kahklen started working for the FAA, she never imagined she would end up working in a tower as an air traffic controller. 

Growing up as a member of the Native Alaskan Tlingit tribe, Bobbie persevered through many challenges. Aviation was not something that was talked about in her community and it certainly wasn’t on Bobbie’s radar as a career option. By chance, she stumbled across an administrative job opening at the FAA. 

With the encouragement of her FAA managers and coworkers, Bobbie applied for a developmental air traffic control position. That leap of faith completely shifted the trajectory of her career and got her out from behind an office desk and up in a tower where she excelled. 

Are you up for the challenge? Find out what it takes to be an air traffic controller, more about the application process, and what you can do to prepare before our next hiring window. Another route to consider is Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative schools which teach basic courses in air traffic control and are designed to provide qualified candidates for developmental positions.

Share this podcast episode with friends, family, and colleagues. You never know where it might lead them on their career journey. 

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