{"podcast":{"title":"The Side by Side ATC Podcast","slug":"the-side-by-side-atc-podcast-7035694","podcast_index_feed_id":7035694,"rss_url":"https://media.rss.com/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast/feed.xml","website_url":"https://sidebysideatc.com","image_url":"https://media.rss.com/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast/podcast_cover.jpg","author":"Tom Hanes","episode_count":112,"summary":"This is a podcast for people interested in air traffic control with a focus on the FAA Academy, CTI graduates, and trainees at their first facility.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-21T00:17:36.543938+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast-7035694"},"episode":{"title":"The 4 Levels of Air Traffic Control- Introduction","slug":"the-4-levels-of-air-traffic-control-introduction","published_at":"2026-05-18T11:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast-7035694/the-4-levels-of-air-traffic-control-introduction","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast-7035694","url":"https://rss.com/podcasts/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast/2834483","audio_url":"https://content.rss.com/episodes/303058/2834483/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast/2026_05_18_04_37_05_5ffff7fd-cf7a-4061-9090-226e2ffc33dd.mp3","summary":"Most people think the journey to becoming an air traffic controller is all about getting through the FAA Academy. But the truth is, there are multiple levels of growth in an ATC career — and each level brings new pressure, new expectations, and new opportunities to improve. In this episode, I introduce “The Four Levels of Air Traffic Control”: Pre-Academy Preparation, The Academy, First Facility Training, Becoming a CPC while helping train others. I also connect these levels back to the “6 Drivers of ATC Success” and discuss how Purpose, Plan, Phraseology, Practice, Picture, and Performance continue to repeat throughout a controller’s career. Whether you are waiting for a class date, currently at the Academy, or working through facility training, this episode will help you see the bigger picture of the ATC journey — and why growth in this profession is a continuous process, not a single moment of success. Thank you for listening! FOR HELP: To set up a FREE call: sidebysideatc.com/scheduler/free-consult Pre-Academy If you are heading to the Academy in the next few months, I put together a structured 90-day preparation blueprint that walks you through exactly what to focus on each month before you go. It's designed to help reduce shock and build confidence before day one. You can download it at: sidebysideatc.com/page/blueprint . I also have a video where I explain the different things that are on the enroute Non-Radar Map. You can get that video at: sidebysideatc.com/page/map-video . Already at the Academy If you are already in the enroute radar portion of the Academy and feeling a little behind or lost, I have a 72-Hour Radar Recovery Plan that will help you get past those feelings and start building confidence. You can download that at : sidebysideatc.com/page/72-hour…","meta_description":"Most people think the journey to becoming an air traffic controller is all about getting through the FAA Academy. But the truth is, there are multiple lev…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1407,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast-7035694/episodes/the-4-levels-of-air-traffic-control-introduction/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast-7035694/the-4-levels-of-air-traffic-control-introduction.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}