Air Traffic Control Assistant

Cranfield University; Bedford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability Confident employer

Job summary

Cranfield University in Bedford is seeking an Air Traffic Control Assistant to support our busy team at London Cranfield Airport. The role involves maintaining data displays, handling flight progress strips, and assisting with simulators to support safe air traffic operations.

Training will be provided; you should be flexible, accurate, and able to work under pressure. Strong communication and IT skills (Word/Excel) and a collaborative approach are essential.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining data displays in accordance with published procedures
• Alerting the emergency services in accordance with published procedures
• Accepting booking out details from pilots, and preparing flight progress strips in accordance with local procedures
• Pseudo piloting and exercise creation on our Tower and Radar Simulators
• Maintaining and amending aeronautical documents and publications as required
• Liaising with local agencies as required
• Maintaining a log of movements and recording statistics as required
• Undertaking tasks associated with the ANSP Safety, Quality and Security Management systems, as directed, in order to comply with regulatory requirements

Job description

Air Traffic Control Assistant

Company: Cranfield University

Salary: from £28,053 a year

Hours: Full-time

Location: Bedford, MK43 0AL

Working pattern: On-site

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 6 Nov 2026

Closing date: 29 Nov 2026

London Cranfield Airport is a commercial, research and general aviation (GA) airport situated between Bedford and Milton Keynes, and is home to several companies which provide commercial flight training, maintenance, and research and testing for industry and government projects.

We currently have an excellent opportunity for an Air Traffic Control Assistant (ATCA) to join a busy team that performs a safety-critical function in providing Air Traffic Services to all airport and local airspace users. In particular, this individual will assist the Air Traffic Control Officer in undertaking the following duties:

• Maintaining data displays in accordance with published procedures
• Alerting the emergency services in accordance with published procedures
• Accepting booking out details from pilots, and preparing flight progress strips in accordance with local procedures
• Pseudo piloting and exercise creation on our Tower and Radar Simulators
• Maintaining and amending aeronautical documents and publications as required
• Liaising with local agencies as required
• Maintaining a log of movements and recording statistics as required
• Undertaking tasks associated with the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) Safety, Quality and Security Management systems, as directed, in order to comply with regulatory requirements

Training will be provided, however to be successful in this post, you will need to demonstrate that you are flexible, resilient, and able to produce work that is accurate, in a timely manner, in what can be a demanding environment. It is essential that you are able to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, and that you can provide an efficient, professional service to our clients. In addition, we will need to feel confident in your ability to use Word and Excel, and to work as part of a small but motivated team.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme