Madeline Eckberg

Monitor and direct the movement of aircraft on the ground and in the air. Control all ground traffic at airport runways and taxiways. Issue takeoff and landing instructions to pilots. Transfer control of departing flights to other traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights. Inform pilots about weather, runway closures, and other critical information. Alert airport response staff in the event of an aircraft emergency.

 

There are several ways that the Purdue Polytechnic Institute and the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology prepared me for this position. First, my coursework in Aviation and Airport Management directly relates to the knowledge and skills I will build on at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. In my SATT classes, I was exposed to concepts like runway flows and configurations, airport design and operations, traffic banks and patterns, and other key aspects of airport and airspace operations.

 

SATT's Safety Management System, one of the first FAA-approved collegiate systems, also helped me become comfortable with safety reporting, understand the importance of non-punitive reporting, and develop a strong foundation in identifying and managing operational risk.

 

Finally, my time at Purdue gave me valuable real-world industry exposure through internships and interaction with aviation professionals. During my internships with United Airlines in Airport Operations and Network Operations, I was able to see firsthand how airline operations interact with airports and air traffic control, and how operational decisions impact the broader aviation system. Those experiences gave me a better understanding of the environment controllers work in and helped prepare me for the fast-paced, collaborative nature of the profession.

 

There are two faculty and staff members who have gone above and beyond to support me in achieving my goals. The first is Professor Debra Henneberry in the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology, who served as a mentor while I was forming the Lafayette Wing of the Ninety-Nines at Purdue. She shared her experience as a Ninety-Nines chapter chair and helped guide me through the process of recruiting prospective members, planning meetings, and promoting the organization on campus.

 

The second person who has been especially influential during my time at Purdue is Adam Baxmeyer, Airport Manager at the Purdue University Airport. He lectured several of my airport management courses and later connected me with industry professionals after my speech at the opening of the Amelia Earhart Terminal in August 2025.

 

The classes that have prepared me the best for Air Traffic Control have been AT 451 Airport Operations, AT 481 Aviation Safety Problems, and AT 459 Airport Manager Certification. The airport classes focused on the history, development, management, and operations of small and large FAA airports, while the safety course introduced the elements of Safety Management Systems and the application to airlines, airports, and the broader National Airspace System.

 

My favorite course was AT 36201: Aviation Operations, which I took the spring semester of my sophomore year in 2024. Over the course of the semester, we worked on a project to bring commercial air service to the Purdue University Airport. We created process maps, training manuals, and operations guidelines for Southern Airways Express, a commuter airline that operates 9-seat Cessna Caravan aircraft. When Southern Airways Express began service in May 2024, they used our work to train their employees and support their operation here. It was so special to know our classwork contributed to the success of a real-world airline.