Ryan Knutson

And it's a really stressful job.

And it's a really stressful job.

These controllers don't always work at airports because they don't need to look at planes in the sky. They work mostly off radar screens and other digital equipment. They're part of something called a TRACON, which stands for Terminal Radar Approach Control. There are TRACONs all over the country. For decades, the TRACON controllers in New York worked out of a windowless room on Long Island.

These controllers don't always work at airports because they don't need to look at planes in the sky. They work mostly off radar screens and other digital equipment. They're part of something called a TRACON, which stands for Terminal Radar Approach Control. There are TRACONs all over the country. For decades, the TRACON controllers in New York worked out of a windowless room on Long Island.

These controllers don't always work at airports because they don't need to look at planes in the sky. They work mostly off radar screens and other digital equipment. They're part of something called a TRACON, which stands for Terminal Radar Approach Control. There are TRACONs all over the country. For decades, the TRACON controllers in New York worked out of a windowless room on Long Island.

Working at any TRACON can be stressful, but the TRACON in New York stands apart.

Working at any TRACON can be stressful, but the TRACON in New York stands apart.

Working at any TRACON can be stressful, but the TRACON in New York stands apart.

Even the FAA's recruitment videos emphasized how tough the place is. There's an incredible operational challenge here.

Even the FAA's recruitment videos emphasized how tough the place is. There's an incredible operational challenge here.

Even the FAA's recruitment videos emphasized how tough the place is. There's an incredible operational challenge here.

Rough-and-tumble edge. Just say more about what that means. What was the culture like at this Tracon office?

Rough-and-tumble edge. Just say more about what that means. What was the culture like at this Tracon office?

Rough-and-tumble edge. Just say more about what that means. What was the culture like at this Tracon office?

That's, like, the logo or, like, the mascot for the people that work there is, like, a skull and crossbones with a headset on it. Like, we're, like, the pirates of air traffic control.

That's, like, the logo or, like, the mascot for the people that work there is, like, a skull and crossbones with a headset on it. Like, we're, like, the pirates of air traffic control.

That's, like, the logo or, like, the mascot for the people that work there is, like, a skull and crossbones with a headset on it. Like, we're, like, the pirates of air traffic control.

The rough-and-tumble culture at the New York TrayCon was even the subject of a 1990s movie featuring John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton called Pushing Tin. Look, it's a bit silly and over-the-top, but it does capture the drama that can be part of the job. There's already a national shortage of air traffic controllers, but the staffing shortage is especially bad at the New York TRACON.

The rough-and-tumble culture at the New York TrayCon was even the subject of a 1990s movie featuring John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton called Pushing Tin. Look, it's a bit silly and over-the-top, but it does capture the drama that can be part of the job. There's already a national shortage of air traffic controllers, but the staffing shortage is especially bad at the New York TRACON.

The rough-and-tumble culture at the New York TrayCon was even the subject of a 1990s movie featuring John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton called Pushing Tin. Look, it's a bit silly and over-the-top, but it does capture the drama that can be part of the job. There's already a national shortage of air traffic controllers, but the staffing shortage is especially bad at the New York TRACON.