The best way to show appreciation to air traffic controllers is a few kind words they'll actually see, since they can't accept tips. Find the facility that handled your flight and leave a note on its thank-you wall at Thank ATC. It's free, takes about 30 seconds, and needs no sign-up. You can thank them for today's flight or one from years ago.
Why you can't just tip a controller
In the U.S., air traffic controllers are federal employees of the FAA. Federal ethics rules don't let them accept money for doing their job, and gifts given because of their work are tightly limited. A cash tip, a gift card or an expensive present can put a controller in an awkward spot, even when it's meant kindly.
Words are always welcome, though. Most controllers never hear how a flight turned out once it leaves their frequency, so a specific note ("the reroute around the storms got my family home for the holiday") means a lot.
Five ways to thank air traffic controllers
1. Leave a note on the facility's thank-you wall
Every U.S. tower, approach control (TRACON) and en route center has its own public thank-you wall on Thank ATC. Search by airport code, city or facility name, write a few lines, and post. Every post is checked before it appears, so the walls stay kind. Not sure which facility handled your flight? Use the flight chain lookup: enter where you flew from and to, and it shows the towers, approach controls and centers that typically handle that route.
2. Mail a card to the facility
A handwritten card pinned to the break room board can brighten a whole shift. Ask the airport's administration office for the control tower's mailing address, and address it to the Air Traffic Manager. Include the date, time and flight number if you know them, so the team can tell who worked your flight.
3. Send a commendation to the FAA
For something above and beyond, such as help during an emergency, write to the FAA through its contact page and name the facility, date, time and flight. Formal compliments can be passed along to the controllers involved.
4. If you're a pilot, say it on frequency (briefly)
A quick "thanks for the help" at a handoff, when the frequency isn't busy, is a small courtesy controllers notice. Keep it short, and save longer thanks for a phone call to the facility after landing or a note on its wall. See how to thank ATC on the radio below.
5. Give to the controllers' own charity (optional)
The NATCA Charitable Foundation is the 501(c)(3) run by air traffic controllers. It supports disaster relief, scholarships and causes in the communities where controllers live. On Thank ATC, 100% of a controller thank-you donation goes to the NATCA Charitable Foundation, and you give directly on its own page. Donating is never required to post a thank-you.
How to thank ATC on the radio
Pilots can thank air traffic control (ATC) right on frequency. The usual way is to tack a short "thanks" or "good day" onto your readback when you're switched to the next frequency, for example: "Departure one two four point eight, N123AB, thanks, good day." At the end of a flight, a brief "thanks for the help" works the same way.
- Keep it to a word or two. Every second on a busy frequency is shared with other pilots, so "thanks" or "good day" is plenty.
- Read the room. If the controller is talking nonstop, skip the extras and just read back. A clean, quick readback is its own kind of thank-you.
- Save the bigger thanks for later. For help that went above and beyond, call the facility after landing (the controller can give you a phone number), or leave a note on its thank-you wall where the whole team can read it.
Nice things to do for air traffic controllers
Not a pilot? Passengers, families and plane spotters can show appreciation to ATC too:
- Tell the story. A note that says what happened ("we landed in a thunderstorm and it felt calm") means more than a general thank-you.
- Thank the whole chain. A flight usually passes through a tower, an approach control and one or more centers. The flight chain lookup shows which ones, and each has its own wall.
- Share a wall. Sending a facility's wall to friends who fly the same route helps more thank-yous reach the same team.
- Call before bringing treats. Control towers and centers are secure buildings, and federal rules limit what controllers can accept, so you can't just drop off cookies. If you'd like to bring something small, call the facility first and ask what's allowed.
- Teach a kid about ATC. Watching arrivals at an airport viewing area and explaining who keeps the planes apart is a quiet kind of appreciation, and maybe a future controller.
What to write
Short and specific beats long and general. A few ideas:
- "Thank you for the smooth vectors into Miami tonight through all that weather."
- "Student pilot here. Thank you for your patience on my first solo."
- "Our flight home for the holidays landed right on time. Thank you to everyone working it."
- "My dad was a controller for 25 years. Thank you for carrying on the work."
First names, dates and flight numbers are welcome for everyday flights. If your note is about an emergency, it's kinder to leave out names and details.
A good day to do it
October 20 is the International Day of the Air Traffic Controller. It's a nice reminder, but any day you land safely is a good day to say thanks.
Common questions
How do you thank ATC?
ATC is short for air traffic control. Pilots thank ATC with a brief "thanks" or "good day" on the radio. Anyone, including passengers, can thank ATC with a short note on the thank-you wall of the facility that handled their flight at Thank ATC. It's free and takes about 30 seconds.
What are nice things to do for air traffic controllers?
Write a specific thank-you on their facility's wall at Thank ATC, mail a card to the facility, send a commendation to the FAA for help that went above and beyond, or give to the NATCA Charitable Foundation, the controllers' own charity. If you want to bring treats, call the facility first, because towers are secure buildings and gift rules apply.
What is the best way to show appreciation to air traffic controllers?
Write them a short, specific thank-you they will actually see. Controllers can't accept tips, so a note on the thank-you wall of the facility that handled your flight at Thank ATC, a card mailed to the facility, or a commendation sent to the FAA are the best ways to show appreciation.
How do pilots thank ATC on the radio?
Briefly. Add a quick "thanks" or "good day" to your readback when you're handed off to the next frequency, and only when the frequency isn't busy. For bigger thanks, call the facility after landing or leave a note on its thank-you wall.
Can you tip an air traffic controller?
No. U.S. air traffic controllers are federal employees, and ethics rules don't let them accept money for doing their job. A written thank-you, like a note on their facility's wall at Thank ATC, is the best way to show appreciation.
How do I find out which controllers handled my flight?
A typical airline flight talks to several facilities: the departure tower, an approach control, one or more en route centers, then the arrival approach control and tower. Thank ATC's flight chain lookup shows the facilities that typically handle a route between two airports.
Do controllers actually see the thank-you notes?
Each facility's wall is public, and controllers, pilots and travelers can read it anytime. Many controllers never hear how a flight ended, so a specific note is welcome.
Is posting a thank-you free?
Yes. Posting is free, takes about 30 seconds and needs no sign-up or donation. Optional donations go 100% to the NATCA Charitable Foundation.
When is Air Traffic Controller Day?
October 20 is the International Day of the Air Traffic Controller. Any day you land safely is a good day to say thanks, too.
Can I thank them for a flight from years ago?
Yes. Thank-yous for old flights are just as welcome: a first solo, a scary night in the weather, or a trip you still remember.