Becoming an ATC'r

[AirBadger]

Friend of mine wants to be an ATC on the otherside of the mic. How do most people go about getting there? After a couple of Google searches it seems you can either get a bachelors degree in something else and then go to the FAA "academy" or do the CTI thing at places like UND or ERAU. Also whats the outlook on this career? It sounds like there is a lot of conflict between the grunts and management.

 

[unreal]

Don't do it man. Just don't. I think Mesa probably treats their employees better than the FAA treats theirs.

 

[cheyflyer]

I have several good friends who are controllers at a smaller, moderately busy airport. Pretty good gig for those who have been there awhile but since the last contract that was basically forced upon them, some are not so happy.

From what I can tell......

Pay freezes for the next 5 years or so.

Takes alot longer for new hires to advance to the higher pay grades.

Massive retirements in the next 5-10 years.

I think most new hires are coming from the military or college with atc program.

Dress code is now business casual.

Cannot leave facility for meal breaks.

There are a few controllers on this forum, they can give you better intel. I'm not a controller and only hang with a few and this info is what I get from them. I think over-all its a pretty good job especially if the retirement holds up.

 

[smellthejeta]

Getting hired?

You pretty much have to go the CTI route if you don't have military experience. It is sometimes possible to get hired directly into a facility without going through CTI, but CTI provides the highest chance of success.

As to whether or not one should puruse the career, let's just say that as with flying, things ain't the way they used to be. They'll get worse before they get better.

 

[Be 23]

Now for the question from the totally clueless. What's CTI?

 

[landlover]

Now for the question from the totally clueless. What's CTI?

collegiate training initiative, its a college program that get you ready for the atc knowledge test

 

[FrozenPilot]

Join the ATCCTI forums and find out the real deal. My fiancee just passed the academy with the whole non-tract thing. Theres hope in the dems to sort out the issues since Congress has to reauthorize the FAA. I would wait and see what happens. Many have already turned down the job or just not shown up at the academy. One reason is you're there for nearly 3 months with a salary around $18k/year. Then you have to be lucky to work at a facility where you'll get a livable pay for the area. Centers are the only decent paying places left under the forced contract. Not to mention the new dress code, vacation rules, and even then they can fire you if you breathe at the wrong time.

 

[Kaudbron]

You have to go to an AT-CTI school (13 of em) google it. Graduate with a certain grade, I think a B avg?? Then take a 8 hr test, the ATSAT, that you will want to shoot yourself 10 minutes into it, for them to send you a letter asking where you want to work. I got the letter where I am supposed to pick my 5 top states to work in, I think I might just sit on it for awhile...... Ask your friend if sitting in a dark room staring at a scope for more then 45 minutes at a time, not making the sweet bucks that they used to, really appeals to them??

 

[Rizzo]

Yup, you have to go to a CTI school. Just do whatever one is cheapest and fastest. At Daniel Webster you have to be going for a degree. At MCTC you just go for ATC.