Gone from pilot to controller?

[OCP]

I'm looking for info on this. Anyone who's done this want to share some info?

 

[rk772]

Thought about it at one time, but I'm too old and I'm only 32. (Freekin Government)

 

[Junkflyer]

Its funny how there are strict laws against age discrimination except when the feds don't feel like following them.

 

[BOHICAgain]

I'm looking for info on this. Anyone who's done this want to share some info?

my name is with the FAA for about a year and a half ...so if they dont cal me by May 2006 I would have to retrain at one of the CTI schools. If you are under 25..go look up a cti school...go to class..pass all the classes and when you do that your name gets sent in to the FAA and the have 2 years to call you. I say under 25 because it takes about 1 year to finish the school once your name is submitted to FAA 2 year so that puts you at 28...The age limit they prefer is 28 unless ur former military controller. If you military you can go thru the Pheonix program (i think).

When they do call me I plan to see where I am at the regional level (upgrade time) and see where they want to send me for my first three years with them. No matter where I get sent it would be a pay raise.

 

[OCP]

I'm just about to turn 28 and know the cut off is 30 so I'm trying to look into it while I still have at least a little time.
What is a CTI school?

 

[2LT]

MnATCTC

http://www.mctc.mnscu.edu/airTraffic/

I went through this program back in 2002. You still have time to make the cutoff if most everything is "in order."

Give it a try...it worked especially well for me since I was able to continue flying part-time and attend the program.

Best of luck...

 

[BOHICAgain]

I'm just about to turn 28 and know the cut off is 30 so I'm trying to look into it while I still have at least a little time.
What is a CTI school?

CTI is a school seperate from ATC.. There are around 15 of them nation wide. They prepare you for OKC city..

http://www.atccti.com/

go here for more infomation...good luck...

 

[Quack]

I've had three friends that have left the airlines for spots with ATC...it's tough to pass up when you make 100,000 + third year in the system as a controller, plus the gov. benefits package. Dohhh...If only I wasn't afraid of the dark...

 

[Terry Hunter]

My interest was too late to the age 30 restriction!

 

[cathaywannabe]

I attempted the ATC thing after my second airline bankruptcy, and ended up going to another airline after a few months getting my feet wet at a CTI school.

There are two ways to become an FAA ATC:

1) Military and then "convert"

2) CTI school

There are several schools across the country where you must attend (regardless of your previous education) and receive at least an Associate's degree (sometimes a bachelor's). Once you pass their courses sucessfully and also pass the AT-SAT (a test given at these schools to determine your aptitude) you are then put on the FAA list.

If you are willing to sit through the classes and be commited you will eventually get hired (my friends have). However, it can take up to one year for the FAA to get to your name. You get to pick the geographic region where you want to work, but not the city (for example, Northeast may mean Boston, Cleveland, New York or Washington Center, etc.). Also, you must be HIRED and WORKING for the FAA by the time you reach your 31st birthday. If you are in your upper 20s you would need to find a school fast and probably have an agreement with them about how many credits you can receive for previous work experience (i.e. being a commercial pilot).

In my case, I went to a CTI school for several months and then went back to an airline. Do I like punishment, you ask? Some would say yes. However, I just couldn't validate not getting a paycheck for up to 2 years while I wait for the FAA to call me.

I also found controlling to be significantly more stressful than being a pilot. The controllers I know would say it isn't stressful, but I think it takes a certain type of person to be a (good) controller.

I respect controllers greatly and I think the work they do is far more artisic and skillful than what pilots do, especially in the busy terminals. The job is stable and the pay is right up there with what airline pilots make (in some cases more, thanks to ALPA). However, there is also a lot of politics and procedures that I noticed don't make a whole lot of sense.

All I'm saying is while controlling is a good career the grass may not be greener...

 

[BOHICAgain]

I've had three friends that have left the airlines for spots with ATC...it's tough to pass up when you make 100,000 + third year in the system as a controller, plus the gov. benefits package. Dohhh...If only I wasn't afraid of the dark...

yeah right 100000 maybe if you got tower or tracon at a very large class B and even then you would have to work like your ass off..but very unlikely
it all depends where and what sector picks u up and the sector does not let go of you for atleast 3 years thats how long it takes to be trained good as a controller. Then maybe you can move somewhere else.

Salary for begginers depends but average for a third year controller would be a safe 55,000

 

[TDK90]

I did it the other way, military ATC to civ pilot. Flying is way more interesting than being a controller, the equipment often sucks as well, it is good money though + govt bennies. I miss it sometimes but not often,....

 

[McNugent]

I graduated last year from a CTI school and got a call yesterday about getting my security packet started. The lady on the phone said that process alone takes 8-10 months.

I was surprised to hear how much the pay has changed. She said to expect to make the equivalent of 17K/year salary while in training. And this doesnt even include per diems for housing. First year now is about 40K/year and it takes 3-4 years to be a CPC:certified professional controller (I think thats what its called) and get checked out in enough positions to make some decent coin.

They are currently hiring for ARTCC's and I was offered ATL MIA JAX and MEM centers for my bids. They are suppossedly planning to hire 1250/year for 10 years.

Good luck with it. I plan on going through the motions and see how the process works out, but will probably keep my job at a regional. Things just aint like they used to be with controlling and flying. It's decent money but not great money...

 

[synchoff]

http://www.mctc.mnscu.edu/airTraffic/

I went through this program back in 2002. You still have time to make the cutoff if most everything is "in order."

Give it a try...it worked especially well for me since I was able to continue flying part-time and attend the program.

Best of luck...

My understanding is this is very much treated like an "ab initio" program, and effectively a back door to an ATC job. (as opposed to the years-long civil service exam and interview route).

I have family in ATC. Its a great job . . . great benifits, great retirement, stress thing is WAY overrated (kina like being a pilot . . . only stressful when it all goes in the toilet . . . about .0000001 percent of the time.)

If I were 25, I'd be all over this gig. Controllers at regional centers (New York, Chicago) will be making over 60k second year, and a FPL (full peformance level) easily making over $100k-$130k.

One of the best, most highly paid goverment jobs out there. You'll be making more than NASA scientists and Generals in the Army!

 

[check6]

I graduated last year from a CTI school and got a call yesterday about getting my security packet started.

You should make the decision NOW! Once you get the security packet filled out, they schedule a physical for you with an AME, then a psychological evaluation to follow. All in all, about 2-3 months for all of that, then a waiting for a class date.

 

[Ride High]

Don't lose hope if your don't get the call. Research the NATCA.com website. They have extended the two years, however in 2004 they lost 500 controllers and only hired 13 do to the budget cuts. Good luck it seems like a cool job

 

[smellthejeta]

I got hired six months after graduation, and about 1 month after filling out my final paperwork. I submitted my security paperwork a couple of weeks ago, and the paperwork said 45-60 days for the background. The medical office said it's taking more like three months, and the medical office won't schedule my exam until my background check is completed. In my case, that's actually a good thing. If I walked in to the exam within the next few weeks, I'd flunk it.

As far as the coin goes, it's tied to your facility rating. There supposedly some rules about the levels of facility you can get assigned out of CTI school, but the short and sweet of it is that current year graduates are offered positions at the ARTCC"s. We'll see $100k+ after becoming CPC. That is, unless Maid Marion shoves the paycuts down our throats that she's looking for.

FWIW, I only did 18.5 credits at school. I know guys taking less than that and finishing in one semester. The Minneapolis program that a previous poster talked about in 2002 was a different program than its current incarnation. The current program is inline structurally with the other 13 schools, in its previous form it was a direct route to being hired at a Center and skipping OKC.

My guess is that in a few years, the time lag from graduation to OKC will shorten. However, for the guys looking to go to school in the next year or so, you really need a viable job to tide you over.