Quit my job as a pilot and work for ATC?

[Lrjtcaptain]

Here is my delema. I am 24 years old and flying a B58 for a part 91 outfit. Seems like some weeks i wont fly at all and others that is all I will do. This week I just logged 34 hours from Monday - Saturday all multi engine xctry. Anywas, Im quite bored with this airplane and know that every plane i fly gets old really quick.

Anyways. The FAA called me last week and offered me a job as an air traffic controller. Salary will be quite a bit more then im making now but i don't really know if i should quit my job and do something else or sit on this job until the airlines pick me up.

What do you all recomend?

 

[mar]

Snatch this pebble from my hand

You must turn within and find the answer inside of yourself, grasshopper.

Whatever you decide, one thing is for sure. At the ripe age of 24 (assuming you're not married or anything crazy like that) you can probably cobb-up everything and still recover by the time you're 30.

The majors are pretty much shutdown for the next couple of years anyway. If you think you might enjoy ATC why not give it a shot for a few years? You won't be missing anything at the airlines--especially that boring B58.

If you decide you can't live without flying then you'll be what? Twenty-seven years old?

But remember, the key to recovery is freedom from earthly anchors (wife, kids, house, car, boat, etc...).

Good luck.

 

[Toploader]

Do what you want, but remember that for every one step you take away from aviation, it takes at least 3 to get back.

I know guys who just "took a job to put food on the table" while they were looking for a flying gig. None are still flying today.

BTW, if you're bored flying a Baron, with only 800 TT, you must realize that there are many more complicated machines to fly that will no doubt test your skill.

Those that can, do. Those that can't, well they just don't!

Toploader

 

[FamilyMan]

I’d take the air traffic control job in a heartbeat. It’s one of the best-kept secrets out there. You have a solid retirement plan, excellent health care, decent vacation, stability, and yes you can even make 100K plus. Its one of the highest paying government jobs out there.

You will have enough money to buy an airplane if you want, and still occasionally jump seat for free with many carriers.

The old days of air traffic control are no more. 40-hour weeks are the norm, overtime requires special approval, this guarantees you a normal life outside work.

Take the job, and if for some crazy reason you decide it’s not for you, you’ll have enough cash stashed away to get you started in your next career. But most people stay once they are on board.

Good Luck,
Family Man

 

[avbug]

Get out of flying to work in ATC? Why not? I know a young lady who was a F/O until last week. She quit her job to wait tables because the money was better.

She wasn't committed to aviation, and therefore made the right choice.

If you find the baron boring, then you just haven't had any signficant experience in it, yet. Boredom is very closely equated with complacency and ignorance of reality. If at 800 hours you've learned all about the business are bored, and already know the meaning of life, then you're right, it's time to move on. At three thousand hours I was still trying to figure out how to open the door, and which way to pull to go back down. You're probably just a quick study.

I don't think I've ever been bored in an airplane in my life. If I've come close, it's been enroute in any turbojet airplane. That baron takes more skill and planning than most any turbojet airplane...if you're bored with that, you'll go silly senile in a jet, gauranteed.

Learn to be happy right where you are, right now, or you'll never be happy in any equipment. Look into ATC: it's an honest to goodness career. It sounds like aviation for you is just a hobby.

 

[ClassG]

A second to what Family Man said, and since you probably don't want to get stuck where you are for the next 5 years:

Not Yes, but HELL YES!


Any idea how many of the guys on this board wich they could have the job you were just offered? Especially us furloughed'd. By the way, who do I call to get you're job when you're done?

 

[ClassG]

I mean, YOUR job when YOU'RE done?

and wish - when are we gettin spell check on this thing? All the other kids have it.

 

[doog]

Strange that the FAA would call you unsolicited and ask if you wanted a job.

 

[rumpletumbler]

I'm about 30 minutes north of Atlanta. If your base is within driving distance I'd love to talk to your boss. Please pm me his contact information. I could be very happy flying a Baron for the rest of my days. I was willing to drive to Macon for a job that didn't pan out cause the guy who was offering it to me wassss welllll just nuts. Anyhow all I mean is that it doesn't have to be right around the corner. Anybody else out there who wants to give up their job in my area feel free to contact me as well.

RT

Edit: Ok somebody is going to say its ok to work for a nut but turns out this guy didn't have the authority to offer the job

 

[flint4xx]

I have worked 18 years for the government. I am now at the best airline with the happiest people and job security/serious bucks. I feel incredibly fortunate to be here doing this.

Now having said that, I would tell you to go for the ATC job.

 

[de727ups]

Deja Vu.....

I did what you are thinking about in the mid-80's. Left a Grand Canyon tour job to go to the FAA academy in OKC. The piloting profession was in the dumps and the government money was really good. ATC was going to be my career....

I washed out of the controller screening program (long story)...along with 80 percent of my class. They offered me a job doing assistant controller duties (an air traffic assistant, for those who know what that was) at LAX tracon. Did that for a year and could have worked my way into a regular ATC career. All the controllers I worked with thought I was nuts to leave flying for an ATC career and it didn't take long for me to realize that being a controller was only the second best career for me....I had to fly. I left the FAA to spot fish from a 150 a later worked my way up to UPS in 1990. I still think being involved with ATC would be fine if I couldn't fly....though I'd be too old to be hired now.

 

[FL000]

If you're bored in a Baron at 800 hours, you definitely need to take the ATC job. The Baron is without a doubt the most fun I've had flying. The King Air comes close.

 

[bobbysamd]

Boredom v. valuable, virtually platinum-plated, flight time

Can we trade jobs? I'm sure that it's conceivable to be bored flying a Baron after only 800 hours, but, don't forget, you're on your way up. To that end, let me make one point clear: You are building multi engine PIC time flying the Baron. That time does not grow on trees. Keep that in mind. I'd bet there are a thousand members of this board who would leap for a job such as yours. That time will mean something when times improve and you are ready to move on to bigger and better things. Times will improve. Don't know when, but they always do.

Having said that . . .

One thing that I don't like about my job is that I'm stuck indoors all day (sometimes I get to run errands). At least when you're flying, you're out. That one of the things that I miss about flying. If you take the ATC job, you will be stuck inside a TRACON, Center, or some other edifice. You'll find that it's quite a change from flying.

One thing that I found grossly unattractive about ATC as a career are all the shift changes. I recall that shifts rotate, e.g., you might work 7 a.m. - 3 p.m., then 3 a.m - noon, then mids. That's tough to take. It's hard on your system and makes you vulnerable to illness. Maybe that's changed and ATC now works regular hours. I realize that many regional pilots, especially the more junior ones, have to suffer stand-up overnights. But, I'm sure, they get more days off than ATC.

Of course, the plusses of ATC include the fact that it is a government job, and all that a government job implies. You can't beat the money and benies. Also, of course, ATC carries with it fearsome responsibilities. Controllers can have "deals" and be called to task for them. I am sure controllers have periodic recurrency evals and "checkrides," just like pilots.

At 24 years old, you are still a young person. I think you should try to stick it out. Once more, you are building multi engine PIC time. That time does not grow on trees. Keep that in mind. Of course, best of luck with your decision.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

DOOG====They didn't call unsolicited. I was part of the CTI program at Embry-Riddle. I took all the classes, took the tests, past and actually taught the lab portion of TRACON and ARTCC at ERAU DAB.
They just took a while to call, its been a year.

IM based out of OMaha right now and i really need to move. That is one thing good about the ATC deal is i think im gonna get the Southern pacific region. That is where i want to be.

Just got back from 34 hour trip in 6 days and now the baron is down for 2 weeks. They found 6 cylinders that were compressing really low and a few other things. So ive got 2 weeks of relaxation. That i don't like. I want to be working. And the baron is so **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** small. Im almost too big for it. Sure it fly's great and preforms nice but im just bored with the piston scene.

 

[skydiverdriver]

If you want to keep flying, then keep flying. If you don't want to keep flying, then, you know what to do. Take it from me, a non-flying job, no matter how close to flying you might be, will never be the same. I was a dispatcher when I wanted to be a pilot. I think it's actually harder to be near airplanes when you would rather be inside of one. ATC is a great career, but if you go there, make sure you never want to go back to flying again, as you might not. Good luck to you.

 

[Flightjock30]

If you decide to become an ATC you can potentially make very good money if you are at a high enough facility. With that salary you can fly on your days off for fun and take a vacation or two each year to somewhere nice (I decided to become a pilot because I like to travel AND fly of course).
Good luck in what you choose.

 

[wrigley23]

If you decide to become an ATC you can potentially make very good money if you are at a high enough facility. With that salary you can fly on your days off for fun and take a vacation or two each year to somewhere nice (I decided to become a pilot because I like to travel AND fly of course).
Good luck in what you choose.

Are you kidding? I'm pretty sure Lrjtcaptain has been in the tower for a while now. Maybe it's an inside joke, why else would you resurrect a thread that is a year and a half old?

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

WOW, thought this thread died along time ago. Lets see, someone else is flying for the company now, ive already been to Ok City, already moved to california, already have gotten my CTO liscence and have been controlling over 7 months now.

 

[atcloser]

Faa

lrjetcaptain,


i am a controller and was under the impression the Faa wasnt hiring anyone till at least October 2004. they havent hired a soul in the past year and a half because of a hiring freeze? are you saying that you finally got the call? if so that is real good news for my friends out there who have been patiently waiting.

also, go with the FAA. the money, benefits, and flexibility are great. plus its a ton of fun although training sucks. the shifts are not that bad, we work a week of 7-3's and a week of 3-11pm. occassional mids, but they are actually pretty popular so it can be tough to get them. i dont agree with the previous comment about overtime, at the larger facilitys like mine, it is almost a necessity that you work it.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

ATCcloser

This thread was started Oct of 2002. Somehow it was revived and have no clue why. I was officially hired Sept 2003 but got the initial call in Oct of 2002. Since then I have become a controller and have been certified almost 6 months. This thread should have died long ago.