I retired from the FAA and was a controller for many years at several centers. The FAA was only hiring college students from CTI schools and military controllers for the last few years, but with the controller shortage the door is sometimes opened for a few days for outside hires. My daughter obtained an FAA offer and will be going to OKC with this 'off the street hiring'. We found her opportunity on USAJOBS.GOV 3 months ago. The FAA only opens the bid for a few days for a few locations at random times, so it takes some patience.
The age 31 rule is a congressional law tied to the Air Traffic Control early retirement law which provides an early retirement after 25 years of active 'on the boards' air traffic control, but no later than age 56. 56-25=age 31 maximum entry age for the early retirement. Another retirement law provision provides an early retirement after 20 years on the boards if age 50 or more. Some controllers move into other FAA work and retire under the civil service retirement like any other federal employee. FERS is the federal employee retirement system, if you want to check it out at OPM.GOV.
Stress? As always it is usually self induced. After 5 years the job will be boring, mundane and routine with occassional spikes in excitement. AFter 15 years on the boards, I moved on to other things in the FAA, flew in the reserves and had a great career with 5 weeks vacation, dependable scheduling, understanding management and great fellow controllers. The QOL was outstanding and far better than I understand the regional/major world is these days. Plus, if you become an FAA certified controller, a solid job forever will be your reward. I would do it again, in a heartbeat and I encourage my children to give it a try.
The are some sour controllers that will give you the doom and gloom. Misery loves company and they are always searching for a shoulder to cry on. MOst complainers went into the military after highschool then entered the FAA as controllers. These personalities are the same as before the PATCO strike and they never had a real, break you back job in the real world. Personally, I believe the NATCA union is stronger/smarter than PATCO (the last ATC union I was a member of) and better pay, working conditions will come in time. 40,000 replacement controllers were hired after the 1981 PATCO failure. 15,000 completed the training and became controllers. Now they are hitting the 25 year end of the line and there will be another spike in hiring. If you want to do it: Keep tabs on FAA hiring and look for openings or become a military Air Traffic controller and sign up for as few years as possible and then enter under a VRA bid or go to a college CTI. The CTI (College Training Initiative) is a 1 or 2 year activity after your associates degree, but then a 100% gurantee of hiring by the FAA. All three methods require attendence at the OKC ATC FAA school, a 2 year training activity and your successful completion of training....
I hope this helps.
However, if your heart is in the cockpit-don't leave it. Money isn't everything and only you can decide what the balance will be for your best QOL.
