regional pilot to ATC

[atl pilot]

You only get the one. This is not like your pilot work schedules with hard and soft days. Its more like a sked that a normal perosn would work - a Monday thru Friday gig, with the exception that your Sat and Sun are most probably on some other set of days off based upon seniority (for example: we have guys who have 1989 seniority dates and the best they can hold is Monday-Tuesday as their days off). Don't forget that some facilities have rotating days off. Just depends on where you work.

Then the FAA schedules you, in current times, for your OT on one of those days you have as a weekend. Where I work it can be either, no telling which until it comes out.

Our rules are also a bit easier to manage than what y'all do:
1) Controllers cannot work 7 days in a row - you must have at least one day off.
2) We must have an 8-hour break between shifts.
3) We cannot work more than a 10-hour shift without an 8-hour break before the next shift.

And as for your other question about location, I haven't a clue. Its seems with the military controller bids (VRA), that they are having them apply by state and can be hired into any facility within the state.

 

[pilotlbs]

Awesome thanks a lot for all the information, it all helped me understand it much better!

 

[circletoland]

I'm wanting out of ATC, everyday I am starting to dread walking in the door. Honestly it is stressful, I am not sleeping normally any more.

 

[pilotlbs]

What's stressful about it? Why don't you like going to work?

 

[circletoland]

What's stressful about it? Why don't you like going to work?

Its knowing that everyday your going to get your but kicked, (atleast wile training). Going to the same place for 20 years +, I just don't think i can do it. I rather be doing something more crazy, like i was before ferrying airplanes all over the place. Its more adventurous.

 

[pilotlbs]

Yeah I can see if you want something like that it could get old. I really want stability, I want to go to the same place everyday and come home to my family at night, where I don't have to commute, and don't have to be on the road 19 days a month hoping I don't get furloughed or my company go out of business. The key for me is stability and family, I'd like to have an everyday normal boring lifestyle.

 

[circletoland]

I hear ya, I and I think everyone else wants stability also. I am just not exactly happy, nor the FAA constantly lying and their bait and swap with the salary. Even if they went back to the old rules.

 

[Bassman]

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.

 

[Bassman]

The 'off the street bid' for Air Traffic Controller just opened and will close 2/15/08. If you want to try, go to this FAA bid:

Announcement Number : AAC-AMH-08-PUBNAT1-08232Opening Date : Jan 23, 2008Closing Date : Feb 15, 2008Position : Air Traffic Control Specialist TraineeSeries : 2152Business Component : Air Traffic Organization. Duty Location(s) : Throughout The Nation, United States - Vacancies: Many Salary Range : $17,046 - $22,591
FG-1 Information about Locality Pay
Information about COLA
Information about Citizenship Who May Apply : All Sources We are not accepting applications from non-citizens.Job Status : Full TimeAppointment Duration : Temporary NTE - 13 months

 

[circletoland]

The Failed Aviation Administration is trying to hire back retired controllers and pay them 24k. They took pay from the new hires and now trying to pay the retirees money so they can come back. Leaves no incentive for new hires to deal with the Bull and training and rear kicking you get during training. Just my 02[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]¢. F U F A A
[/FONT]

 

[bob weaver]

What are your options if you are interested in working at one or two facilities and are applying off the street? If qualified, do you have the option of bypassing the assignment until a position opens up at your desired facility?