What's up with this?

[Muttz]

What's the deal with maximum age entry requirements for ATC? In light of the terrible pilot job market, I was thinking about going back to school for ATC. After reviewing the FAA website and talking to faculty members at a local college, an individual has to be working as a controller by his/her 30th birthday. Isn't this age discrimination? I could understand this being the case for military ATC because they are getting paid training but we as civilians have to pay for our own schooling so who cares!
I also read that controllers have a mandatory retirement at 56 (at least from what I remember) but that can be extended a few years just as long as you put in 20 years of service. So 56-20=36...why isn't the maximum age 36 instead of 30?
If anyone knows a logical reason why the gov't decided to pick 30 as a magical number, please advise.

 

[ATCER]

Ahhh Yes... the ever bizzare hiring practices of the FAA ATC ... I'll try and spell this out a bit for you...

You must be hired before your 31st B'day... this is due to the age 56 mandatory retirement. The minumum time is not 20 years... it is 25 ... 31 + 25 = 56 retirement.

As for hiring the big question is how old are you ??? Being 30 or even 29 can make things very tight... hiring can take up to 2 years or as fast as 4 months. Do you have a college degree ??? If not then your only option right now is CTI. If you have a degree you can look into the MARC program. I said before on this board that the big rumor has been that the FAA will soon be opening direct hire to the public via the AT-SAT test... I'll tell you that I'll believe it when I see it...

I'm not sure of your exact situation so I cannot address anything specific for you... post some follow-ups if you have further questions...

 

[Muttz]

Thank you for correcting me...I thought it said 20 years of service when I read it.
What is the MARC program? I do have a bachelor's degree plus some graduate education as well. But I am 31 years old so I guess I can pretty much assume there's no way I could work in ATC.
If you could shed more light on this, I'd appreciate it.

 

[Wiggums]

Here is the link for the MARC program.

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

If you already have a degree the MARC program is best because it only takes five months. The other option is the CTI program, which is a two-year degree program offered at a bunch of other schools. Because of your age you could never be a FAA controller, however, you could be a contract controller. However, those guys typically have previous military experience.

You could also enlist in the military and become a controller that way. There is a program where controllers comming out of the military after age 31 can work as FAA controllers.

See this website also...


http://www.atchelp.com

 

[Wiggums]

Also found this previous thread about ATC for you to read.

Good Luck.
Wiggums.

 

[JediNein]

ZOA (OAK Center) just hired off the steets in September of last year without any vacancy announcements.

But to find those opportunities, you have to be watching websites daily.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[ATCER]

I'm sorry to say that at 31 you are aged out... I never say never but like the age 60 rule for pilots... I do not see this rule changing... if for no other reason then the government does not do well with change.

Both MARC and CTI are very good programs for civilian and military (VRA or DOD) is always another option... the waiver to the 31 rule applies to retired military and I do not know all the specifics off hand. If someone needs that info I can get it.

As for the direct hire it is my understanding that VERY few have been hired that way... I have very little info on it other then it has been tried at a few locations ... my info has been second and third hand so I would rather not pass un-verified info.

Contract tower is not good at all... first off you will need a CTO and prior tower experience... other then FAA the only other way to get that experience is military. Second, the pay and working conditions are terrible... I have spoken to many of them and it is a horrible job ... most are either retired military supplementing their pensions or military waiting for the FAA to call...

I'm really sorry to pass on such bad news... if I can provide any other info let me know...