Who went from pilot to FAA?

[73belair]

Working on writing KSAs. Anyone have any pointers? Or just pointers in general to help get hired?

 

[Erlanger]

Isn't the FAA known as the Failed Aviator Association?

 

[CX880]

Isn't the FAA known as the Failed Aviator Association?

Ask around industry pros and most of them would not touch an FAA job unless they're looking to be part of a failing inefficient club.

But at least runway incursions are down 500% the last few years!!!!

 

[Flying Illini]

I've considered it. Work 40hrs a week (first 40). Home almost every night. Govt. pay/bennies/retirement. I can put up with a lot of office BS for those perks.

I can then afford to buy/rent and fly where *I* want to go.

 

[Jar Jar]

Ask around industry pros and most of them would not touch an FAA job unless they're looking to be part of a failing inefficient club.

But at least runway incursions are down 500% the last few years!!!!

Amazing what a memo can do

 

[OPECJet]

I tried to tie in all that stuff with airlines / college flight training. All the quality stuff is related to pre-flighting an airplane. The management stuff, team building, etc is all CRM related.

I applied in Aug. and it's been NORDO. Best of luck.

More like Furloughed Aviators Association. Home Depot isn't even hiring right now, and if you're not a 1000 hour wonder, have 1000 turbine PIC, or local to a major city and typed in the right corporate jet, you're hosed!

 

[LearLove]

I've considered it. Work 40hrs a week (first 40). Home almost every night. Govt. pay/bennies/retirement. I can put up with a lot of office BS for those perks.

I can then afford to buy/rent and fly where *I* want to go.

I have a feeling that pretty soon the great pay/bennies/retirement will see a big overhaul. The US cannot afford to pay all the soon retiring govt. workers pensions plus pay a new wave of govt. employees current or better salaries. I think ATC is already like this, controllers getting hired now do not have the same retirement package as the baby boomer crowd.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Thread on getting hired by the FAA:

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=132040


.

 

[GOULET!]

I know three people that made that switch and while the pay and bennies are great they all say the work is just terrible. Absolutely nothing gets done and it is incredibly political even within the local FSDO's. (Not a big surprise there) I would highly caution you to look past the pay, etc. and really research what the job is really all about. It may be a great fit for you or you might really regret it. Good luck!

 

[SEVEN]

The grass really is greener on the other side of the fence, the only problem is it's painted green.

 

[N1VIBS]

Working on writing KSAs. Anyone have any pointers? Or just pointers in general to help get hired?

From what I've been told in the past month or so, if you're not a 10 point veteran, you're wasting your time. But on the other hand ,it never hurts to try.

 

[OCP]

From what I've been told in the past month or so, if you're not a 10 point veteran, you're wasting your time. But on the other hand ,it never hurts to try.

Had a few feds on my jump seat lately and talking to them about the same thing. They have pretty much said its a really good gig, but you will hate the first year as you adjust to not flying. But it gets better. They said put your stuff in if your interested cuz you never know...

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Thread on getting hired by the FAA:

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=132040


.

THis is a post from the thread. Maybe this guy can help you out:

To get hired you must have at least the following:
ATP, CFII MEI, 1000 hrs as CFI, 200 hrs. in the last 12 months and here is a great one, no more than 3 accidents or violations in the past 5 years. Yes, that is a written requirement. I have held the following FAA positions on my three tours there.....Air Traffic Controller, VFR tower and Radar, Flight Inspection Pilot, General Aviation Ops and Air Carrier Ops Inspector. I finally retired but with only 10 yrs. with the FAA. Call me if you want to discuss......Bill 817-691-1910

 

[Varmint]

In a true honest evaluation, about 75% of the feds I have met had a huge head on their shoulders and a power trip complex. They were complete ****************************** bags and thought that there little pet peeves were the most important things since sliced bread was invented. For most, if you don't get enough of a power trip as a capt go to the FAA, apparently. If your going to go fed, remember your roots and what we all go through out here. Don't be the nit picky ****************************** bag that things your doing the public a favor when your inflated ego self is really not.

 

[Dornier 335]

I have seen three guys from my regional go to the STL FSDO. They all become the biggest a$$holes in a rather short period of time. I'll echo what Varmint wrote. Plus, STL FSDO doesn't have a good reputation anyway. I am glad I don't have to go to that hellhole anymore.

 

[Flying Illini]

I had a former Eagle FO turned Fed in the j/s last year. He was probably the coolest fed I've ever met. Very down to Earth and a nice guy. He talked extensively to me about life on the "other side." He had been a Fed for 3 years and while it had it's negatives he said the positives far outweighed them. He said something along the lines of "if you can just go to work and do your job and ignore all of the BS, you'll be fine as a fed." I told him it sounded a lot like what I do now in the 121 world and he said, "exactly."

 

[greg52083]

"MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Not more than two separate incidents involving Federal aviation regulations violations in the last 5 years"

Copied right from the FAA website

 

[Varmint]

"MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Not more than two separate incidents involving Federal aviation regulations violations in the last 5 years"

Copied right from the FAA website

That's funny. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?

 

[Rizzo]

I went from airlines to FAA. Best move I ever made. Probably not doing the same job you're looking at, but I can probably help you out. Send me PM if you want any info or help. These guys are just being jackasses. It's a great job.

 

[Varmint]

I went from airlines to FAA. Best move I ever made. Probably not doing the same job you're looking at, but I can probably help you out. Send me PM if you want any info or help. These guys are just being jackasses. It's a great job.

ATC would be a good job if you can transition from cockpit to office easily. That's not what I visualize when someone says they want to go to the FAA...With that said however, what do you think about the guys who come and peer over your shoulder now and again to evaluate you (not the local facility trainers) or come after your job when you screw up on the scope or while controlling in the tower?

 

[Amish RakeFight]

ATC would be a good job if you can transition from cockpit to office easily. That's not what I visualize when someone says they want to go to the FAA...With that said however, what do you think about the guys who come and peer over your shoulder now and again to evaluate you (not the local facility trainers) or come after your job when you screw up on the scope or while controlling in the tower?

Isn't there an age limitation (max to be hired) for ATC? ...is that just for the controller or all positions?

 

[kmox29]

Isn't the FAA known as the Failed Aviator Association?

Just like regional pilots are a bunch of aviators who can't get hired at a mainline. I love generalizations...

 

[kmox29]

The FAA ASI job (like any other) is what you make of it. You can decide to keep your comon sense, or (as others have done) throw it out the window. You can choose to be a d-bag or not.

I can tell you that, for me, it's a great job. I try to find the best in any situation. However, there will always be a certain percentage of FAA ASIs who ruin it for the rest of us. Like any profession, it's the reality of it.

All I can do is go out into the field and be as fair as I can. I think every pilot deserves that from the FAA.

 

[Always deferred]

I went from Regional Pilot to FAA HQ Inspector. Spent 4 years at FAA. Opened A LOT of doors for me career wise and I'm in my early 30s.

Pros - Made 3x as much as I did in the airlines + guaranteed pay increases every year (some as much as 5%), interesting diverse work (SMS, UAS, Terminal Procedures, Rulemaking, VLJs), love having weekends/holidays/every other Friday off. Transportation subsidy. Lots of training opportunities (accident investigation, etc.).

PM me for more info. Don't listen to people who don't know what theyre talking about. Like any job, a lot has to do with your attitude and desires, but also your manager, environment, and coworkers.

 

[JAFI]

Just like regional pilots are a bunch of aviators who can't get hired at a mainline. I love generalizations...

You mean like "All airline pilots come to work drunk".......

 

[JoeMerchant]

I went from Regional Pilot to FAA HQ Inspector. Spent 4 years at FAA. Opened A LOT of doors for me career wise and I'm in my early 30s.

Pros - Made 3x as much as I did in the airlines + guaranteed pay increases every year (some as much as 5%), interesting diverse work (SMS, UAS, Terminal Procedures, Rulemaking, VLJs), love having weekends/holidays/every other Friday off. Transportation subsidy. Lots of training opportunities (accident investigation, etc.).

PM me for more info. Don't listen to people who don't know what theyre talking about. Like any job, a lot has to do with your attitude and desires, but also your manager, environment, and coworkers.

This is why we are going broke as a country....5% guaranteed increases? What is the inflation rate?

 

[OCP]

This is why we are going broke as a country....5% guaranteed increases? What is the inflation rate?

He said "as much as" not "guaranteed."

 

[aviator38]

73belair: Dont believe everything you read on this post. I made the swith from Regional Airline to FAA two years ago and love every minute of it. I would never go back to the Airlines. Great pay and schedules, and did I mention every weekend/holiday off, a pension plus the ability to transfer? I worked for a large "regional" in Phoenix and now I am employed as an ASI in Oklahoma City. Sure every job has its ups and downs. The first year is tough sitting at a desk, but you learn to adapt rather soon. PM me for more information.

 

[cfd130]

I have a feeling that pretty soon the great pay/bennies/retirement will see a big overhaul. The US cannot afford to pay all the soon retiring govt. workers pensions plus pay a new wave of govt. employees current or better salaries. I think ATC is already like this, controllers getting hired now do not have the same retirement package as the baby boomer crowd.

A just released report in Maine shows that 26 thousand state employees are retired. They paid 900 million into their retirement and can expect to receive about 13 billion in retirement pay. Wow what a great return on their investment

 

[JAFI]

A just released report in Maine shows that 26 thousand state employees are retired. They paid 900 million into their retirement and can expect to receive about 13 billion in retirement pay. Wow what a great return on their investment

Assuming the fund is not state funded, - the investment company had 20 plus years with that money to make it grow.