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Originally Posted by ATC RET 2003  I also worked both, although is has been more than five glorious and grand years since I worked either. (Sorry CJ and OG... not trying to rub it in... your time is coming soon!)
I was a 21-year approach/tower controller before going to a center for 4 years. Taking that route, the adjustment to enroute was not exactly a piece of cake for me. Not to say the center is harder... just that it was a whole new world. I expect if my career had gone the opposite way, the transition to terminal would probably have likewise been an adjustment.
During my swivelhead days, I saw more than a few "center pukes" come into towers and have an absolute b!tch of a time getting used to working local control. From my own point of view, it took some getting used to seeing airplanes go like bats from hell at higher altitudes.
I agree with queeno's assertion that they are different and you shouldn't describe either as easy.
ATLTRACON is also correct... there are lots of places to hide in the center. Camping on the A-side is a well-honed art. I never saw so many "walking wounded" as I did in the center, either.
The center has more airspace and faster moving planes. I didn't feel that there was more to know... just that it was different.
Approach controllers have less airspace to work with and, even though they're moving slower, they are a lot closer together... half your time is spent getting half your airplanes all to the same place at the same altitude. |
Dude you are so right when it comes to enroute, we had so many traffic dodging turds at ZAU i just wanted to scream (and many times i did). i would love to watch certain controller do a little dance around one of our busyer sectors it was very sad also. they loved the money but didnt want to pay the piper.there is much less traffic dodging in my tracon every one takes there turn in the barrel which is the way is should be.if your afraid to work the traffic than get the #### OUT.
iam just the opposite i spent 20 years enroute before i went terminal and it was a huge change but i like it more than center control.it takes less traffic to get busy here than in the center due to the small sectors and the complex airspace in the sat sectors.
P.S 360 days till freedom
