Cleveland Center Position

[zucknr]

I just received an email inviting me to attend a PEPC for Cleveland Center. Anyone out there work there? Is it a good location?

Ohio is not my or my wifes first choice of a location to work and I would prefer a terminal position instead of a center position. Would it be smart of me to turn down this offer and wait for something else? If I go to a PEPC will that guarantee me a job offer? I am really at a loss as to what I should do. I had always said that I would take the first offer that is given to me but I have mixed feelings about living in OH. I have alot of friends in Columbus (I live in Northern IN) but both me and my wife don't like harsh winter weather and gray skies. Should I go to the PEPC and train and then transfer someplace else? does anyone have any advice?

[SoonerATC]

With all do respect man, if you have reservations about living in OH, why'd you apply there?

I think this is the reason we're only getting to provide 2 geographic preferences for the Feb applicants. Too many folks shotgunning places they wouldn't really accept.

[brianjgault]

I'm from the ZOB area, and used to go to church with a couple of people that worked there. I don't know what conditions are like now, but they never had any problems or complaints. The cost of living in the Oberlin area is not bad at all, and the pay of a level 12 facility would afford you a very nice life.

That being said, you would be in the middle of the snow belt, and winters are no joke there. But, if you're from the Lafayette area or something comparable, the winters are no different in my opinion. (Had a friend attend Purdue I grew up with.) So I'm not sure if you're saying you want to go somewhere warm, or that you think the weather will be worse in Ohio than in Indiana. But, depending on what you read here, it's a real roll of the dice to turn down an offer. I certainly understand since you want a tower vs. center...but I'm not sure there IS a good or "right" answer to that.

As far as the PEPC goes...I haven't seen anyone post here that they did not at least receive a TOL for attending. The only things I've seen people not get FOLs for is a medical DQ or the like. It seems like if you get to attend the PEPC, you're going to get an offer if you don't totally screw it up.

[zucknr]

I know I could handle the weather, i've lived in Northern IN and PA for all of my life and I know lots of people in OH so I know that would enjoy the location. My biggest reservation at this point is the en route center vs. the tower. does anyone know if any of the states have met to review applications?

[zucknr]

Sooner ATC
I appreciate your thoughts, they are valid and things that I thought about when I was applying. This application was for a job last July before they offer the "Throughout the US" application thread. I really want a job in ATC so I applied to every option hoping to get a hit and make a decision about it later.

[ATC Vector]

zucknr,

Some people have been successful in requesting a facility transfer after receiving their tentative offer letter at a PEPC, while others have not (such as yours truly ). If you really can't stand the idea of living in Ohio, then your choice should be clear. If you decline this time, you are not guaranteed to be selected for the facility of your choice either next time around. However, you may be able to get a terminal facility instead of a center.

Others who have asked similar questions, have been suggested to take the first offer they get, and worry about transferring later. Doing that places you in the system, while you gain seniority.

The decision is yours, however. Do what is best for you and your family, and remember to think about the long-term.

Let us know what you decide!

[SoonerATC]

I've heard of folks requesting different facility types once they received an offer, but they could only do so within that same state. It's not guaranteed, but worth a shot.

[zucknr]

Thanks for the input. After talking with my wife and thinking about it, I decided that it is more important for me to get my name in the system rather than wait for my perfect job. I've been pursuing this for nine months now and as late as two months ago I was planning on attending Purdue and going the CTI route. So I sent an email back to get scheduled for a PEPC in Chicago on May 19th.
Has anyone else been selected for the Cleveland Center position? Anyone else going to the PEPC in Chicago?

[tefpetti]

I received the Cleveland PEPC email but I elected to go to Fort Worth.

[JT ATC]

Is it me or does it seem like most people are afraid to go to a center? If you have never controlled traffic how do you know what you want? Besides, even if you can switch to a terminal facility, still doesn't mean you will work tower. There are a lot of up and down (tower and radar in the same building) locations.

[SoonerATC]

I want to work in an ATCT because I love the airport environment and want to get up everyday and go to work at the airport. Centers are generally no where near airports. Simply talking to the planes is not the same as actually getting to watch them.

[zucknr]

I agree with Sooner ATC, I love airplanes and the chance to watch them everyday at work would be a great experience

[blueskies]

Zucknr,

I have a family member that works in Oberlin and has for over 20 years. He really enjoys his job as well as his other coworkers. I have visited that center and its pretty impressive. It's very large (compared to others that i have seen) over 200-300 employed including weather radar etc.... the controllers are fairly well staffed so he hasn't ever had any problems with not getting the regulated 40min break every 2 hours. ( A lot were ready for retirement that i met though, so things could change) During those breaks they have a large cafeteria and gym, most of the people i saw on breaks were either eating or reading , i think a lot of them don't like to be sweaty going back to work lol. The snow, isn't that bad...its nothing like the feet upon feet they get in New York or Colorado every year, yeah I'm sure it does get interesting directing planes sometimes in the weather but you are going to have that everywhere. Anyways I liked it enough that its in my top choices, however, i want to stay in Ohio. Hope that helps Good Luck!!!

[flyguy63]

I interviewed at Cleveland Center and it's a pretty decent place. They have a medical facility right there so you won't have to go anywhere for your physicals and if you get sick you can walk on over. The manager is a pretty nice guy. I can't remember his name, but i do know that he drives about an hour and 45 mins to get to the center everyday. The facility also seemed pretty relaxed and it didn't even look like people were working. Oberlin is a pretty small town, and downtown Cleveland is about a 30 minute drive or so. It would be a nice place to raise a family and I imagine the school system is pretty good. You are also close to Cedar Point and Put In Bay. I decided against going to center because i liked the flexibility that a tower position offered and I also wanted to see the planes instead of just stare at a screen.

[dpiatek]

Originally Posted by blueskies

Zucknr,

I have visited that center and its pretty impressive. It's very large (compared to others that i have seen) over 200-300 employed including weather radar etc.... the controllers are fairly well staffed so he hasn't ever had any problems with not getting the regulated 40min break every 2 hours.

40 minute break every two hours? Is that standard?

[blueskies]

I'm not sure if its the standard for all centers, especially with most of the locations hurting for controllers. All i know is that is what I saw during my visit to Oberlin, and what my family member currently does. He doesn't always take those breaks, but he said that they do stress it at Oberlin because the longer you are on radar without a break the less efficient you are...which makes sense. There were a lot of people on breaks at a time, so i do think that they do try and stress that method. I have heard both sides though, and most of what i am reading is that this isn't the case and that you are working 6 day work weeks and 12 hour shifts, so who knows what we all have to look forward to... I advise if you know what states you are putting down , make an effort to visit those locations, I have, and its a great learning experience, plus there is nothing worse than thinking a job/location is going to be something that it really isn't going to be.

[dpiatek]

Originally Posted by blueskies

I'm not sure if its the standard for all centers, especially with most of the locations hurting for controllers. All i know is that is what I saw during my visit to Oberlin, and what my family member currently does. He doesn't always take those breaks, but he said that they do stress it at Oberlin because the longer you are on radar without a break the less efficient you are...which makes sense. There were a lot of people on breaks at a time, so i do think that they do try and stress that method. I have heard both sides though, and most of what i am reading is that this isn't the case and that you are working 6 day work weeks and 12 hour shifts, so who knows what we all have to look forward to... I advise if you know what states you are putting down , make an effort to visit those locations, I have, and its a great learning experience, plus there is nothing worse than thinking a job/location is going to be something that it really isn't going to be.

Thanks BlueSkies for the reply. Actually, I just found out yesterday I was chosen for the center in Olathe, KS so I'm pretty psyched about that. I already work a decent amount of overtime at my current full-time job in addition to doing my independent work on the weekends so I think I'm at least somewhat prepared for OT.

[blueskies]

Hey I hear ya....I was a Manager for a retail store for 5 years and i only recieved salary plus premium pay... so for all of the hours i worked over , or all of the holidays i worked i got about $6 an hour after my salary cap ...lol so im all for OT Best of Luck !

[ajcowing]

Congrats on being slated to a high level facility, but be cautioned that transfer oportunities for you are going to be very limited, and training is going to be a lot tougher, and take much longer. From what I've heard, it's almost impossible to transfer out of a center, so if I were you, and not wanting to go to that location, I would call up OKC and request to work at a terminal. They would still place you in Ohio, which I understand you're not wanting, but you could check out much quicker, and you would have the opportunity to transfer out, for a promotion. That's just my $0.02 though. Take it with a grain of salt. Good luck, and congrats!!!

[JT ATC]

That's another thing...why is everyone worried about "checking out quicker"? I plan on doing this job for almost 30 years. I'll take my level 12 pay for 26 years if i have to train for 4 years. I'm ok with that. (and no, pay is not the most important thing for me, but paying my bills is)

[fredo]

"Checking out quicker" is meant in the sense of transferring to another location. I'm sure a majority of us are here for the long haul but us 2007 applicants weren't offered a nationwide selection. We had to apply for each state that had an opening and the options were few and far between. So quite a few of us are going to less desirable locations thousands of miles from family just to get to the opportunity. "Checking out quicker," is regarding hopes of transferring closer to home at some time.

[ajcowing]

Why be concerned about checking out quickly? Simply because you have to check out, and work for a year, prior to being able to transfer to a different facility.

It only makes sense to me, if you've received a TOL for a facility that you don't want to go to, and it's a high level facility, to not accept the offer, because more than likely you're not going to be able to transfer out of it. If he were able to obtain a transfer, within state, it would be to his best interest to accept a smaller level facility, where he could check out quickly, and be able to transfer out of relatively quickly, to his choice facility.

[JT ATC]

I got lucky and got the location I wanted (even though I actually wanted Indy approach since it's up and down facility) . I could pick 5 states under my VRA and just got the luck of the draw. I was going wherever they sent me seeing how in FY 2003 only 13 controllers were hired. I"m not missing out on the opportunity to get in...

[zucknr]

why is it more difficult to transfer out of a large level 12 facility? I thought it would be easier to transfer out because people want to transfer in and take your job.

Flyguy63 what do you mean that a tower facility has greater flexibility?

[ajcowing]

Anytime that you transfer from a lower level facility to a highter level facility, it is considered a promotion, thus you're guaranteed a transfer. That's not to say that the transfer is instantaneous; I believe that they have up to a year to actually let you go. If you start out at a level 12, and you don't like it, more than likely you're not going to get your transfer request approved. First of all, they put 5 or so years into your training, and secondly because your wouldn't be able to transer into another facilitiy, for a promotion.