Age requirements for contracted ATC facilities?

[Naluryder]

Does anyone in here know if the maximum age limit to be a controller at contracted ATC facilities is the same as the FAA being 30 years of age as the max for this career? Like if you were to attend an ATC program besides the OKC route ? I have a friend over 30 that's interested in ATC but for a contractor ? As long as he aquires his pink card from an ATC school. I've been away from ATC for a long while so I don't know what the new regs are?
Thanks..

[surreal1221]

The trouble your friend will find is, that most of the contract companies - DO NOT hire anyone who went to an "ATC school," but rather they hire those who have some job experience through the military or past FAA controllers.

[SmitteyB]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

The trouble your friend will find is, that most of the contract companies - DO NOT hire anyone who went to an "ATC school," but rather they hire those who have some job experience through the military or past FAA controllers.

I don't mean to be rude but....

You obviously don't know what you're talking about.

Midwest ATC, ATCOS all hire directly out of the community college ATC programs.

[surreal1221]

Oh really? They weren't when I went through the CTI program at MDC. Times may be getting pretty tough.

The FAA now has a mass amount of All sources 2152 job opportunities for anyone. . .yes, anyone. . .(so long as you're not >31 yrs old). I suppose Midwest ATC, and the one that starts with an S (SERCO?), are also hurting badly.

Go be a rock star, for 35k a year, topping out at 85k.

[SmitteyB]

Yes- as far as I know they're not doing well. I cant for the life of me remember which airport, but MidwestATC did close a tower last summer because they couldn't get any personnel.

Good time to be a contract controller! Demand better pay though.

[surreal1221]

And just to set the record straight, I do have an idea what I'm talking about when it comes to this type of stuff.

I just wasn't aware (as I went through CTI from 03-06 off and on at MDC), that they had started to become friendly with CTI graduates.

Still not much career progression though, to sit at VFR tower for your career, no chance to move onto a TRACON or ARTCC, or even the ATCCC. But hey, if he is older >31, then I suppose that's all he needs then huh.

[SmitteyB]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

And just to set the record straight, I do have an idea what I'm talking about when it comes to this type of stuff.

I just wasn't aware (as I went through CTI from 03-06 off and on at MDC), that they had started to become friendly with CTI graduates.

Still not much career progression though, to sit at VFR tower for your career, no chance to move onto a TRACON or ARTCC, or even the ATCCC. But hey, if he is older >31, then I suppose that's all he needs then huh.

And I'm sorry- that was immature of me to say.

[surreal1221]

Tis' okay, I didn't hold it against you or take it out on you. I still like you SmitteyB - no matter what happens in this, or other threads.

[Fox Xray]

Originally Posted by Naluryder

Does anyone in here know if the maximum age limit to be a controller at contracted ATC facilities is the same as the FAA being 30 years of age as the max for this career? Like if you were to attend an ATC program besides the OKC route ? I have a friend over 30 that's interested in ATC but for a contractor ? As long as he aquires his pink card from an ATC school. I've been away from ATC for a long while so I don't know what the new regs are?
Thanks..

As far as I know there is no age limit when being hired this way... historically these companies would only hire those with a CTO AND prior experience. I have met some new people over the past year or so that graduated from one of the CTI schools with a CTO and were hired. Hiring in ATC , and aviation as a whole, is very market driven. The requirements all depend on what the employment pool at the time offer.

[surreal1221]

And now that I think of it, I do recall ONE student that I knew who attended BCCC in PA who was picked up about 6 to 8 months after graduating there with his CTO - I think he went to one of the Serco towers (can not recall the actual location though).

BCCC is (I still think) the only CTI school that offers a CTO through their curriculum.

[Naluryder]

Thanks a bunch guys. What is CTO? I'm assuming it stands for control tower operations. I miss ATC it feels different being on the otherside now but I see the BIG picture now. It's funny on my PPL check ride just recently my examiner had me do a go around scenerio with an A/C on the runway, so I mic up and said " 181 is going around / acft on rnwy" then I chuckled and came back with a " correction tower simulated acft on rnwy for 181" then tower came back with " roger that" with a little laughter in the backround. I'll be sure to encourage my friend to seek out his options if he still wants to give ATC a try...

[surreal1221]

Control Tower Operator license.

To my knowledge, there is only one AT-CTI school that is officially licensed by the FAA to issue such a license, and that is Beaver County Community College in PA.

[Naluryder]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

Control Tower Operator license.

To my knowledge, there is only one AT-CTI school that is officially licensed by the FAA to issue such a license, and that is Beaver County Community College in PA.

Thanks surreal1221! Back in my days my CTO was pink in color.. I wonder if its plastic now? as in our PPLs ? By the way a belated congrats on your recent PPL checkride. I just saw your post in the checkride area.

[surreal1221]

Thank You!

[oktex88]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

To my knowledge, there is only one AT-CTI school that is officially licensed by the FAA to issue such a license, and that is Beaver County Community College in PA.

At the University of North Dakota we get our CTO by taking a written FAA administered exam which is offered once a semester at UND.

[TeddyG]

To clear the air. The Federal Contract Tower contractors ie Midwest, Serco RVA, Air Services Australia and Dynamic Science. Require a CTO(Control Tower Operator certificate) minimum 3 years of experience. The pay is not bad 50-60k depending on where you work. Prior to FAA I worked for Midwest. Good people. I worked with a person that was a young as myself and the rest where in there late 40's- 60's. The upside I found to the contract is that they are real laid back and since it's only a couple of people everyone knows everyone and you become like a family, as cliché as it may sound. The traffic is light to moderate mostly light depending where u r at. The majority of towers close early and some places like where I was at it was 4 10/hr days 3 off. In my opinion it's all about balance. For example FAA has pension, early retirement and TSP/401k. U will work holidays overtime weekends nights mids. Work with #######s that complain about what they do and are being paid six figure salaries while ur sucking ur thumb on 46k a year. Quality of life is a big deal 100k and be miserable or 50-60k and be chill. I work with the FAA but I'm seriously thinking about going back to contract. Hope this helps. Oh and another contract towers are the hardest to get into all the retired controllers go there and rot they don't leave until they r literally ill or medical incapable. FAA is the easiest and DOD is rather difficult too.

[Naluryder]

Originally Posted by TeddyG

To clear the air. The Federal Contract Tower contractors ie Midwest, Serco RVA, Air Services Australia and Dynamic Science. Require a CTO(Control Tower Operator certificate) minimum 3 years of experience. The pay is not bad 50-60k depending on where you work. Prior to FAA I worked for Midwest. Good people. I worked with a person that was a young as myself and the rest where in there late 40's- 60's. The upside I found to the contract is that they are real laid back and since it's only a couple of people everyone knows everyone and you become like a family, as cliché as it may sound. The traffic is light to moderate mostly light depending where u r at. The majority of towers close early and some places like where I was at it was 4 10/hr days 3 off. In my opinion it's all about balance. For example FAA has pension, early retirement and TSP/401k. U will work holidays overtime weekends nights mids. Work with #######s that complain about what they do and are being paid six figure salaries while ur sucking ur thumb on 46k a year. Quality of life is a big deal 100k and be miserable or 50-60k and be chill. I work with the FAA but I'm seriously thinking about going back to contract. Hope this helps. Oh and another contract towers are the hardest to get into all the retired controllers go there and rot they don't leave until they r literally ill or medical incapable. FAA is the easiest and DOD is rather difficult too.

Thanks TeddyG..

[Naluryder]

Hey I found my old pink card..FAA Form 7220-1. Boy it brings back some fond memories. Like sending around a KC-10 which I had informed him of a possible go around at 4 mile final cause a navy P3 orion pilot was confused of which taxi way to exit after telling him more than three times to "turn left next taxyway and exit without delay"..almost had all our ratings pulled for doing my job. But my tower chief backed me up. The KC-10 pilot was just being an "A"...he wanted to impress the General he was carrying. Come to find out from our commander the General didn't even care. I'm still pinching myself cause I'm now on the other side of the fence. I musn't screw up on my phraseology even though I'm rusty...LOL. I miss spinning c-130s behind fighters and clearing C-5s as I broke f15s end or rnwy watching the huge C-5 rolling mid rnwy as the flight of f15s turn final..no separation broken..oh "causion wake turb c-5 departing"..man what a rush...Yeah as you can tell I miss ATC...as challenging as becoming a pilot..ATC moto "keep um separated" piloting moto "look out the window and fly the plane"..I see the BIG PICTURE NOW and I'm loving it...

[TeddyG]

So u made the leap from controller to pilot. How was that experience? Here where Im at we have a company called Cape Air they flight c-402 and these guysy make decent monet from what I am told and r home every night. Heh the though has gone through my mind but they require ATP minimums. Oh and your friend needs a CTO the pink card was given to u when u graduated tech school and its used to track you radar exp on the back ie i have a pink card and a cto!

[Naluryder]

Originally Posted by TeddyG

So u made the leap from controller to pilot. How was that experience? Here where Im at we have a company called Cape Air they flight c-402 and these guysy make decent monet from what I am told and r home every night. Heh the though has gone through my mind but they require ATP minimums. Oh and your friend needs a CTO the pink card was given to u when u graduated tech school and its used to track you radar exp on the back ie i have a pink card and a cto!

Its all been a great experience so far. I plan on going all the way and hopefully one day land a flying gig..maybe even try at the FAA as AI. I just need to keep pressing. When I joined the military I chose to try at ATC and then apply for UPT but plans changed. I had always wanted to be a pilot. I got married and my goals changed. Then waited to long to apply for the FAA. My wife got tired of hearing me talk about flying so I finally made a decesion to just go for it. I'm lucky to have an awesome wife..When I first met my wife I gave her a tour of my control tower she was impressed and she still remembered me telling her back then that one day I will be a pilot either military or civilian. We moved from paradise (Hawaii) and now living in Texas (Ft.Worth). I have at least 4-5 days a week to commit to flying. I chose TX cause we have some family here and I can still pull my Air Force reserve duty here. Flying in TX is a lot more feasable than Hawaii. I've heard only positive things about Cape Air matter of fact I was asking my wife if she would'nt mind living in Guam ? They fly ATR-72 on island hops. the mins on their website is 1000tt for an f/o.

If you are debating whether to try at flying then you shoud visit the local FBO or flight school there and go up on an intro flt? Being a controller will only work to your advantage you'll have a leg up on the average student. Flying and ATC are both challenging not everyone can do it. I guess you have to love both to be able to do both. I myself believe that anything is possible. You must will it....LOL... Hey thanks for the reply. Like I said to my buddy who wants to do ATC..its going to be a challenging and satisfying career. If that's what he really wants? Aloha!

[TeddyG]

That sounds cool. When I was air force our base was a fighter base so we had f-16's and a-10's along with c--130 and hh-60. It was a goo blend fun as hell. Now all I work is commercial traffic it sucks. It's all about caution wake turbulence clear to land and repeat, lol. I too used to dream about being a fighter pilot. Once your in it's easier to make connects and get the leg up. I had a incentive ride on a T-38 talon, i was in the back seat of the flight lead and we did bombing runs in a restricted area. I said to myself wow these guys got to love thier job. All they did was fly 2-3 sorties a day dogfight bank and roll, over g the aircraft. #### the first time we went into a climb out of a bomb drop i said oh #### the plane is falling apart. The g suit squeezed me like a bear and all the panels where shaking. The pilot was cool that was 5g's, he said. The point is that we shouldnt keep waisiting time on a dream becasue a dream is just that until you do something about it then it becomes a goal. Good Luck.

[Naluryder]

Originally Posted by TeddyG

That sounds cool. When I was air force our base was a fighter base so we had f-16's and a-10's along with c--130 and hh-60. It was a goo blend fun as hell. Now all I work is commercial traffic it sucks. It's all about caution wake turbulence clear to land and repeat, lol. I too used to dream about being a fighter pilot. Once your in it's easier to make connects and get the leg up. I had a incentive ride on a T-38 talon, i was in the back seat of the flight lead and we did bombing runs in a restricted area. I said to myself wow these guys got to love thier job. All they did was fly 2-3 sorties a day dogfight bank and roll, over g the aircraft. #### the first time we went into a climb out of a bomb drop i said oh #### the plane is falling apart. The g suit squeezed me like a bear and all the panels where shaking. The pilot was cool that was 5g's, he said. The point is that we shouldnt keep waisiting time on a dream becasue a dream is just that until you do something about it then it becomes a goal. Good Luck.

Thank you teddyG, you know I never got a chance to go up on a ride. We had a draw once at our wing but did'nt come close. Oh well..yeah I must keep pressing along. For once in my life I feel alive with new enthuesiasm. I feel very fortunate and I don't take anything for granted..