Pilot to Controller?

[WingOvrHeat]

I am a part 121 regional FO. I have been flying with the regionals for 3 years now and I am seriously researching the move from part 121 to ATCS. I have seen many different sides of the aviation industry and I plan to never leave it. However, I am looking for a better quality of life. A life that has me home on most nights. One where I can spend parts of each day with my family.

I see ATC as a golden opportunity for me. With the announcements now open to the public and me being 27 years old, I feel like now is my chance to go after the lifestyle I am looking for. I think that ATC would definitely give me the challenge that I look for.

Can anyone provide insight to someone you may know who has made the leap before? I know that many people are disgruntled about the pay right now, but not that I am not in it for the pay. I am a regional airline pilot.

How long after the anouncements close usually until a referral list is made?

Thanks

[icephalt24]

I know i'm probably the least experienced person on the boards, but I'll take a whack at it since nobody has yet.

Off the street hiring is done by you showing up, taking at AT-SAT and if you pass you're put in a pool. They pick a number at random and they hire all those who have an SSN ending in that number who passed the AT-SAT. From what I hear they only do this at hard to staff facilities, generally level 12's like Memphis Center I believe is one, and from what I imagine and what I hear alot of people wash out since FAA training at OKC alone just doesn't seem to be enough for alot of people when they get thrown into the fire, especially at a level 12. It would be alot like going from zero time to ATP in 18 months and finding yourself type rated in a 737 flying for a major. Sure you have a piece of paper that says you can, but chances are you aren't really ready for it. That and actually getting picked up is a little like playing the lottery, if you've got the right number you win.

Were I you, I'd go to a CTI school which will pretty much assure you get hired after you graduate. I'd do some research, get the ATC career prep book put out by ASA by Patrick Mattson, see if it is for you and act on it if it is. If you wait until you are 29 to do anything about it, there is a good chance you wont actually get picked up until you are too old. Given your age and you are 4 years from the hiring cut off, I'd go to one of the 2 year ones since you have enough work experience and thus only need an AS anyway. If you have a bachelors you'll pretty much just take 3 to 5 classes depending on which one you go to not counting maybe a core class you never took the first time around and will be out in a year. If you have no previous college classes you can bang it all out in 2 years. There are 3 CTI schools offering 2 year programs, one in PA, on in Florida and one in Minnisota. For a part 121 pilot it won't be strenious course work by any means, but it seems like having that foundation before going to OKC makes a huge impact and turns the academy from a crash course into a fine tuning session since you've already had a year of runing problems etc in a similar setting.

[WingOvrHeat]

Thanks for the info.

So am I correct to assume that once the referral list has been made on FAA.gov, that if you are on the list then you would go take the At-SAT? Then, If your score is passing and your number is chosen, you would be yanked from the pool and admitted to OKC?

[PurduePilot]

I'm actually in your shoes... I just made the transition from full time CFI to ATC.

It was a surprisingly difficult transition, at least for me, because everything I learned (and my 'bad' radio habits) was completely wrong (for ATC). As an ATC, you have to 100% on the ball about phraseology for example. However, it's like airline training (from what I gather)... as long as you study hard and keep your head down you'll pass training. Heck, I did... you can read my post from about a month ago when I was pining about not being able to make it through.

At any rate, I wouldn't flush anymore money down the toilet education wise. If you already have your 4 year degree, don't go back to college especially for ATC. They are hiring more and more off the street. A lot of people are quitting their first facilities, so I guess it's more of a necessity at this point. All going to a CTI program gets you is a 'bump' to the head of the line, but that's moot at this point with the need for controllers outstripping the availability.

It's a good time to get into the field. Most, if not all, facilities are extremely short-staffed. Atlanta TRACON, for example, has had to go to a 6/10 schedule because they are extremely short staffed -- 6 days on for 10 hours a day. I'm lucky in that ACK is getting 4 other new people so we should be fully staffed by the end of the summer.

I'm sorry, I can't help you with the hiring process for off the street people because I went the CTI route... but if you want to anything about the Academy or training I can help because I'm still in the process.

[Magnetoz]

I have a couple controller friends. We went through CTI together. I didn't pursue ATC, and now they are quitting after a couple years. To much Bureaucracy in a government job. To much fighting between the union and the government. To many restrictions.

They enjoy the work, but basically the company sucks. If you're bright enough to get hired on as an ATC, maybe consider your options finding a private organization to make your career with.

[TeddyG]

My friend think about what you r doing. I'm a controller working with the FAA. It's not all peaches and cream. The new pay scale sucks trust me. I'm there now and i was converted to it I didn't come in knowing about it like new hires. As far as time with the family depends where u get sent. At lower level facilities you might be fine some actually close at 9PM but I'm at a level 7 tower that is open 24/7 365/year. Over time here is not that big of issue rarely does it happen. My suggestion to people that have aviation background is to explore the FSS (flight services) route. Lockheed Martin has the FSS's. Let me tell you my wife and I were both hired together and then I got a job with FAA and split didn't know anything about this new pay ####. On the flip side my works 3 times less than I do and absolutely loves her job and makes almost 30k more than me a year no ####. I get paid 22/hr she gets paid 26/hr in training and once she gets done 34/hr(she is 75% complete). So u do the math. If u want details pm me willing to help out and clear the air. Allot of people say this and that and provide smoke clouds of inaccurate info get it from the source.

[subpilot]

Since ATC is a government job, do you get any credit toward retirement/vacation/etc if you already have time in another government job (military for example)?

[TeddyG]

Yes other federal or militayr time counts. Depending on the amount of time served is how they determine vacation time ie less than 3 years = 4 hours per pay period etc.

[D_R_ATC]

[quote=WingOvrHeat;584237]I am a part 121 regional FO. I have been flying with the regionals for 3 years now and I am seriously researching the move from part 121 to ATCS. I have seen many different sides of the aviation industry and I plan to never leave it. However, I am looking for a better quality of life. A life that has me home on most nights. One where I can spend parts of each day with my family.

I see ATC as a golden opportunity for me. With the announcements now open to the public and me being 27 years old, I feel like now is my chance to go after the lifestyle I am looking for. I think that ATC would definitely give me the challenge that I look for.

Can anyone provide insight to someone you may know who has made the leap before? I know that many people are disgruntled about the pay right now, but not that I am not in it for the pay. I am a regional airline pilot.

How long after the anouncements close usually until a referral list is made?

I particularly don't know anyone that has made the leap from a flying job to a controller job. In fact, I am the opposite, I am a controller working for DOD and I am building flying time so I can fly for a 121 operator..hopefully without having to go to a regional airline....
Most in my profession come from the military..at my present job all 28 of us were in the military at one point in our lives and that is how we were able to get our first CTO (control Tower Operator) certificate. Before I was hired by DOD I was working for a contractor doing ATC. The pay was not to bad - about 50 to 60 thousand a year depending on the region you work at. The catch..you have to had you CTO already..and about three years of experience..So it seems that is very difficult for someone without the military background to even get a shot at it. It narrows it down to the college option and to tell you the thruth I don't know if that is a good option taking into account the the time and money, mainly the time, it will take to meet the requirements. Additionally, the hiring process is lenghty. It takes on average between 12 to 18 months.
I wish I had better news for you, but seems that it would be kind of difficult. I am not trying to discourage you from doin it, I just want to give you the facts so you can make a better decision.
I wish you the best.

[TeddyG]

So where u at DOD 28, thats sounds like the entire facility? You guys switch over to the new pay pand yet?

[WingOvrHeat]

You mention that your goal is to fly part 121 without flying for a Regional. Did you get any flying time in the Military, or was that controller experience. Unless you are in really tight with CEO somewhere, chances are that you won't even be looked at by the Majors unless you have Military flight experience, or a couple thousand hours of PIC part 121.

[jonnyb]

Originally Posted by WingOvrHeat

You mention that your goal is to fly part 121 without flying for a Regional. Did you get any flying time in the Military, or was that controller experience. Unless you are in really tight with CEO somewhere, chances are that you won't even be looked at by the Majors unless you have Military flight experience, or a couple thousand hours of PIC part 121.

Huh?

[D_R_ATC]

Originally Posted by TeddyG

So where u at DOD 28, thats sounds like the entire facility? You guys switch over to the new pay pand yet?

Yeah..pretty much..some of the guys and gals came from the Navy, Army and Air Force and I believe one or two from the Marines....not sure though...

And no..we have not switched to the new pay band yet..The word is that they are waiting until June or July....we'll see.

[D_R_ATC]

No I don't have any flying military experience and I don't know any CEO any where...I wish....What I am trying to do is to build more flying time and when that time comes, see if I'll be able to switch jobs...I am somewhat still undecided because that obviously involves a pay cut and I am not sure about it....guess..as long as it is not more than 50% of what I am currently making I will be alright..

[subpilot]

Originally Posted by D_R_ATC

Yeah..pretty much..some of the guys and gals came from the Navy, Army and Air Force and I believe one or two from the Marines....not sure though...

And no..we have not switched to the new pay band yet..The word is that they are waiting until June or July....we'll see.

What new pay band?

[pilotnate23]

NSPS?

[D_R_ATC]

yep!!