Help! At a crossroad!

[Starbuck5]

I have a personal dilemma. I have been offered a position with a regional airline as a first officer and I have been selected to take the ATSAT for a position with ATC.

I have really struggled with what decision I should make and understand the magnitude of my decision as there will be no looking back once I take the next step. Are you guys who are air traffic controllers generally happy with your career choice, payscale, and opportunity for career progression? I love being a pilot but there are sacrifices (low initial starting pay, gone from home a lot, etc). I am a family guy and the ability to be home with my family as an air traffic controller would be great. I have always been intrigued by the ATC profession and think it would be a good job. One thing I have noticed though is that it seems like a lot of people on this forum are disgruntled about the ATC profession at the moment. This doesn't bother me too much because the same can be about all the pilot forums out there.

The most important thing to me is stability. It seems like the ATC profession would be more stable. Also, the pay scale looks reasonable (to an outsider at least).

I guess, here are my questions...please feel free to tackle one or more of these if you can:

Do you like being an air traffic controller?
Do you look forward to going to work every day?
Would you recommend being a controller to a friend?
What can I expect to make as an ATC after 5 to 10 years (based in TX).
Do you like your benefit package (medical, dental, vacation, retirement, etc)
Do you feel like you are able to spend quality time with your family and "be there" for most of your family events?
What do you see in the future of ATC as a career?

Sorry if this was a rambling post but I have been stressing about this decision as it will obviouisly affect me the rest of my life and any insight anyone can give will be greatly appreciated.

[Airport7]

I'm not ATC but I do work for the FAA. I had the same type of decision to make not too long ago, and I took the stability of the FAA job over the the professional pilot thing. Personally, just my opinion, I think the current ATC situation right now stinks (payscales and such), but I also think that things will change soon and it will once again be a very good career down the road.

[Towerboss]

Do you like being an air traffic controller? Yes, I love it. There are some things that could change to make it better but you have that in every job.

Do you look forward to going to work every day? Yes

Would you recommend being a controller to a friend? Yes

What can I expect to make as an ATC after 5 to 10 years (based in TX). Well that is up in the air. Currently we are under imposed work rules. The agency cut our pay on average by 30% everywhere. We lost some premium pays like CIC pay. We hope to get someone in office very soon who will fix all this. Or for some laws to go through that would change things back.

Do you like your benefit package (medical, dental, vacation, retirement, etc). Medical benefits are 2nd to the military and I thought military benefits were great! Dental is just okay. Vacation works out to be for someone just starting 4 hrs per pay check. So at the end of your first year you'd have like 104 hrs or vacation time. And 104 hours of sick leave. After 3 years you earn 6 hours of vacation time and still 4 hours of sick leave. After 10 (it's 10 I think) you earn 8 hours of vacation time and still 4 hours of sick leave.

Do you feel like you are able to spend quality time with your family and "be there" for most of your family events? Yes and No, currently we are very short staffed at the facility I work at. So we are working some 6 day work weeks and some 10 hour days. It is only going to get worse. On the bright side this shortage will only last a few years. Then things will go back to the way they were. 5 days on 2 days off varying shifts. I am just like you a family guy, and we will have it again, but not for awhile. Even with all that said, I am still able to see my family a lot and be there for almost everything. Some facilitys are worse that others though.

What do you see in the future of ATC as a career? Pay will go up, if you are interested in moving up such as supervisor, manager stuff like that. There will be lots of jobs. Everyone working for the agency now is old and will be retiring. Getting in now on the ground floor will mean you have lots of seniority and all those jobs that come open you'll have first crack at them if thats your goal.

So what do you think? Where were you selected to? Terminal or Center? Not everyone can be an Air Traffic Controller. You obviously can fly you have been offered a job.

TB

P.S. Here is a link to the current pay. Scroll all the way down to the bottom.http://faaimposedpayrules.natca.net/art108_a4_pay.htm

Here is a link to the old pay. Scroll all the way down to the bottom. The pay chart titled "June 2006 ATC Pay Bands" http://faaimposedpayrules.natca.net/natca_pay_offer.htm

[rickyrhodesii]

Originally Posted by Towerboss

P.S. Here is a link to the current pay. Scroll all the way down to the bottom.http://faaimposedpayrules.natca.net/art108_a4_pay.htm

Here is a link to the old pay. Scroll all the way down to the bottom. The pay chart titled "June 2006 ATC Pay Bands" http://faaimposedpayrules.natca.net/natca_pay_offer.htm

Thanks for the links...were would you find what level a certain facility is?

[Towerboss]

Originally Posted by rickyrhodesii

Thanks for the links...were would you find what level a certain facility is?

Go here this should help. http://faaimposedpayrules.natca.net/...yratesrev9.xls

[DE727UPS]

I left flying, with 2000 total and a 135 job, to get into an ATC career. I went into ATC fully intending to walk away from professional flying. A year later, after much nudging from the ATC guys, I got back into flying and never looked back. I have no regrets about getting into ATC, and none for getting out. Both were good calls made at the time with what I had to work with.

In the end, getting back into professional flying the one of my lifetime best decisions. But that was a long time ago, like 85.

I've always thought, and today still think, that if I couldn't fly, that ATC would be the second best gig.

[amorris311]

i love going and watching the controllers at my airport. i think the job is stressful. they say the same about flying. i just find it impressive that they can keep track of all the different airplanes.


best of luck in whatever you decide. both are fine choices. good for you too looking out for whatever will offer the best quality of life.

[Starbuck5]

Thanks for everyone's responses. This is a very tough decision and I am just trying to gather as much info as I can. I am probably leaning towards the pilot career path as I am already knocking on the door of my lifelong dream.

Also, I am 28 years old (be 29 in June) so when does the FAA consider you hired before the age 31 deadline? Is it when you enter the training in OKC or you complete training at your assigned facility? This might give me a little more time to go down the airline path a bit further and see what the pilot life is all about.

[JimmyK]

Towerboss,

Which facility do you work at?

[Polarbear]

Originally Posted by Starbuck5

Thanks for everyone's responses. This is a very tough decision and I am just trying to gather as much info as I can. I am probably leaning towards the pilot career path as I am already knocking on the door of my lifelong dream.

Also, I am 28 years old (be 29 in June) so when does the FAA consider you hired before the age 31 deadline? Is it when you enter the training in OKC or you complete training at your assigned facility? This might give me a little more time to go down the airline path a bit further and see what the pilot life is all about.

Getting on with the FAA is a slow process that can take a while(1 year plus) and there are many things that can cause problems. I would say do both.

You need to have a tentative offer by your 31st birthday. As long as you apply by the end of next year, that should be a piece of cake(unless the places you want don't need a ton of people).

As long as you don't leave before you complete IOE, it shouldn't hurt your pilot career(too bad) if you go to the FAA after being hired at your regional. You'd lose seniority, but that is about it(and be older?). Who knows, maybe you'll like it so much you'll forget about ATC.

[Towerboss]

Yes I agree with PolarBear you need to have a Tentative Offer letter before your 31st birthday. I mean an actual letter! I would say take the ATSAT test, and continue on your path to flying for the airline. If an when you get selected then make the decision. They are both great jobs!

Think about this too...

You can always leave the FAA to fly again you wont always have the option to leave the airlines and come to the FAA.

JimmyK - I work in South Texas, I'd rather not say the facility but if you can tell from the picture of our tower then you'd know.

TB

[atcsleepy]

Do you like being an air traffic controller?
Absolutely love it.

Do you look forward to going to work every day?
Eachand every day.

Would you recommend being a controller to a friend?
If they were at all interested, I would recommend it to them.

What can I expect to make as an ATC after 5 to 10 years (based in TX).
The lowest you could make in TX (level 7 facility) would be 32300 * 12.64% locality = $36,383/year (~17-18/hr). 1 or 2 years later you will make 46100 * 12.64% locality = $51,927 (~24-25/hr).
Keep in mind, that is with the default locality pay nationwide. If you happen to go to a level 11 facility, your CPC pay is 77158/year. Of course, it will take longer to get qualified at a facility thats busier but you get the picture. This doesn't include holiday, overtime, on the job instructor, or night pay. It is a big pay cut from the old pay scale but I look at it as it's only going to go up from this point. Some days I feel like its adequate and some days I feel like I should be getting paid more.

Do you like your benefit package (medical, dental, vacation, retirement, etc)
I came from the military so I'm used to full benefits with 0 deductibles, 30 days vacation year, pension after 20 years of service.
I didnt do 20 so I dont get a pension but it's a government job and it provides with comparable package.

Do you feel like you are able to spend quality time with your family and "be there" for most of your family events?
Depends, all of the fully qualified (CPC's) controllers in my facility work 6 days a week. It makes for some big paychecks but it takes a toll on your health. Shift work is bad enough as it and 1 day off does not help. You do get to come home everyday and I look at it the same as the pay... it can't be this bad forever.

What do you see in the future of ATC as a career?
I'm not sure what the question means. The job is not for everyone and it's uncertain if you will make it at the outset of your career. You will have to try it to know if it's for you. You will hear the negative from the time you go in about pay and other things. Only advice I can give is it's your life, your income, your family. If you feel comfortable with the current pay scale and working conditions then jump in and be positive about the situation. It should help getting checked out in your facility faster which means more pay.

[rjmore]

Originally Posted by Towerboss

Yes I agree with PolarBear you need to have a Tentative Offer letter before your 31st birthday. I mean an actual letter! I would say take the ATSAT test, and continue on your path to flying for the airline. If an when you get selected then make the decision. They are both great jobs!

Think about this too...

You can always leave the FAA to fly again you wont always have the option to leave the airlines and come to the FAA.

JimmyK - I work in South Texas, I'd rather not say the facility but if you can tell from the picture of our tower then you'd know.

TB

Hmmm...that tower looks awfully familiar.