Should I request a delayed OKC Start Date?

[dgilday]

Brief history on my progress:

- Applied for JAX, June 2007
- Took AT-SAT, Oct 2007
- Recieved AT-SAT Score, Oct 2007 (93.7)
- Application reviewed by center, Nov 2007
- Accepted for Interview, Dec 2007
- Interviewed at DFW, Jan 24, 2007

I should hear something within the month as to whether or not I am accepted. I am optimitstic that things will work out. However, I've got a slight problem with the timing....

I'm Getting Married in June!!!

By my calculations, if I dont start by March 1, I will still be at OKC during my wedding. In case you were wondering....no, she is not cool with that.

Question:

- If I am offered a class date that will interfere with the wedding, will I be able to explain my situation, and hope they will give me a later time?

- If I am not able to attend the class date they offer, will I be ineligible for employment? If so, is this permanent or temporary?

- Will they allow time away from the Acadamy if I happen to be there during this timeframe?


I'm excited about this position, but never imagined it would take this long to go through the process. Both me and my girl are getting anxious here....advice anyone?


Dave

[Airport7]

I would at least ask about it. The FAA is not an airline and actually does care about people's private lives. I'm in OKC right now, and there are a few people who made special arrangements to go home for a couple days in the middle of class.

[dgilday]

Originally Posted by Airport7

I would at least ask about it. The FAA is not an airline and actually does care about people's private lives. I'm in OKC right now, and there are a few people who made special arrangements to go home for a couple days in the middle of class.

Sweet!

I've heard that they can be pretty strict about their offers, so that is encouraging news!

Thanks!


Dave

[Livestrg05]

Actually dgilday, I'm in the same boat as you my friend. I'm set to get married this June too! June 28th to be exact. Plus my honeymoon is two weeks in the middle of July!

I have a friend who works for the FAA in OKC who I asked the exact same question to. He told me that contray to popular belief, the FAA will actually work with you on personal matters, especially something as big as getting married. He said that once I get my Academy date (or you in this instance), if it interferes with your wedding, call up OKC, explain the situation, and all they'll do is put you in a class with a later start date, since you've already gotten your letter, they don't mind putting you in a later date, as long as there's a good reason for it (which there is).

Hope that helps!

[Fox Xray]

With the FAA it never hurts to ask ... just be ready to hear a no. Asking the right person on the right day you might get a yes. Keep in mind that delaying your start date will cost you seniority, which down the road will affect your leave, schedule, training etc. A guy that came to my area several years ago had delayed his OKC start date for the same reason, they put him in a later class. When he got to the area he had to wait for the next radar school, etc. He checked out (FPL) exactly one month after the September 3rd IWR's implementation. That delay cost him about 100K so far...

[dgilday]

Originally Posted by Livestrg05

Actually dgilday, I'm in the same boat as you my friend. I'm set to get married this June too! June 28th to be exact. Plus my honeymoon is two weeks in the middle of July!

I have a friend who works for the FAA in OKC who I asked the exact same question to. He told me that contray to popular belief, the FAA will actually work with you on personal matters, especially something as big as getting married. He said that once I get my Academy date (or you in this instance), if it interferes with your wedding, call up OKC, explain the situation, and all they'll do is put you in a class with a later start date, since you've already gotten your letter, they don't mind putting you in a later date, as long as there's a good reason for it (which there is).

Hope that helps!

You don't know how relieved I am to hear that! I've been racking my brains over how this would work out, so this sounds perfect. I'm ok losing seniority, possible pay & time as long as in the end I am employed and married.

Thanks LiveStrg! Congrats on your wedding by the way! Good luck!

Dave

[ATLTRACON]

Originally Posted by Airport7

I would at least ask about it. The FAA is not an airline and actually does care about people's private lives. I'm in OKC right now, and there are a few people who made special arrangements to go home for a couple days in the middle of class.

Hey Airport,

First off, it is a lot easier gong home when it is not a pass/fail Academy anymore. My class in 1986 had 741 people start in it, 212 finish and 1 KIA.
You may think that it is Pass/Fail but is is widely known that right now they are passing anyone because we are soooo short staffed.
Please, with your limited time in the FFA, come out and spout that the FFA cares about their employees. Just wait until the day you cannot plug your headset in and work and see how you will be treated. The FFA cares about one thing and one thing only...money. It is not a safety business anymore, it is about the almighty dollar. You will be expected the go without bathroom breaks, food and sleep. But wo to the individual who, after no sleep, adequate meal break, etc., has a deal or worse, a mid-air.

At MHT a few months back ONE controller was on duty for the entire mid shift. Over seven hours on position when he finally couldn't take it anymore and had to go to the bathroom. Aircraft held, Lifeguard delayed all because the FFA will NOT staff adequately. Look no further than the crash at LEX that killed 47 on August 27, 2006. ONE controller in the tower strictly against FFA guidelines, but had been done to save money

[Beehive]

Yo ATLTRACON, I'm sure it is a mistake but if not...why do you call the Federal Aviation Administration the FFA? I've known the MainBang to call them the Failed Aviation Administration but that is still FAA. In high school we had a group of students called the Future Farmers of America aka FFA.
Thanks for the great insight. It is great for me, a interview hopeful, to get a great deal of info from real controllers.

[ATC Vector]

Originally Posted by Beehive

Yo ATLTRACON, I'm sure it is a mistake but if not...why do you call the Federal Aviation Administration the FFA? I've known the MainBang to call them the Failed Aviation Administration but that is still FAA. In high school we had a group of students called the Future Farmers of America aka FFA.
Thanks for the great insight. It is great for me, a interview hopeful, to get a great deal of info from real controllers.

Final Fantasy Addicts

Oh wait, wrong one, sorry...

[Airport7]

Originally Posted by ATLTRACON

Hey Airport,

First off, it is a lot easier gong home when it is not a pass/fail Academy anymore. My class in 1986 had 741 people start in it, 212 finish and 1 KIA.
You may think that it is Pass/Fail but is is widely known that right now they are passing anyone because we are soooo short staffed.
Please, with your limited time in the FFA, come out and spout that the FFA cares about their employees. Just wait until the day you cannot plug your headset in and work and see how you will be treated. The FFA cares about one thing and one thing only...money. It is not a safety business anymore, it is about the almighty dollar. You will be expected the go without bathroom breaks, food and sleep. But wo to the individual who, after no sleep, adequate meal break, etc., has a deal or worse, a mid-air.

At MHT a few months back ONE controller was on duty for the entire mid shift. Over seven hours on position when he finally couldn't take it anymore and had to go to the bathroom. Aircraft held, Lifeguard delayed all because the FFA will NOT staff adequately. Look no further than the crash at LEX that killed 47 on August 27, 2006. ONE controller in the tower strictly against FFA guidelines, but had been done to save money

I'm confused, are you trying to say that he shouldn't ask for his start date to be moved? The guy asked a question, I gave him my opinion.

[ATLTRACON]

Originally Posted by Airport7

I'm confused, are you trying to say that he shouldn't ask for his start date to be moved? The guy asked a question, I gave him my opinion.

No you should not ask about changing your date. The point (rather roundaboutly) that I was making is that the FFA (<.....edited out......) DOES NOT give one ##### about you, and if you think that the do then you are either newly hired or just plain naive.
Either way very quickly you need to grow up and come to that realization.

[Airport7]

Originally Posted by ATLTRACON

No you should not ask about changing your date. The point (rather roundaboutly) that I was making is that the FFA (<.....edited out......) DOES NOT give one ##### about you, and if you think that the do then you are either newly hired or just plain naive.
Either way very quickly you need to grow up and come to that realization.

I'm actually not a controller, but I do work for the FAA. Sounds like you don't like your situation, sorry to hear it. I don't mind the venting, just seemed like it came out of left field.

Would you advise someone like the original poster not to become a controller? Maybe you could start your own thread about it.