ATC Perks?

[flyguy63]

I heard a rumor that ATC's get to fly for free? Is there any truth to this? Also i heard from someone whose son works in Chicago (not sure whether it's in a tower, center etc.) that with overtime he made $240,000 last year. Is this even possible?

[ATC RET 2003]

Originally Posted by flyguy63

I heard a rumor that ATC's get to fly for free? Is there any truth to this?

Nope. They can't. "Conflict of of interest", I was told when I was one. In fact they really can't accept ANYTHING for free from a "customer", even something as seemingly benign as a plate of Christmas cookies.

However, according to something I read, if you are high enough up the food chain, it apparently IS ok for you to steer a couple billion dollars of taxpayer money toward a company that will indirectly support your new job, once your stint as FAA Administrator is over with. More info on that here. (The comments section at the end of this linked page contains some "language"... you may want to skip that part.)

Originally Posted by flyguy63

Also i heard from someone whose son works in Chicago (not sure whether it's in a tower, center etc.) that with overtime he made $240,000 last year. Is this even possible?

Without looking up the salaries, it seems like a stretch. But if they say so...

For the current new hires, however, it is easily possible... provided they have a second job that pays around 200 grand a year.

[Beehive]

Originally Posted by ATC RET 2003

Nope. They can't. "Conflict of of interest", I was told when I was one. In fact they really can't accept ANYTHING for free from a "customer", even something as seemingly benign as a plate of Christmas cookies.

This rule also applies to wal mart employees who make minimum wage, yet they can stand outside wal mart "off the clock" and ask people for money. Freedom of Speech! God Bless America.

[inetwiz]

I flew SWA to Chicago for the AT-SAT in January and was talking making small talk with our captain during a layover. He said that he thought controllers could ride jump seat with the captains permission. Is this no longer the case, does it only apply if you already have a ticket for the flight or can you jumpseat on standby? I'm not a controller yet, but it might be nice to know in a couple of years.

[ATLTRACON]

Originally Posted by inetwiz

I flew SWA to Chicago for the AT-SAT in January and was talking making small talk with our captain during a layover. He said that he thought controllers could ride jump seat with the captains permission. Is this no longer the case, does it only apply if you already have a ticket for the flight or can you jumpseat on standby? I'm not a controller yet, but it might be nice to know in a couple of years.

There is no FAM program anymore. It ended just after 9/11. This was an invaluable tool to understand what goes on in the cockpit during certain phases of flight. Of course, we had some people, usually in management and at headquarters, who abused the program and nearly got it canceled years earlier.

CJ @ A80