Terminal selected folks...info

[BigWill]

Here's my opinion...keep in mind...just an opinion.

I am prior military and have been a few places and I have found that you perform better if you focus on one thing at a time. When you are in OKC, just focus on OKC stuff. You are going to have a lot to learn and retain in a very short time. If want to check out your next facility's info, do it, but don't concern yourself with trying to memorize the airspace. That is what they are going to pay you to do once you get to your facility. Remember, if you don't make it through OKC, you will never see your facility. I am working as a Remote Pilot Operator right now in Anchorage Center until I leave for OKC. All the developmentals here are trained as a team. Nobody gets ahead, so don't think that if you know a few more Navaids or Airways than your classmate that they will push you ahead. In fact, some of these guys have been here for 6 months and are still training on nonradar. You will have plenty of time to learn the airspace once you get there. It is a very slow process, so pay attention, make the most of what training time you will get, and BE PATIENT.

[cjnelson79]

lots of good info. Thank you for posting! I got my .65 printed at kinkos for about $45, it is bound and has plastic sheets front and back too. Well worth it in my opinion. Already looking through it daily, trying to learn something!

[MikeDelta]

Loving the new 7110 revision (I think it is S) with the "Shall issue specific taxi instructions to every plane" nonsense.

For those of your going to towers, try and learn the airport layout before you get there. It will really help you out during ground OJT...

[Stinger]

Originally Posted by MikeDelta

Loving the new 7110 revision (I think it is S) with the "Shall issue specific taxi instructions to every plane" nonsense.

For those of your going to towers, try and learn the airport layout before you get there. It will really help you out during ground OJT...

Yeah, telling every plane the exact route to get from the ramp to the runway is garbage. Makes sense if there are quite a few planes taxiing around or it's to someone unfamiliar with the airport, but if there is only one way to get to the runway it's a waste of time...

[Beehive]

The info provided on this thread is great for newbies. Big ups to ATLTRACON.
Basics is pretty much a definition course. There is a lot of stuff to memorize but it's fun.
Learn abbreviations and their definition prior to the academy and you will be set. They will teach you this at the academy along with where/how it is applied but whatever knowledge you bring to the academy will only help you and most likely others as well.

[justme62]

Ok, so to recap and confirm some things I've seen in a few threads here:

Once you get to the facility you are entered into classroom training which consists of M-F 8 hour days.
After you get checked out you get put on position and then start shift work.
After you get checked out on position (terminology I'm used to is "rated") you then are open to overtime. Does this sound about right?

How long is the classroom portion? I know getting rated on position varies, but does the classroom portion vary as well? TIA!

[sub-stdrd phrsology girl]

Originally Posted by justme62

Ok, so to recap and confirm some things I've seen in a few threads here:

Once you get to the facility you are entered into classroom training which consists of M-F 8 hour days.
After you get checked out you get put on position and then start shift work. Usually you're put on the same schedule as your trainer.
After you get checked out on position (terminology I'm used to is "rated") you then are open to overtime Yes. Does this sound about right?

How long is the classroom portion? It depends on how long it takes you to get through all the training and DYSIM lab problems. I know getting rated on position varies, but does the classroom portion vary as well? TIA!

[mateo]

Originally Posted by mmroberson

Or, save your money/paper until you reach the Academy and you'll receive a .65 at no charge, on the U.S. government's dollar.

Any truth to this?

[chichi]

Originally Posted by mateo

Any truth to this?

It's what they all say...

[ViperJoe]

I'm kind of confused about the difference between Terminal and TRACON and ATCT. ATCT stands for Air Traffic Control Tower right? I thought working at a TRACON or working at a tower were two different things. But I'm confused by my FOL which says "Position: ATCS (Terminal) and Duty Location: FAA Grant County ATCT/TRACON." Once again, I thought ATCT and TRACON were two completely different jobs. Which one am I? Or will I have "two" jobs combined as one cause it's a smaller airport? I thought TRACON people worked in window-less buildings just like ARTCC.

[nathanw]

Originally Posted by ViperJoe

I'm kind of confused about the difference between Terminal and TRACON and ATCT. ATCT stands for Air Traffic Control Tower right? I thought working at a TRACON or working at a tower were two different things. But I'm confused by my FOL which says "Position: ATCS (Terminal) and Duty Location: FAA Grant County ATCT/TRACON." Once again, I thought ATCT and TRACON were two completely different jobs. Which one am I? Or will I have "two" jobs combined as one cause it's a smaller airport? I thought TRACON people worked in window-less buildings just like ARTCC.

Moses Lake is an UP/DOWN. It is both a tower & a tracon. You will work both. First you'll check out in the tower, then they'll send you back to OKC for a month to learn radar, then you'll check out in the tracon. FYI "terminal" refers to BOTH ATCT and/or TRACON.

[indyserpico10]

ok so I thought I had this all figured out but again something is new. indy is an up/down as well. I start 3/31 and go to 6/17? and then come back to indy for however long and then go back to OKC? or is it 2 months and then 1?

[Barty]

Originally Posted by Acey97

Just to clarify, we can get the low and high-altitude sectionals and start from there? Or is there a specific map just for ZTL airspace? I am only familiar with the sectional charts and I guess ZTL overlaps onto several of those.

FYI to anyone going to an ARTCC, you want to look at the IFR high and low altitude charts. Low altitude charts include center boundaries as well as sector frequencies. High altitude ones don't include them because any aircraft flying that high must be talking to ATC before entering that airspace.

Take heart in that on just about every chart cycle from the past few years usually has several NDBs being shut down, either being replaced by DME or GPS overlay.

Most of ZTL, ZME and a good chunk of ZFW is covered on L-17/18 if anyone cares. Just go to www.skyvector.com and print off a screen at a time and start copying.

[LeftyLasVegas]

Originally Posted by indyserpico10

So I was one of the ones selected for terminal. Hopefully IND's tower. Don't know the specific name or anything about it but would like to visit... how could I go about doing that?

Probably skipping an answer, but to share my experience- I googled my airport (GCN) and called them. Ask for the control tower, and they'll give you the number. Ask for the manager, explain your situation. Mine was more than welcoming, invited me and my family (with two young children) up to the tower and gave us a full tour!

If you don't have the option to visit, you should at least make contact with your manager. They have your name on a list already, so they're expecting you.

[maksvell]

Do I have to memorize all of the information on the arrival plate? Some of the fixes are well outside the 40nm range.