Air Traffic Controllers?

[PrincessTiff]

I would be glad to help answer any questions he has. I am a medically retired controller (12 years at Miami Center), and hubby is still a controller at Miami Tracon. Things have changed drastically in the last year. Starting pay has been cut in half, work environment has really gone downhill. I have heard that you now must go to OKC and pay your own way. I can find out for sure if you want me to but I believe that is what I heard.

What is the starting pay now? I'd always assumed that they paid for lodging and transportation to OKC. They don't do that anymore? Maybe i'll find a different major....

 

[lindalinda]

Thanks everyone. The school he is hoping to get into is one of the 13 ATC approved schools. We understand what he'll need to do to become an ATC.

What I'm trying to find out are the pros and cons. Do you like or love the job? If so why? Do you hate it? Would you do it all over again if you knew then what you know now? That type of information would be helpful, at least for me maybe not my son lol.

I am trying to find out about airport management/homeland security too. I am wondering if this is the next wave of really needed jobs.

20 yr veteran air traffic controller here. Pros and cons.

Pros- it really is a satisfying job. You know that not a lot of people can do what you do. A LOT of the time its fun. Its fun to challenge yourself to do the best you possibly can. You KNOW when you have done a good, bad or freaking wonderful job. Most controllers REALLY LIKE the job itself. The pay and benefits (up til now) have been great.

Cons- Its exhausting. I know that is very simplistic but it is exhausting. The concentration level wears you out physically. The shift work is horrible. There are almost no rules that determine what they can schedule you, other than 8 hours between shifts. I will give you a common schedule at my facility. 1st shift 6pm-2am 2nd-1pm-9pm 3rd-10am-6pm 4th-6am-2pm 5th-10pm-6am. At first, when youre 24 or 25 this doesnt bother you. When youre 40 its killer. Most controllers (who are almost all in their mid-40s) have significant health issues, many which are either caused by or increased by the shift work. Another con is the management of the FAA. I wont get specific there, its just ridiculous.

I am putting pay as a con only because the current pay rates for new hires have been drastically cut. I am hopeful that this will change and is temporary. Currently you would be better off to go into postal service or some other branch of the government. I truly think this will change, however.

Job prospects----now is the time to get this job. My facility had 56 controllers 10 years ago. It dropped to 52, then 45. We are now working with 38 actually certified controllers and have 7 ready to retire this year. I am scared. Sounds silly, I know. Why am I scared? Because I am 45 years old and NOT eligible to retire for 4 years. We have 1 new hire. If we had 10 training right now we would almost be able to keep up. I am looking at my last 3 years being the worst of my career.

So heres my advice.....Go for it. If he were to get in now, train and certify relatively quickly, he would be at the top of the seniority in about 5 years, when the rest of us retire. We need warm bodies!

Hope this helps a little.

 

[Pinnie]

Kuddos to you, lindalinda for all you do to keep those skies over us safe! I know what a difficult year this has been for you and your coworkers. I hope that things will improve for all the ATCs out there1

pinnie

 

[Mom21]

Hubby gave me this site for you to get an idea of pay. http://employees.faa.gov/jobs_pay/pay/ Under the 2007 just click on ATC pay and exclude locality pay. Those are the base rates. Looks like he would start around 32K. Also keep in mind it is very hard to immediately go to a level 12 facility unless he does center option. Most likely he will start at a 5 or 6 maybe 7. Which will max him out at around 70K. I know some people will think that is a lot, but remember the stress of the job and the responsibility are huge.

HTH