Air Traffic Controllers?

[crazyme5kids]

My son will be attending college in the fall. He was going to go for an aviation degree, specifically to become a pilot. After much consideration, he feels that it would be wiser to become an air traffic controller. He'll still fly an get his pilots license, but he thinks his chances for employment will be better as an air traffic controller.

So, what are the pros and cons of being an air traffic controller? Being in the aviation field, are there any up and coming careers that he should look into?

 

[disney junky]

My son will be attending college in the fall. He was going to go for an aviation degree, specifically to become a pilot. After much consideration, he feels that it would be wiser to become an air traffic controller. He'll still fly an get his pilots license, but he thinks his chances for employment will be better as an air traffic controller.

So, what are the pros and cons of being an air traffic controller? Being in the aviation field, are there any up and coming careers that he should look into?

This is from the Embry Riddle College website. From what I understand, the program is very competitive, the job is highly stressful (especially in major airports) and highly rewarding. I only know what I've read. I have no first hand experience so take this for what it's worth.

http://www.erau.edu/db/degrees/b-airtraffmgmt.html

 

[eclectics]

ATC's have a VERY stressful work enviornment. Takes a special personality to do that job, imho. God bless them. They have a lot of people's lives in their hands on a daily basis, as does the cockpit crew of an aircraft. Other aviation jobs include aircraft maintainence. There will always be a call for good airplane mechanics. Pilots can get furloughed but the aircraft still need to be maintained.

 

[Monagles]

Although it hasn't been mentioned yet, all branches of the armed services train and employ Air Traffic Controllers.

The person would have to enlist, go to boot camp, and then to follow-on training.

They get to work in Control towers, radar stations, ground control, etc. In the Navy, they get to work aboard air-capable ships in addition.

As a military aviator, I have met several controllers now working for the FAA. Most of them were prior military controllers. Anyways, just a thought.

A link to the FAA controller website for you.

 

[Mickey02]

My son is an Air Traffic Controler. He was in the Air Force for 6 years and got out this past March. He is pursing a job with the FAA right now. He really liked being an ATC.

Any questions you might have I can pass them on to him.

 

[wilderness01]

I can tell you for sure that the pay on that site is totally wrong.

 

[ducklite]

Anyone with a 2 year degree in just about anything can take the aptitude test and apply for the job with the FAA. The FAA will train and provide a stipend during training. It's intense and stressful, they make the training as much if no more so stressful as the job would be. I think only about 50% actually complete the training without being sent home.

I had a friend who met her husband during training. She made it to the last week then bombed out. He completed training and is now an ATC at a NYS airport.

Neither had prior military or ATC training. She was a lab tech, he was in sales.

Anne

 

[disney junky]

I can tell you for sure that the pay on that site is totally wrong.

High or low?

 

[crazyme5kids]

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.

 

[PrincessTiff]

What school is he hoping to get into? I'm in my last semester of getting my basic college credits and i'm considering transferring to Embry-Riddle to become an ATC. I'm having trouble deciding between that and Neonatology.

 

[crazyme5kids]

He's hoping to go to Dowling here on Long Island. He would have loved to go to Embry-Riddle, but it is just way too expensive.

 

[ducklite]

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.

My cousin is FBI (now under the umbrella of Homeland Security) currently posted with the TSA. He's also worked in a drug enforcement division of the FBI in a joint task force with the DEA (based out of NYC) and done border patrol chasing illegals in Texas in a joint operation with the INS.

One thing he likes about the job is that if he gets bored with what he's doing, there's always another operation he can jump into.

Anne

 

[crazyme5kids]

Anne, I don't know how often you speak to your cousin, but if you do in the near future, would you mind picking his brain about airport homeland security. My son wouldn't want to do regular security guard stuff (if that makes sense), more high level stuff.

 

[DawnCt1]

My son is an Air Traffic Controler. He was in the Air Force for 6 years and got out this past March. He is pursing a job with the FAA right now. He really liked being an ATC.

Any questions you might have I can pass them on to him.

I think ATCs are a rarity. Most seem to be men and I never met men who could MULTI TASK like controllers. Prior to 9/11, I had an opportunity to take a field trip to the BDL tower. What an experience. I could have spent all day there and not gotton bored.

 

[ducklite]

Anne, I don't know how often you speak to your cousin, but if you do in the near future, would you mind picking his brain about airport homeland security. My son wouldn't want to do regular security guard stuff (if that makes sense), more high level stuff.

I'll try to call him this weekend. He does higher level stuff at a major Florida airport--he's not the guy watching the x-ray machine.

If you ahve specific questions, let me know. I'll be honest, he's pretty vague about exactly what he does, I know that some of it is classified.

Anne

 

[Mom21]

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.

Honestly not a job I would recommend. they now work without a contract. What that means is that basically management can do what they want. I know most people that work in the private sector say, "So what?" but in this field it is a big deal. it has never been an easy job, but since loss of the contract it is not a job I would wish on anyone. If only the flying public knew what went on behind closed FAA doors......LOL.

Anyway my hubby manages the union website (BTW I was anti-union--LOL so don't think my post has anything to do with the union). In fact my last year I was in management......ask me now why I have Lupus (a disease brought on by stress).

I would say until the environment changes back to somewhat of what it was, I wouldn't recommend it at all. Hubby always enjoyed his job and planned to work to mandatory retirement age of 56. Now he is counting the days until he is eligible (6 and 1/2 years more at age 50). With 1 kid in college and 1 in high school at that time, I don't know what we will do, but he is getting out unless major changes take place.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Thanks Anne. To be honest I have no idea what to ask. I'm just trying to get ideas and information. If becoming an ATC isn't the best idea at this point I'd like my son to have a back up plan.

Mom21 thanks for your input. At this point after a few people pming me and your response, it doesn't sound like ATC is the best career move. Hopefully if he decides that it is what he wants to do, things will change for the positive during the 4 years he's in school.

 

[Pinnie]

One of my best friends is an ATC out of a center as opposed to an airport. I agree with the poster that said things have changed since the new "contract" was initiated. Leave time is an issue as are days off. Remember, ATCs are needed 24/7 365 days a year so getting a specific day off now can be an issue.

The stress is there, that is for sure. There was just a report on our local news today that at our airport, DTW, the ATCs have filed many complaints about out of date equipment, dropped tickets, ground radar that isn't working, etc.

I know my friend loves his job, but is looking towards his retirement fondly.

pinnie

 

[wilderness01]

Actually they don't wash people out as much anymore, the numbers aren't as high as 50% anymore. They used to send them to approaches to be relocated so they wouldn't be out of a job. Mom21 hit the nail on the head, unfortunately about the job now.

 

[HaleyB]

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.

My best friend's husband is an ATC and I know one thing they have found really limiting is the way seniority works with ATC. If you transfer to another airport you lose your seniority which effects both what shifts you work and your pay. However the pay is pretty good. I also know he is very upset about the relaxation of FAA rules regarding ATC (or failure to tighten them, I'm not sure).