Anyone work Air Traffic Control?

"Niquemarshall" (dominiquemarshall)
03/05/2015 at 13:43 • Filed to: None

Is anyone here familiar with how the FAA works with this? Cant seem to find any solid info about the job market or certain airports for that matter. Thinking about going into this field after i graduate college. Heres a GT3.

DISCUSSION (34)

jariten1781 > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 13:50

My brother did aero engineering at OU and I know in their aviation school there they had an air traffic control school. All his buddies that went through that got jobs in the field. That's all I really know though.

HammerheadFistpunch > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 13:51

I know 2 controllers and even took the placement test and passed but decided against it based on a thoughtful evaluation of my ability to cheerfully deal with high stress.

Jcarr > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 13:51

Not in the industry, just an aviation junkie, but the Air Traffic Controllers Association might have some resources.

http://www.atca.org/

Niquemarshall > Jcarr
03/05/2015 at 13:52

thanks!

For Sweden > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 13:52

I don't work ATC, but I have dealt with many American controllers. ATC are an odd bunch, but that's another story.

STEPS TO BECOMING AN AMERICAN ATC PERSON

Enroll in and graduate from an AT-CIT school. Some are four year, others are two year. You may find a list here .

Pass the FAA's AT-SAT exam

Apply for controller job openings

Receive conditional job offer

Pass medial exam and background check

Move to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and enroll in ATC Academy. The cafeteria has good food. You probably missed the Thunder's peak however.

Graduate and become developmental controller at Tower, TRACON, or Center that extended the conditional offer.

Complete on-site training and become American ATC Person

Never sleep again.

Niquemarshall > jariten1781
03/05/2015 at 13:52

I wish OSU had that!

Niquemarshall > HammerheadFistpunch
03/05/2015 at 13:53

I hear its stressful but i highly doubt itll be any more stressful than it was being in the military and deploying always

Niquemarshall > For Sweden
03/05/2015 at 13:54

Perhaps im in the wrong school? I dont think OSU is CTI?

For Sweden > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 13:55

Which OSU

For Sweden > HammerheadFistpunch
03/05/2015 at 13:57

But how do you feel about green light and working in a dark room underground?

Niquemarshall > For Sweden
03/05/2015 at 13:57

Ohio State

HammerheadFistpunch > For Sweden
03/05/2015 at 13:58

Ambivalent

HammerheadFistpunch > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 14:00

Probably true, though you know they have required early retirement because of stress. The people I know who are/were love/loved it. I just knew in my heart of hearts I would not enjoy the day to day stress

For Sweden > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 14:01

I see Kent State is the only CIT school in Ohio, and you definitely won't need a second four-year degree.

I would shop around for two-year schools to attend after graduation.

Niquemarshall > For Sweden
03/05/2015 at 14:02

As long as im with other people, and not alone, i will be fine

jariten1781 > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 14:02

If you're interested in the managing of intricate ins and outs, but not so much the aviation piece you should look into electrical distribution. Its the same gist, sit in control room, manage a billion things at once, never sleep; but instead of planes you manage power plant loads and switching. I know a couple guy's who went into that post Navy and haven't heard anything horrible.

Niquemarshall > jariten1781
03/05/2015 at 14:05

Wouldnt you need a degree in Electrical Engineering for that? Whats the job title?

Leadbull > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 14:07

I'm really sorry about your choice of Big 10 school. :(

Niquemarshall > Leadbull
03/05/2015 at 14:08

yeah i know, everyone hates because we always beat them in sports ;(

For Sweden > Leadbull
03/05/2015 at 14:09

Unfortunately not everyone can go to Minnesota.

jariten1781 > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 14:17

I believe the title is "Electric Distribution Controller". It's something like that at least.

These were mid level enlisted guys (E5-E6ish) so it's likely they had a degree of some sort or another but very unlikely it was in engineering. I don't think it's a requirement. The hiring process was an aptitude test followed by 14 or so months of training paid for by the electric companies that hired them. Fallout in the training was pretty high (40% or something) but all my friends were dedicated and sailed through with little difficulty.

Leadbull > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 14:17

Your cross country team isn't very good at all!

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 14:18

I went the CTI route but didn't manage to score "well qualified" on my AT-SAT. 95th percentile intelligence and two years of study, and I couldn't even get WQ, go figure. One of my classmates made it through the academy and now works as a controller in Guam. Another made it to the academy but then washed out. Most of my former classmates seem to be working in the aviation field but not as controllers.

Leadbull > For Sweden
03/05/2015 at 14:19

Yeah, it's unfortunate that so many people feel the school isn't good enough for them.

Niquemarshall > Leadbull
03/05/2015 at 14:23

no one cares about XC

Niquemarshall > Svart Smart, traded in his Smart
03/05/2015 at 14:24

Guam?? I bet hes making some satisfying $$

For Sweden > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 14:24

Kinja'd!!!

Leadbull > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 14:24

I know. That was the joke.

Niquemarshall > Leadbull
03/05/2015 at 14:25

Haha i felt like it was

Niquemarshall > For Sweden
03/05/2015 at 14:25

XC in this instance is referring the sport Cross Country.

X= Cross

C= Country

whatisthatsound > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 16:03

I don't know how you do it, but I know you get to talk to me! If you want you can just drive around with me so I can make requests and random radio transmissions to you.

Niquemarshall > whatisthatsound
03/05/2015 at 16:16

Wait, what?

whatisthatsound > Niquemarshall
03/05/2015 at 17:58

I'm on the receiving end of helpful men and women at the ATC. You'll be transmitting with me and my likes.

orillion > Niquemarshall
03/06/2015 at 00:14

I graduated from a CTI school with a degree in Air Traffic Management. I got fucked by the FAA due to the sequester followed up by some bullshit about diversity.

I got a 97 on the AT-SAT, had the degree too, but I'm too white and male so I aged out and ended up getting my Dispatcher certificate because I wasn't the right demographic, like that fucking matters.

There is now a "biographical questionnaire" prior to any ability type tests.

If you really want to do it, save yourself any schooling costs and just apply off the street. Because Apparently your genetic makeup matters more than your desire to pay for school for it does, never mind ability.

Am I bitter? you bet your ass I am. I went to school, got a Bachelors degree, but no, according to the head of the FAA 'Too many of a certain type of people' went through the CTI program. So now I'm a member of a class action suit against the FAA for hiring practices.