FAA Hiring Process Revamped
- Thread starter GolfChuck
- Start date
genot
Well-Known Member
One can also wash out by failing to certify within the prescribed training hours at their facility. Centers generally allow more training hours (when taking in to account the increased information required at a center) since for the vast majority of controllers they train, it is their first facility. Larger terminal (ie tower and TRACON) facilities allow generally less time under the assumption you are transferred from a smaller facility and should know most of it already.
In my TRACON initial hire class we all passed, because it wasn't possible to fail. It was however a May God have mercy on your soul situation because most of us were expected to wash at our facilities. 6 went to DFW TRACON, 2 to ATL, one to HOU, another to NY another to Chicago and then there is me going to a place that was busy in recent memory. Two had already bought houses. I'd wager half of us certified. There were at the time no guarantees of a second shot at a slow tower if you washed out. So an uncertain future and placement above one's ability can certainly add to the pressure beyond the PV. Even then, I've personally known two people to wash at second chance slow VFR towers on Ground.
I think you're actually hitting it right on the head with your question. It isn't college chemistry class and it isn't that difficult (kind of). Its not something that can be taught like chemistry and it should require effort to learn yes, but it isn't generally difficult if you have the ability. Its an ability that you can prove and possibly later refine. Some can't refine it past a certain complexity or volume level, others are tower studs who can barely tread water in RADAR or vice versa. ATC is more art with hard rules than science if that makes any sense.
Ozelot
Frozen Tundra TRACON
In my OKC class one washed out. My class of 8 at ZMP, only two of us made it all the way though the program. 3 Left the agency, the others were offered lower level facilities and are now CPCs.
CoolRunnings
Well-Known Member
Am I understanding correctly that you will attend the academy in OKC and then based on class ranking you can potentially choose your ultimate destination?
ATC RET 2003
No More Vectors
There will be many, many more to come.
N90-EWR
Well-Known Member
I agree with this. The worst sense of entitlement I've seen has always been with FAA transfers by far.
The CTI program failed to increase checkout rates, at least here at N90. We've had similar rates of washouts whether they were OTS hires, or CTI's, so I saw this coming a long time ago.
ChasenSFO
hen teaser
Quick question guys, on USAJOBS.gov, should I upload a resume for this opening? I saw a note on the site that some positions will may accept uploadable resumes, so I already did the "build a resume" option.
Toured ZOA today by the way, didn't really consider enroute before, but I'd jump at a chance to work there. Was told demand for the location was never very high and its not hard to transfer in at the moment.
Toured ZOA today by the way, didn't really consider enroute before, but I'd jump at a chance to work there. Was told demand for the location was never very high and its not hard to transfer in at the moment.
spades9048
Well-Known Member
The FAA has said it recommends using the resume builder on USAjobs so if that is what you did then that is the best option. You're not really going to have an option but if I were you, I would stay away from ZOA. They have a notoriously high washout rate compared to other centers plus it doesn't pay very well. It's a lower level center with a high cost of living. Even with the high locality differential, it just doesn't make sense if you can get in somewhere else. I don't like Memphis but the one thing that it has going for it is cost of living. I think if I were at ZOA, I would pull in maybe an extra $15-20k...not worth it considering my $225k house would be easily $1m over there.
queeno
Ward of the Guberment
I worked with several ex ZOA controllers here at ZAU and they all said the same thing.... its not a very happy place to work at controller wise, the pay even with locality sucks and most controllers are forced to live over an hour away just to afford a dump... but if thats the only job you are offered well.............how bad do you want to be a controller?
CoolRunnings
Well-Known Member
I uploaded my professional resume but from everything I'm reading, I'll probably use the resume builder as well. Hopefully that is not to my detriment.
ChasenSFO
hen teaser
Thanks for the info, guys. For me personally, working as closely as possible to the SF Bay Area is key. I have a good housing situation out here and will have other sources of income, so long as I remain in the Bay Area. Eventually I would prefer to work in a tower, should I manage to somehow get all the way to any facility. However, if ZOA is always hurting, I figure it may be a good way to stay local. If pay sucks as bad as you guys say, a transfer wouldn't be a bad idea either way. But after my tour, I am very interested in En Route.
On a somewhat related note, are there any public links to current FAA Pay Scales? I've looked around and can't find anything past 2012.
nabbyfan
Well-Known Member
Definitely use the Resume Builder.
There are going to be so many people applying to this that I don't have any reasonable expectation of getting hired. The FAA had an online career fair and it pretty much crashed due to how many people were trying to access it. Its a little frustrating, having gone CTI out of high school because that was presented as THE way into the FAA, getting a 100 on the ATSAT, and then having that all taken away to do a general public hiring panel where people with no aviation background/interest will get hired. I understand these things happen, and thank god I have a 4 year degree, because that got me my current job, but it's still just insanely frustrating.
I toured ZOA last year and thought it was awesome too. I had previously seen ZMP and it was pretty similar, but the oceanic operation at ZOA was really neat to watch. I'm hoping for ZOA or NCT, but will take absolutely anywhere offered.
Good luck to everybody applying, window opens Monday!
There are going to be so many people applying to this that I don't have any reasonable expectation of getting hired. The FAA had an online career fair and it pretty much crashed due to how many people were trying to access it. Its a little frustrating, having gone CTI out of high school because that was presented as THE way into the FAA, getting a 100 on the ATSAT, and then having that all taken away to do a general public hiring panel where people with no aviation background/interest will get hired. I understand these things happen, and thank god I have a 4 year degree, because that got me my current job, but it's still just insanely frustrating.
I toured ZOA last year and thought it was awesome too. I had previously seen ZMP and it was pretty similar, but the oceanic operation at ZOA was really neat to watch. I'm hoping for ZOA or NCT, but will take absolutely anywhere offered.
Good luck to everybody applying, window opens Monday!
N90-EWR
Well-Known Member
Do not let the sheer numbers deter you from applying and pursuing your goals. Back in the days after the strike, the volume of applicants was just as big. In the end, this occupation is not for everyone, and the cream usually rises to the top. Most applicants wont even make it to OKC. Many more wont make it out of there either. If you're truly competent, and able to do the job, then you should be fine.
The 2012 pay scale is the current since the contract was extended. Add a 1% raise we just got and I think another 1.5% raise in the summer. I have heard many the same things about ZOA but honestly youll hear bad things about every facility or every time period.... take it for what it is. Technically ZOA is the highest paying center because of the 35% locality and I believe they are still getting the bonuses out there. To most people (including me) that isn't worth the insane cost of living. If you've already got a good thing going out there you'll be in a good spot. There are also a few towers around there so you can always hope for that (sfo, oak, sjc, hayward, palo alto etc). To me the dallas, houston or atlanta facilities would be the best in the country for pay vs cost of living.
As someone thats just nearing the end of the training process at a center feel free to PM me if you have any questions about the process or whatever.
Here is a link to a list of all facilities with their current levels and localities if you're interested: http://www.stuckmic.com/attachments...ity-levels-locations-faa-facility-2011-12.pdf
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ChasenSFO
hen teaser
Thanks for the info! I'll take you up on that.
The 1.5 in the summer is not a pay band adjustment...its a raise inside the paybands. Think of it as step raises gs employees get.
The only payband adjustment we have received since the 2012 rates was the 1% we received on jan 12th.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
The only payband adjustment we have received since the 2012 rates was the 1% we received on jan 12th.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
