ATC Career Question

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7700

Well-Known Member
Does anyone know if they are still hiring trainees off the street, ie those who have not graduated from an AT-CTI program?

I'm currently a low-time unemployed CFI looking for my opportunity, but things are terribly slow right now. I want nothing more then to be a part of aviation somehow, in someway. Is it possible to start into ATC training with no prior experience, other then as a pilot, and get back into aviation in a year or two when (if) things start to turn around? What kind of time frame am I looking at these days once I start the application process? Would I be burning bridges if I get into ATC for a year or two, then back into aviation, then possibly back into ATC when the industry goes down in the future? Thanks in advance for any info,
 
7700 said:
Does anyone know if they are still hiring trainees off the street, ie those who have not graduated from an AT-CTI program?

I'm currently a low-time unemployed CFI looking for my opportunity, but things are terribly slow right now. I want nothing more then to be a part of aviation somehow, in someway. Is it possible to start into ATC training with no prior experience, other then as a pilot, and get back into aviation in a year or two when (if) things start to turn around? What kind of time frame am I looking at these days once I start the application process? Would I be burning bridges if I get into ATC for a year or two, then back into aviation, then possibly back into ATC when the industry goes down in the future? Thanks in advance for any info,
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First and foremost, getting into a career in Air Traffic Control is something that takes a lot of time and patience, and personally I would not be one to consider "getting into it for a few years" and then going back to instructing. That's just like telling the person training you that you're looking at transferring as soon as you hit CPC status or that you want to move into management.

As an OTS applicant, you'll have to wait until another PUBNAT opens up. From there, you'll apply, take the AT-SAT, and submit geographic preferences. This entire process can take anywhere from 3 months to a full year before you even fill out a geographic preference.

If you do well and are selected by the panels for a state that you picked, you will attend a PEPC (Pre-Employment Processing Center) or go the traditional route and get your clearances separately. Either way, this is another lengthy process that can take anywhere from a few months to several months.

Then you wait for a class date and complete academy training. From there you report to your facility for OJT. Once you complete OJT, you certify and you are then a Certified Professional Controller.

So, in short, if you're looking to get into ATC just as fast as you're looking to get out, this is NOT the career for you. Most, if not all of the applicants, academy students, and controllers love their jobs, and the prospect of being an ATC. Treating this job like a job at a fast-food restaurant with high turnover is not a good perspective to have.

Just my .02
 
I don't know that that's a wise career move on any part. The FAA is looking for career-minded employees that want a solid 20-25 years in the field of ATC, not short-timers that want a hold-over until the job market improves where they'd rather be. I understand the love of aviation, but I'd say that's kind of a "cheating" relationship you'd have with the administration.

The current OTS situation is hairy as it is. If you are not already in PUBNAT 2-7, you won't be brought in this year. If/when the next OTS announcement comes out, you can expect at least a year for the hiring process to go through. As you can see from my signature, I'm coming upon my 1 year anniversary with the beautiful application process, and I do not yet have my class date. Putting in your application on the next OTS announcement would basically mean you might get picked for something next year, and that's if you actually get selected. Getting picked feels more like winning Bingo or the lottery, so don't count on it as your ticket to a carryover position.

As well, I'm sure there would be several folks on this board alone that would love to have your head on a platter if you got offered a position that they were denied, only to have you leave it a few years down the road. :) You'd be burning several bridges in both industries.
 
"a year or two" is how long it would take to get hired, given the history of the ATC hiring process. And that's assuming that you get selected, pass the aptitude test, pass the phyiscal and psych tests, and can get a security clearance.

Then if you don't fail at the FAA Academy, you can go to your site and get in line behind the other trainees. Given the frustrations of the process, you REALLY have to want to be an ATC to follow through.

If you're unemployed and really want to be in aviation, try the USAF or the Navy.
 
jermscentral said:
As well, I'm sure there would be several folks on this board alone that would love to have your head on a platter if you got offered a position that they were denied, only to have you leave it a few years down the road. :) You'd be burning several bridges in both industries.
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100% correct.

People on these boards are "crazy"

Just look at all the failed MMPI threads :D
 
I intern at KPHX and word on the street there is that they're not going to do public announcements anymore for awhile...there might be one more after the current CTI announcement closes in September and then we think that's it. The FAA exceeded their hiring goals and there are a lot of trainees right now...so once that number dwindles then they'll probably start PUBNATs again. I applied under 7 and just took the AT-SAT yesterday.
 
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