Can an ATCer be laid-off?

pm577

pm577

New Member
1) So, can an ATCer be laid-off because of a huge decrease in traffic?

2) If so, would you be allowed to make a seniority move anywhere? Or would you be placed on furlough until traffic picks up?

3) How often are facility ratings redone/calculated?

4) Could a new guy at some big terminal be displaced by an old-head who was pushed out of a closed facility?

(I ask because I visited a tracon in CA and the guys were worried about a decrease in facility rating to a lower level. What would happen if the economy continues to take a dump and nobody flies..? I could also see smaller towers close if people are too broke to fly their Cessna on the weekend.)
 
pm577 said:
1) So, can an ATCer be laid-off because of a huge decrease in traffic?

2) If so, would you be allowed to make a seniority move anywhere? Or would you be placed on furlough until traffic picks up?

3) How often are facility ratings redone/calculated?

4) Could a new guy at some big terminal be displaced by an old-head who was pushed out of a closed facility?

(I ask because I visited a tracon in CA and the guys were worried about a decrease in facility rating to a lower level. What would happen if the economy continues to take a dump and nobody flies..? I could also see smaller towers close if people are too broke to fly their Cessna on the weekend.)
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Well, I'm not for certain, but I don't think you would need to be worried about getting laid off...especially if you've checked out. The people you spoke with would be more concerned about a rating decrease because of the lower pay grade and that OT would probably be reduced. However, I believe the federal government works differently than the private sector and they cannot just have a workforce reduction.
 
The FAA offers a service directly related to public safety. By definition they operate at a loss. They are funded by taxpayer dollars. There are so many differences from the private sector that any comparisons will be flawed to some extent. Recessions impact businesses because profit is the primary goal. In order to meet profitability goals companies need to reduce overhead/increase margins, etc so they lay people off. The FAA can't really do that and still maintain the level of safety demanded in aviation.

I agree it is probably mostly a concern of taking a paycut related to a facility downgrade, but I thought the pay was grandfathered in a downgrade...

But, it wouldn't be the first time I thought I knew how something in the FAA worked and I was totally wrong...
 
the FAA is going on the biggest hiring spree since the 1980's, trying to replace 16000 controllers in the next 10 years, the last thing I think you have to worry about is being laid off, that is if you are fully certified
 
unless someone <cough> pulls a Reagan :panic:

(not saying he would.. just saying.. it's been done before)
 
Depends on the facility. Most likely the smaller towers would get contracted out, you would be reassigned to a facility with staffing needs..
 
SwimAway said:
Depends on the facility. Most likely the smaller towers would get contracted out, you would be reassigned to a facility with staffing needs..
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The last time this happened those controllers got to fill out a "dream sheet" of facilities they wanted. FAA payed for the move and they all got there #1 choices. So this would be kinda cool!
 
you can't flat out be laid off. you can however be low man on the seniority totem pole when something drastic happens. for example, they get declassified to a lower level facility and lose authorization for xx amount of controllers. those controllers would be transferred to another facility. they wouldn't be laid off...per se.

many many factors that could create a transfer of personnel without the person wanting to be transferred.
 
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