You might want to get comfy. Consider yourself lucky if this whole thing only takes a year.
Don't trust the ATO
- Thread starter cboy40
- Start date
You might want to get comfy. Consider yourself lucky if this whole thing only takes a year.
ATC RET 2003
No More Vectors
Thirty years ago the process for me took over 18 months. The biggest difference is I didn't have the ability to talk to everyone in the world about it. That may not have been such a bad thing.
:clap::yeahthat:
ROTF, after reading this site for over a year and finally getting into the agency I would have to agree with you, good sir.
All you guys, the applicants, have to remember is - call your HR guy once a week at the same time.
If and when you get a job don't do anything other than say yessir/nosir (or mam) until you're checked out and off probation.
I found out the hard way that when you say things like, "I'm going to check out fast," and when you joke after totally bjorking your first session on ground, "Two more sessions and I think I'll be okay," they take you seriously!
.Don't be yourself. Don't try to help them figure out how awesome you are. Don't ever...ever EVER disagree with anything they say because even though you might be okay at the job and progressing quickly they, the trainers, don't have time to get to know you, give you the benefit of the doubt or appreciate your awesome personality.
AND ALWAYS BEAR IN MIND THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE RIGHT...It's the TRAINER'S TICKET AND YOU DO IT HOW THEY WANT YOU TO. THEY'RE ALWAYS RIGHT BECAUSE IT'S THEIR CAREER.
Get that previous statement tatoo'd on your hand!
If you're not good at being humble, like me, who has been awesome at everything he's ever done, prepare to be humbled because this job is hard... and never think you have the picture or know where you are in training because trust me... you don't.
That being said, I can't imagine ever doing anything else.
Trust your trainers, expect to be abused a bit and never argue!
AND REMEMBER - FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.
Edit: EXPECT TO BE ABUSED A LOT - The academy is not at all like what you'll see in the field.
Edit 2: THIS JOB IS MOSTLY COMMON SENSE - YOUR JOB, as a trainee, IS TO LEARN ENOUGH PHRASOLOGY AND BOOK KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU CAN APPLY YOUR COMMON SENSE.
Wyopoke79
New Member
:yup: all that....especially the part about the academy is nothing like the field........... seriously...this stuff is hard.... I was not prepared for how long and drawn out training really is...you may think you are hot stuff out of the academy. However, you will find out soon enough that the academy was just a screen and you know very little...:beer:
Barty
Well-Known Member
I agree that the Academy is mostly a screen. Truthfully, they do a decent job of teaching you basic phraseology, stripmarking and how to use the equipment. I just checked out on A-sides in my area and even there you quickly learn to toss aside some of the things you did in OKC and adapt to the way they want things done at your facility.
Truth be told, someone could probably skip OKC and be trained at the facility entirely (you end up repeating almost all of the material you learn at the Academy, at least in enroute) but they'd probably end up with a much greater number of people who don't have a prayer of checking out without it in place.
srm1734
New Member
Hey Barty
I just realized you live around my old stomping ground Senatobia to South Haven....
:beer:
Me too OLV represent!!! I don't miss Memphis at all and could never move back. Nothing against Memphis just my annoying family that lives there
srm1734
New Member
Devin the Arkie
New Member
So this is a bit out of left field and it seems like the answer is no, but can the NATCA be of any benefit at the academy and in regards to PV's. I know you're on probation for a year but... Can't uncle guido help you with big brother?
swinte00
Well-Known Member
Not necessarily true. One guy came from Tech Ops in my sister class and failed. He also got terminated and is no longer with the Agency.
Just because your 13 month probationary period does not apply does not mean you're safe from termination if you fail your PV.
teetee
New Member
Just checked with my husband. They can not fire you for failing a PV if you are past your probationary period. They can choose to not have you be in the FAA but they must find you another federal employee job.
Barty
Well-Known Member
Yep, we live about a mile west of the Olive Branch airport. So far we like the area, it is certainly much different than the horror stories that some have told about Memphis. Granted, what I have seen of Memphis proper hasn't been very impressive (though there are some signs here and there that they're trying to make things better) but the burbs aren't too different than what I was used to around Atlanta, save that there is less traffic here.
Working at the center has been a positive experience so far. My area has a bunch of really good people in it who all seem to want to help people get checked out provided you show you're willing to work hard to get there. Granted there have just been two people wash out, but before that the previous 4 folks who were training made CPC, and there's one guy training on r-side right now that looks like he'll probably check out on his first two sectors.
Tell your husband to read his contract better.
Developmentals that fail before completion of their training requirements (become an FPL) can still be terminated.
The agency has the obligations to attempt to place them at another facility for en-route controllers, but that usually means going from a level 11 center to a level 6 tower.
Anybody within the probationary period car be terminated at any reason with or without cause.
ATC RET 2003
No More Vectors
The FFA I worked for could, and would, do whatever it wanted, whenever it wanted and for whatever reason, or for no reason whatsoever. Rules did not apply to the Agency. They were for everyone else.
teetee
New Member
I guess you phrased it better...the agency is obliged to attempt to place the individual to another facility if they don't pass a PV and are past probationary stage. You were able to phrase it how I was thinking it but not portraying it.
Many of those that fail the PV at my husbands facility have chosen to walk rather than go to flight data.Just wanted to add...some from my husbands center that have failed out recently have moved to small towers in California, NY and South Dakota or something like that. One recently failed PV became the personal assistant to the center manager. They do try and get you placed in another location from what has been demonstrated while my husband has been at his facility (6 months)...as long as they are no longer in the probationary period.
So to go back to the original question, I would say really NATCA doesn't help you until you are past Academy and your probationary period at your facility.