Good time to be applying for an ATC position?

X

Xfire

New Member
Hello, newbie here who has spent the past couple of days reading up on the qualifications and experiences some of you other members have gone through in order to become ATC's. This seems like a great and challenging field once you do get in and I have a few questions I wasn't able to find answers to while searching.
Are there only certain periods of time that the FAA is willing to accept off the street applicants? I have a Bachelor of Science degree but no military or aviation experience. If so is this a good time to apply?
Is it possible that someone with type 1 diabetes will be able to pass the medical requirements? I did see on the FAA site that this would require special review, but no definite answer.
Back in high school I wanted to go into the navy, be a pilot, then fly commercial. Being diagnosed as diabetic this became out of the question. Since then I have gone to college received my Associates and Bachelors, but still haven't found my spot in life. I am 24 and am in great shape, apart from diabetes. I am 5'5" 128lbs, athletic, and keep my blood sugar under control. I have never had to go to the hospital because of it. Would it be a waste of my time to try and pursue a career as an ATC?
 
yeah its really not a good time to be applying as an off the street person. you can only apply if they have a bid out and from what ive heard they arent going to have any OTS bids in the near future. also, im not sure 100% sure about the diabetic part but i think thats a DQ as well.
 
Post the question about being a diabetic in the ask a doctor forum he will have the answer. I'm not sure of all the specifics but I know you can get a medical when your a diabetic. I beleive it has to be controlable by oral medication but dont quiote me on that.
 
Two controllers I work with are diabetics. They are both ex-military. Not sure if they were diagnosed after being hired by FAA or not. But, they both have medical certs & work every day.
 
Hmm, thanks for the reply. I posted this same question in the medical forum and was told that diabetics cannot be ATC. I called my region and talked to two different people, neither of them were sure.
 
I work with quite a few diabetics at my facility. As long as it can be demonstrated that it can be controlled with drugs and/or diet, you can still get a medical.

But getting your medical renewed, and getting one issued for the first time in this job seems to be two entirely different things. My medical was deferred for a 2.5 year old knee surgery when I first applied for the job, but when I had it renewed this past December, it flew right on through. In some ways, it is actually more difficult getting a medical to do ATC than it is to fly an airplane. Go figure.
 
My ATC region got back with me today and told me that type 1 diabetics can be accepted as ATC's. This gives me some hope. I checked out the FAA site but didn't see any opening for off the street ATC's. Are they not taking applications from the public at the moment? If not is there a certain time they do open it up to everyone?
 
I doubt OTS (Off the Street) hiring will come back for a very long time, if ever. Right now, there are currently more than enough CTI kids waiting to be hired along with VRA. With 36 schools offering CTI certification, there is no need to hire off the street anymore. If you want to control, your best bet is to go to a CTI school and begin the very long waiting process (2+ yrs) for the chance to get hired.
 
Xfire said:
My ATC region got back with me today and told me that type 1 diabetics can be accepted as ATC's. This gives me some hope. I checked out the FAA site but didn't see any opening for off the street ATC's. Are they not taking applications from the public at the moment? If not is there a certain time they do open it up to everyone?
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The last one was in July '09.
 
flyeagle111 said:
I doubt OTS (Off the Street) hiring will come back for a very long time, if ever. Right now, there are currently more than enough CTI kids waiting to be hired along with VRA. With 36 schools offering CTI certification, there is no need to hire off the street anymore. If you want to control, your best bet is to go to a CTI school and begin the very long waiting process (2+ yrs) for the chance to get hired.
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That is a shame...
 
I have been wondering the same thing for a while now, and am in the same position. I think I'd be able to do the job and even enjoy it. It IS a shame! No one in their right mind that holds a BS degree will go back to school for this. Both the UK and Australia accept OTS. I don't understand why the US can't do the same. Seems the FAA will miss a lot of great candidates by limiting entry like this. There was an article back in April about how 1 in 5 ATC trainees washes out, so it does seem that the FAA's methodology leaves something to be desired.
 
lightswitch said:
I have been wondering the same thing for a while now, and am in the same position. I think I'd be able to do the job and even enjoy it. It IS a shame! No one in their right mind that holds a BS degree will go back to school for this. Both the UK and Australia accept OTS. I don't understand why the US can't do the same. Seems the FAA will miss a lot of great candidates by limiting entry like this. There was an article back in April about how 1 in 5 ATC trainees washes out, so it does seem that the FAA's methodology leaves something to be desired.
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Speak for yourself. There are plenty who have BS degrees and have gone back, myself included. It doesn't take long to go back and in most cases it is less than a year.
 
They aren't just holding out on OTS for the heck of it. They are hiring more qualified CTI students. You can do a CTI program in a mere 4 semesters like I'm doing.
 
titansox said:
They aren't just holding out on OTS for the heck of it. They are hiring more qualified CTI students. You can do a CTI program in a mere 4 semesters like I'm doing.
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a CTI more qualified? you think after 4 semesters in some college course that your more qualified to be am ATC HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH, thanks for the laugh kid. problem is you kiddies dont know FFA history and why the the FFA dosent want to hire OTSs and it is not because you CTI pukes are more qualified, it has to do with money PERIOD. WE washed out just as many CTIs as OTSs and VRAs and that piece of paper dont mean nothing the FFA just suckered you stooges into paying for your inital training, you have the ablity to do the job or you dont and some fancy so called college training isnt gonna help if you cant do the job. but nice try.
 
queeno said:
a CTI more qualified? you think after 4 semesters in some college course that your more qualified to be am ATC HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH, thanks for the laugh kid. problem is you kiddies dont know FFA history and why the the FFA dosent want to hire OTSs and it is not because you CTI pukes are more qualified, it has to do with money PERIOD. WE washed out just as many CTIs as OTSs and VRAs and that piece of paper dont mean nothing the FFA just suckered you stooges into paying for your inital training, you have the ablity to do the job or you dont and some fancy so called college training isnt gonna help if you cant do the job. but nice try.
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why are you dragging the future farmers of america into this?


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queeno said:
a CTI more qualified? you think after 4 semesters in some college course that your more qualified to be am ATC HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH, thanks for the laugh kid. problem is you kiddies dont know FFA history and why the the FFA dosent want to hire OTSs and it is not because you CTI pukes are more qualified, it has to do with money PERIOD. WE washed out just as many CTIs as OTSs and VRAs and that piece of paper dont mean nothing the FFA just suckered you stooges into paying for your inital training, you have the ablity to do the job or you dont and some fancy so called college training isnt gonna help if you cant do the job. but nice try.
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Woah now calm down.

Yes I think we are more qualified then some randos working retail. I'm not saying we are experts on anything but I think going to OKC with a year + of getting our feet wet is only a positive. I'd know I'd hate for me doing anything ATC related if I didn't have my background in flying. When I first got my pilots license I thought it was stupid and a waste of time. But once I got up here, I realized that experience was invaluable. Also it does help that we are playing for the training vs the FAA. I wouldn't have gone to the CTI school if I thought I'd have any chance at getting picked up OTS but thats just impracticable at this time. My point being was the FAA didn't stop hiring OTS for S and giggles. They stopped because there were enough applicants coming in who were welling to finance their basic training and as a result, have some experience coming in.
 
titansox said:
Woah now calm down.

Yes I think we are more qualified then some randos working retail. I'm not saying we are experts on anything but I think going to OKC with a year + of getting our feet wet is only a positive. I'd know I'd hate for me doing anything ATC related if I didn't have my background in flying. When I first got my pilots license I thought it was stupid and a waste of time. But once I got up here, I realized that experience was invaluable. Also it does help that we are playing for the training vs the FAA. I wouldn't have gone to the CTI school if I thought I'd have any chance at getting picked up OTS but thats just impracticable at this time. My point being was the FAA didn't stop hiring OTS for S and giggles. They stopped because there were enough applicants coming in who were welling to finance their basic training and as a result, have some experience coming in.
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you just dont get it, the FFAs long term hireing plan for 2000/2020 DID NOT ENCLUDE OTS, THEY NEVER WANTED TO HIRE OTS. THE ONLY REASON THEY HIRED OTSs WAS BECAUSE OF THE 2006 NONTRACT WHEN MOST OF THE CTIs AND VRAs DIDNT TAKE THE JOBS THEY WERE OFFERED ALONG WITH A WAVE OF RETIREMENTS ,THEY COULDNT FILL SLOTs SO THEY STARTED A OTS STREAM FOR THE SHORT HAUL.listen nubee i was there when the CTIs started and they are NO BETTER PREPAIRED THAN ANYONE OFF THE STREET, PERIOD. you can think all you want but the truth is a diffrent animal.
 
queeno said:
you just dont get it, the FFAs long term hireing plan for 2000/2020 DID NOT ENCLUDE OTS, THEY NEVER WANTED TO HIRE OTS. THE ONLY REASON THEY HIRED OTSs WAS BECAUSE OF THE 2006 NONTRACT WHEN MOST OF THE CTIs AND VRAs DIDNT TAKE THE JOBS THEY WERE OFFERED ALONG WITH A WAVE OF RETIREMENTS ,THEY COULDNT FILL SLOTs SO THEY STARTED A OTS STREAM FOR THE SHORT HAUL.listen nubee i was there when the CTIs started and they are NO BETTER PREPAIRED THAN ANYONE OFF THE STREET, PERIOD. you can think all you want but the truth is a diffrent animal.
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Why are you typing in caps? I'm not even sure I'm disagreeing with you. But the fact of the matter is you aren't going to get hired unless you go through a CTI program at this time. Why is it that they never hired OTS before 06? Is it because the people they were hiring had zero background in the industry and as a result needed more training and thus cost the FAA more money/time? Seems pretty reasonable to me.
 
actually the faa has hired off the street before 06. the CTI school is a relatively new idea. one lady i work with who was hired in the early 90s applied ots because she saw an ad in the paper....
 
titansox said:
Why are you typing in caps? I'm not even sure I'm disagreeing with you. But the fact of the matter is you aren't going to get hired unless you go through a CTI program at this time. Why is it that they never hired OTS before 06? Is it because the people they were hiring had zero background in the industry and as a result needed more training and thus cost the FAA more money/time? Seems pretty reasonable to me.
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man are you hard headed , CTI grad are no better perpared than OTSs.the FFA wanted out of the screening business bucause they thought the old screen cost more so they came up with this CTI scam to have you schmooes pay for your own screen it was all about the money.if you think that class room ATC will prepair you for the real world your in for a rude suprise. the first thing your gonne be told is to forget what you learned in school.as a retired controller of 30 years ill say it again a CTI is no better than a VFA or an OTS PERIOD. all trainees no matter there back ground are usless untill your trained in the field on live traffic by a real controller, you can live in your BS CTI world and think all you want about how better you are compaired to an OTS but it aint the truth a trainee is a trainee is a trainee, its the persons ABILITY to LEARN to do this job that counts not where thay came from. but thats OK youll learn the hard way.
 
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