How do you get a CTO?

twotwowoo

twotwowoo

New Member
I'm currently in the FAA ATC hiring process. I've been looking at job postings, and one thing I have noticed are several contract towers (in Alaska) that require a Certified Tower Operator (CTO) certificate, a Class II medical, and nothing else. How do you get a CTO? Does it take years of experience, or is it something you can obtain quickly?
 
I am honestly just guessing at this...but I would think you would have to attend a CTI school, or get your CTI from the military in order to obtain a CTO....but, really, that is a guess so feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
 
A CTO is Certified Tower Operator license. You get one after you are certified on all the tower positions. In other words if you work at an up/down you don't have to be certfied on rader to get a CTO. I've been working for the FAA for about nine months and have at least four more before I get a CTO.
 
You get a CTO by checking out in a tower, and it's unrelated to CTI programs (except ones that offer training and certification in a real control tower).

Those postings are geared for prior controllers, or existing controllers.
 
Remember, though, that the CTO openings require at least 52 weeks of controlling actual traffic. That's not going to happen at all CTI schools.

There are two schools that have sprung up recently offering CTO's: Link in Denton, TX and AdvancedATC in Valdosta, GA. Neither will get you 52 weeks, both cost an insane amount of money, neither have any sort of track record to speak of, and both are very vague about what your application process is after you graduate (it looks like you'd still have to go PUBNAT). Ah, and neither are CTI schools. If you decide to look into getting a CTO beforehand, steer clear of both.
 
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