I'm trying to drop PUBHI before panels...can it be done?

H

HonuPineapple

New Member
Has anyone here ever dropped an announcement that you're on the referral list for before panels? I tried aviation careers on the phone and email, and they don't seem to understand what I'm trying to do.

I am being referred for PUBNAT3, PUBNAT4, and PUBHI to be reviewed next week. I want to drop PUBHI in case they will only offer one interview invite for all the announcements being considered. If I get selected for 3 and/or 4 and/or HI and they can only offer me one interview they might offer me HI instead of a preference I picked and would prefer for 3 or 4.

The only reason I applied to PUBHI was because I thought the selection for it would be after PUBNAT3. It was meant to be a backup plan in case I was not selected for PUBNAT3.

I can't seem to get them to understand this and am getting answers from them that don't really have to do with the issue: can I drop PUBHI before panels and only be considered for PUBNAT3 and PUBNAT4?

Can it be done / Has it been done? Or should I just give up trying?

I mean, if I get HI that will be OK... but it would stink if I get it when I could have gotten a center that I want.
 
HonuPineapple said:
Has anyone here ever dropped an announcement that you're on the referral list for before panels? I tried aviation careers on the phone and email, and they don't seem to understand what I'm trying to do.

I am being referred for PUBNAT3, PUBNAT4, and PUBHI to be reviewed next week. I want to drop PUBHI in case they will only offer one interview invite for all the announcements being considered. If I get selected for 3 and/or 4 and/or HI and they can only offer me one interview they might offer me HI instead of a preference I picked and would prefer for 3 or 4.

The only reason I applied to PUBHI was because I thought the selection for it would be after PUBNAT3. It was meant to be a backup plan in case I was not selected for PUBNAT3.

I can't seem to get them to understand this and am getting answers from them that don't really have to do with the issue: can I drop PUBHI before panels and only be considered for PUBNAT3 and PUBNAT4?

Can it be done / Has it been done? Or should I just give up trying?

I mean, if I get HI that will be OK... but it would stink if I get it when I could have gotten a center that I want.
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I haven't heard anyone doing this, considering this is the first time multiple PUBNATs are being considered at the same panels it's hard to say how they will manage more than one facility vying for the same applicant. If I had to guess I would bet it will be handled in a similar fashion to those who choose both terminal and en route options (facilty with the greater need gets the applicant). Again this is all speculation on my part and more than likely you won't even know if you were selected for more than one facility, if you're selected all of that will have been ironed out prior to your offer. I'd keep your PUBHI app open and just hope for the best.
 
ohioaviator said:
I haven't heard anyone doing this, considering this is the first time multiple PUBNATs are being considered at the same panels it's hard to say how they will manage more than one facility vying for the same applicant. If I had to guess I would bet it will be handled in a similar fashion to those who choose both terminal and en route options (facilty with the greater need gets the applicant). Again this is all speculation on my part and more than likely you won't even know if you were selected for more than one facility, if you're selected all of that will have been ironed out prior to your offer. I'd keep your PUBHI app open and just hope for the best.
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They already gave you a chance to drop. Why didn't you?
 
Wyopoke79 said:
They already gave you a chance to drop. Why didn't you?
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Because PUBHI was released quite a bit later than PUBNAT3.

When they gave us the opportunity to drop I don't think PUBHI had even taken the AT-SAT yet.

I thought that PUBHI's panels would be after those for PUBNAT3, so I kept it open in case I was not offered an interview for PUBNAT3.
 
I think that since you were already given the chance to drop it you are stuck and you will just have to deny the interview offer to HI if you really don't want it. It was a gamble game you were playing and you kinda lost...sorry :( Hopefully one of the others centers you picked will be higher priority need than HI. I know that with the HI opening they seemed really strick like, "DON'T APPLY IF YOU AREN'T INTERESTED" seems to ring a bell as being said. They also had all Pubnats being actually tested in HI (once again, I think wanting to test and see how serious the people were about actually moving there).

I think they really only wanted those that were serious about moving there to apply. I am not saying you weren't serious about it, I am just saying I think they gave ample notice and I don't think you will now have the option to drop out until you go to PEPC or deny PEPC! I think they were trying to avoid situations just like this by giving chances to drop out. People "willing" to go to HI as long as other places didn't pan out first.

Sorry about your situation. That really does suck!
 
If you get stuck in HI, I'll come visit you, only if you promise to take a winter vacation sometime to go snowboarding/skiing with me :-P. Other than that, your situation sorta sucks, I'm sorry.
 
Sunburn said:
If you get stuck in HI, I'll come visit you, only if you promise to take a winter vacation sometime to go snowboarding/skiing with me :-P. Other than that, your situation sorta sucks, I'm sorry.
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Hurray for ski trips! I'm hitting the slopes again on Sunday (I was skiing for the week over new year's). Should be good conditions, too. I think the Poconos are getting good snow tomorrow.

And as far as the Hawaii thing goes, it's not that big a deal I guess. I'm sure living in Hawaii would be beautiful. I was just hoping for a center because I figure that if I'm controlling traffic either way, it might as well be for better pay. Also, I don't know what the washout rate is at HCF (Tower/Tracon/ARTCC all in one) and I'd rather start at a center where there isn't so much washout. Other than HCF, I guess the other towers would be OK to start at.
 
HonuPineapple said:
Hurray for ski trips! I'm hitting the slopes again on Sunday (I was skiing for the week over new year's). Should be good conditions, too. I think the Poconos are getting good snow tomorrow.

And as far as the Hawaii thing goes, it's not that big a deal I guess. I'm sure living in Hawaii would be beautiful. I was just hoping for a center because I figure that if I'm controlling traffic either way, it might as well be for better pay. Also, I don't know what the washout rate is at HCF (Tower/Tracon/ARTCC all in one) and I'd rather start at a center where there isn't so much washout. Other than HCF, I guess the other towers would be OK to start at.
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To each their own on type of control. After doing simulated radar and simulated tower work, and visiting both ZLA and POC (Brackett Tower), I would much rather get paid to look at my traffic and control it that way, and see "what is up" outside, verses working radar and sitting in a dark room all day not knowing (joking saying this) where I am, who I am, and where I'm going. But if that works for you go for it... but my free advice, and take it for what it is worth, if you get an offer, don't say no, if you want this career, don't gamble with it hoping you will get a better facility on the next app.

Yeah, I'd love to go hit the slopes right now, but I am in OKC, and I left before our season openned in CA.
 
I was supposed to go snowboarding tomorrow but I'm getting screwed because the weather is gonna be way to bad. I gotta get atleast one trip in before OKC!!! I'm dying cause I got my brand new board and bindings and it's so pretty and just wants to be ridden. LOL
 
Am I just reading into your screename too much, or are you not from HI? If you DID get HI, it wouldn't be a life changing event I'd imagine.
 
Sunburn said:
To each their own on type of control. After doing simulated radar and simulated tower work, and visiting both ZLA and POC (Brackett Tower), I would much rather get paid to look at my traffic and control it that way, and see "what is up" outside, verses working radar and sitting in a dark room all day not knowing (joking saying this) where I am, who I am, and where I'm going. But if that works for you go for it... but my free advice, and take it for what it is worth, if you get an offer, don't say no, if you want this career, don't gamble with it hoping you will get a better facility on the next app.
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Yeah, I will certainly take whatever offer I get.

I've been to some towers and some centers, and I actually like the centers better. I guess I'm in the minority!
 
bippoptl said:
I was supposed to go snowboarding tomorrow but I'm getting screwed because the weather is gonna be way to bad. I gotta get atleast one trip in before OKC!!! I'm dying cause I got my brand new board and bindings and it's so pretty and just wants to be ridden. LOL
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Go for the Poconos tomorrow, it should be good even though the mountains are lame. Then again, it should be snowing right now and it's not. So we'll see.

SoonerATC said:
Am I just reading into your screename too much, or are you not from HI? If you DID get HI, it wouldn't be a life changing event I'd imagine.
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Hawaii is about 4960 miles from where I live. I could see the Atlantic from one of the apartments I've lived in over the past few years. I am definitely not from HI! I have been there a few times though.
 
HonuPineapple said:
Go for the Poconos tomorrow, it should be good even though the mountains are lame. Then again, it should be snowing right now and it's not. So we'll see.



Hawaii is about 4960 miles from where I live. I could see the Atlantic from one of the apartments I've lived in over the past few years. I am definitely not from HI! I have been there a few times though.
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I guess I got spoiled my whole life, I'd go snowboarding in the morning and when the slopes got to busy, I'd get in my wetsuit and go surfing. (250 miles round trip from home to slopes to beach and back). Unfortunately I am moving to NoCal, which means the waves are bigger, the shores are rockier and the sharks are bigger, but I am close to Mammoth and Bachelor.... maybe I will like the winters.

As far as liking centers better, I can't say you are in the minority, especially since you can start and end your career 30 years later in the same center and you would be par for the course.
 
Whatever you do not, do not, DO NOT turn down a TOL. I have a friend who I worked with at a military facility WITH a CTO who turned down a TOL because it wasn't the exact facility he wanted. He has applied to every announcement since and not recieved another referral. THAT WAS 3 YEARS AGO! Apparently, he must have been black balled for that little stunt. He is currently working a contract tower in FL but still trying (persistantly and somewhat desperately) to get into the FAA.

Another ex co-worker, who worked with both of us at the same facility and is now a controller at JFK said that once in the door, it is easy to transfer to another facility after you have checked-out at your original one. The FAA is looking for people who are eager to work and don't want to worry about placing everyone exactly where they want to go, especially since the wash out rate is so high. There are more than enough people willing to take your spot without being picky about the exact location in which they end up. Now obviously, if you have a connection in the upper chain at the Administraion you might be able to pull some strings, but that is something that i would not be willing to chance.

Just take your lumps if you do happen to get the "other facility" and check-out as fast as possible. Show them that you are a valuable asset to the FAA and then express an intrest in transferring to your preferred facility. Chances are, if you are a good controller they will have no problem sending you where you want to go.
 
ATCJefe said:
Whatever you do not, do not, DO NOT turn down a TOL. I have a friend who I worked with at a military facility WITH a CTO who turned down a TOL because it wasn't the exact facility he wanted. He has applied to every announcement since and not recieved another referral. THAT WAS 3 YEARS AGO! Apparently, he must have been black balled for that little stunt. He is currently working a contract tower in FL but still trying (persistantly and somewhat desperately) to get into the FAA.

Another ex co-worker, who worked with both of us at the same facility and is now a controller at JFK said that once in the door, it is easy to transfer to another facility after you have checked-out at your original one. The FAA is looking for people who are eager to work and don't want to worry about placing everyone exactly where they want to go, especially since the wash out rate is so high. There are more than enough people willing to take your spot without being picky about the exact location in which they end up. Now obviously, if you have a connection in the upper chain at the Administraion you might be able to pull some strings, but that is something that i would not be willing to chance.

Just take your lumps if you do happen to get the "other facility" and check-out as fast as possible. Show them that you are a valuable asset to the FAA and then express an intrest in transferring to your preferred facility. Chances are, if you are a good controller they will have no problem sending you where you want to go.
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I heard rumors of this.

But seriously, good heads up!
 
HonuPineapple said:
Yeah, no way I'm turning down a TOL under any circumstances. I'm not waiting any longer than I have to for this job!
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In his best Cuban accent, "We need people like you, you know why? So we can point our frickin' fingers and say, that's the new guy".

No seriously, too much coffee this morning I guess, but the FAA needs people that actually want this job, and don't want to wait anymore than they have to for this job.
 
blah blah blah maybe they didn't like your friend

I went to a PEPC, offered a TOL and had a class date...and then I turned it down. I also received the LA email....so it really doesn't look like you are totally out of luck if you decide to decline your TOL.

However, because HI is up in front of the panel with PUB 3 and 4, I would not be turning down a HI offer if I was you. You won't have another chance till PUB 5 and who knows when that will be. :)
 
ATCJefe said:
Whatever you do not, do not, DO NOT turn down a TOL. I have a friend who I worked with at a military facility WITH a CTO who turned down a TOL because it wasn't the exact facility he wanted. He has applied to every announcement since and not recieved another referral. THAT WAS 3 YEARS AGO! Apparently, he must have been black balled for that little stunt. He is currently working a contract tower in FL but still trying (persistantly and somewhat desperately) to get into the FAA.

Another ex co-worker, who worked with both of us at the same facility and is now a controller at JFK said that once in the door, it is easy to transfer to another facility after you have checked-out at your original one. The FAA is looking for people who are eager to work and don't want to worry about placing everyone exactly where they want to go, especially since the wash out rate is so high. There are more than enough people willing to take your spot without being picky about the exact location in which they end up. Now obviously, if you have a connection in the upper chain at the Administraion you might be able to pull some strings, but that is something that i would not be willing to chance.

Just take your lumps if you do happen to get the "other facility" and check-out as fast as possible. Show them that you are a valuable asset to the FAA and then express an intrest in transferring to your preferred facility. Chances are, if you are a good controller they will have no problem sending you where you want to go.
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I turned down a TOL for the first pubnat, that being said, I was on the referral list for pubnat2, but I didn't get offered anything. I'm thinking it may have been because I pleaded my case in the geo pref email in the comment section where you state what counties you'd like to be placed. I am also on the referral list for pubnat 4 and this time I didn't write anything, plus my clearances just recently went through not too long ago so I'm hoping they see that as well when making their selections this time.
 
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