July 1st TRACON Basics

Sweet Deal! Are you anticipating a 7-week stay or were you told to prepare for a 10-11 week stay? TRACON training used to take almost 3 months, but I swear my facility manager expects me to show up 7 weeks after my Academy start date. Curious if maybe others in my class are in the same boat. I'm actually wondering if we do an RTF type of class at our facility during the initial classroom training...
 
when did you guys find out your class date of july 1st? i told my rep months ago that's when i wanted a class date but he just doesn't communicate with me
 
Diamnd15 said:
when did you guys find out your class date of july 1st? i told my rep months ago that's when i wanted a class date but he just doesn't communicate with me
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My HR rep unofficially advised me to expect a July 1st class date back on 12/19/2008. My FOL that I received 02/26/2009 sets it in stone as anticipated.
 
hmm, i got my tol in november for norcal...do u think it would be possible for me to select that july 1st date, does the hr rep have that much control on who gets in for the specific dates?
 
Diamnd15 said:
hmm, i got my tol in november for norcal...do u think it would be possible for me to select that july 1st date, does the hr rep have that much control on who gets in for the specific dates?
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As far as I know, the ATO magically and somehow logically chooses who, when, and where with respect to the Academy. Your HR rep is simply the messenger when it comes to the short end of that stick. Not much leeway or power to pull with on their end. They just verify all your paperwork is in tip-top shape, submit the final package once you're all cleared, and the ATO decides on class dates based on facility need, availability, etc. Best of luck to you! I've got another 10 weeks or so and that feels really close compared to the length of this whole process.
 
Diamnd15 said:
hmm, i got my tol in november for norcal...do u think it would be possible for me to select that july 1st date, does the hr rep have that much control on who gets in for the specific dates?
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I wonder if they'll pair you up with me?
I was reassigned NCT and awaiting a new drug test, FOL, and class date.
 
PantherFlyer13 said:
Sweet Deal! Are you anticipating a 7-week stay or were you told to prepare for a 10-11 week stay? TRACON training used to take almost 3 months, but I swear my facility manager expects me to show up 7 weeks after my Academy start date. Curious if maybe others in my class are in the same boat. I'm actually wondering if we do an RTF type of class at our facility during the initial classroom training...
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Well, I get re-routed from ORF (up/down) to PCT (tracon) at the beginning of this month. When I accepted that change, my HR rep offered me a class date of April 29...way too soon for me...so next available was July 1. She explained that I would be in OKC classes through September 14, so definitely not 7 weeks. Any thoughts as to where you're staying yet?
 
ctychik said:
Well, I get re-routed from ORF (up/down) to PCT (tracon) at the beginning of this month. When I accepted that change, my HR rep offered me a class date of April 29...way too soon for me...so next available was July 1. She explained that I would be in OKC classes through September 14, so definitely not 7 weeks. Any thoughts as to where you're staying yet?
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Around February, my Front-Line Manager at my facility contacted me and two other people headed to D21 that are going to OKC on 07/01/2009. I got in touch with one of the folks and we're rooming together in OKC in a place called Student Suites of Mustang...found it on Craigslist!

From what I’ve been told about the complex, this is what I gather. A woman by the name of Joyce is constructing and personally furnishing a set of duplexes on a residential cul-de-sac in the town of Mustang, OK, just west of OKC. They are supposedly a 10-minute car drive to the Academy at Will Rogers Airport. Each home is a 3-bedroom/2-bathroom floor plan furnished in such a way that the master bedroom includes an office setup while the second bedroom is paired with the third bedroom to be used as a study/office area. She rents the units out solely to FAA Academy students, instructors, and their families. The existing buildings are not even 6 months old and there are 4 more units that are scheduled to be ready to occupy for the first time around our class date time frame in June/July 2009. Each unit comes with an attached 2-car garage with electric garage door opener pager for your vehicle as well as security systems and you get to pick your own passwords/codes for it during your stay too. Queen size beds with all linens, equipped desk setups, cable TV hookups in each bedroom, bathrooms ready to use minus personal toiletries, all living rooms come with 32” flat-panel HDTV’s and nice leather furniture, kitchens are fully equipped with new energy-efficient appliances including microwaves, toasters, and dishwashers. The floor plans are designed for two single roommates to each have his/her own bedroom, office space to study, and personal bathroom, with obviously shared quarters in the living room, dining room and kitchen. Laundry room includes washer and dryer as well. Each unit includes a fenced backyard and pets are happily welcomed. The homes are prepared so that upon arrival, all you need are your own clothes, toiletries for your bathroom, and a quick trip to stock the kitchen with groceries, and you're golden.

Leaving the amenities and talking numbers, Joyce does require signing of a lease so that there's a paper trail and contact information, but there aren't any term lengths associated with your stay (like a 12-month lease). Just let her know your class dates and that's pretty much what your lease agreement is. For the duration of your stay, it equates to $1050/month for each roommate, or approximately $35/day/person. That’s less than the $49.80/day that the FAA allots us for living expenses in our per diem checks, so we get to pocket $15/day or approximately $450/month on top of our base income while at the Academy, and the $30.20/day for incidentals included in our per diem checks. The rent amount includes all utilities, even high-speed wired/wireless internet and unlimited long distance phone service. No deposit is required but cash payment upon arrival to secure the first month is expected I believe. From a financial standpoint, it's not the cheapest dump so as to pocket all of your per diem allowance, but it's also not breaking the bank either, more of a happy middle ground. No smoking or outrageous drinking or partying is tolerated given the selective tenants (all FAA students/instructors there for a strict purpose). Family visits are allowed if not encouraged and pets are accepted as well. It is basically a 3/2/2 home lifestyle setup as a 2/2/2 with our own office spaces. Just bring food for the kitchen and clothes to put in the closets and dressers. Joyce is currently working on getting her complex added to the shuttle bus route for the Academy but at present it is not on any shuttle route. Own personal transportation is required for getting to and from the Academy.

The complex is so new that images don’t appear on websites like Google Earth or Map Quest because of how dated the satellite imagery is. But she did tell me the general location of the complex as being 1/2-mile north of the intersection between SW 74th Street and Czech Hall Road: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...734547&sspn=0.021969,0.04549&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=16.

If you have any troubles finding housing or might be interested in the Student Suites of Mustang option, I could offer any help and/or contact information that I might have. Feel free to PM me.
 
yeah i have housing because i live in okc already...so i get screwed on per diem, but i do get mileage to and from the academy. Did your HR rep give u a date of when training is done?
 
s905 said:
yeah i have housing because i live in okc already...so i get screwed on per diem, but i do get mileage to and from the academy. Did your HR rep give u a date of when training is done?
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not yet, once this drug-screen is processed i should get my FOL with all that stuff
 
s905 said:
yeah i have housing because i live in okc already...so i get screwed on per diem, but i do get mileage to and from the academy. Did your HR rep give u a date of when training is done?
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did they tell you July 28th?

I'm looking at the course schedule:
Tracon basics 5/14-6/18
Intro to Radar control: 6/18-6/30
Terminal basic radar: 7/01-7/28
 
s905 said:
my fol only listed tracon basics 5/14-6/18, then intro to radar 6/18-6/30
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My FOL states the same thing but different dates:

"You are required to attend basic air traffic training at the FAA Academy located at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, beginning 7/1/2009. Classes will be in session for approximately 25 classroom days. Then you will immediately continue at the FAA Academy beginning 8/5/2009 and attend Intro to Radar Control, which is approximately 9 classroom days."

That's why I've been confused as to whether TRACON training for OTS applicants is ~7 weeks or ~11 weeks after that 4-week radar course with the TRACON PV at the end. Maybe the Raytheon contract along with the top-level desire to push trainees through the system quicker might have resulted in a restructured program, who knows...
 
That is the same thing i was wondering, so if you findout anything else i would love to know because i am trying to plan to move to a new state and not knowing when is kind of a pain.

Hey Yank&bank maybe you can shed some light
 
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