Question for all you pilots out there.

js0305 said:
I took this as a little :sarcasm:. Like- as a pilot we don't have to know what we are doing, but ATC always has to be on their game. Could be wrong but I don't think it was a shot at the OP. I actually kinda laughed a little.

As far as the OP goes, yes it has crossed my mind but then reality set in when I toured the ARTCC. I ran away as fast as I could. Huge dark room with only the light of computer screens. Not for me. I will stick to my low pay, terrible hours, but great views from the office window.
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:D Thanks for having a sense of humor - it was certainly no shot at the OP... I firmly believe those guys do an amazing job, something I don't think I could do after having, like you, toured the facilities.

It takes a special person to be able to handle multiple aircraft at once and keep students from hitting people. I'm not sure if I have the patience...I'll stick to flying! If the OP is one of those people - good on him - I'm glad there's people like that out there to keep us pilots out of trouble (for the most part).
 
I considered making the jump into controlling after visiting Orlando Tracon and the MCO tower. The money is unreal, the schedule is awesome after you put in your time, benefits endless......no uniform too!

That being said, I'm just not ready to give up flying quite yet. Could be a great fit for some people, could still work as a part time CFI/part time corporate flyer while working ATC full time.
 
HughesAirwest said:
On paper, ATC it is a better career in just about every measurable way. But flying is probably a better job. Which would you rather have? Picture yourself retiring in 20 years and collecting a government pension in your early 40s. Most pilots have another 25 years of work to look forward to at that point. Give it a try, if you end up hating it for some reason, you can always go back to flying later.
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what he said.

I fly, and would rather fly. Although I always said if I lost my medical or something, I'd like to be a controller.
 
LineCheck said:
Im pretty sure controllers have to maintain the equivalent of a 2nd class.
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Yep...

I went through CTI school, graduated, then promptly went back to flying for a living. As much as this industry sucks at times, I can't get away from flying. My flying abilities are surpassed only by my ability to fool check airmen into passing me.
 
Not only did I consider it, I even applied and took the AT-SAT. But, then I turned 31 and was all like :mad: for a while then I was like :(.

If it weren't for the age thing, I'd still be trying to get into ATC. I mean, in addition to good pay and benefits, they pay for the training. Can't beat that!
 
Heck yeah I would.

Oh wait - does that mean I have to stop sniffing glue? :rotfl:


Striker, listen, and you listen close: flying a plane is no different than riding a bicycle, just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes.



Roger Murdock: Flight 2-0-9'er, you are cleared for take-off.
Captain Oveur: Roger!
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Tower voice: L.A. departure frequency, 123 point 9'er.
Captain Oveur: Roger!
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Victor Basta: Request vector, over.
Captain Oveur: What?
Tower voice: Flight 2-0-9'er cleared for vector 324.
Roger Murdock: We have clearance, Clarence.
Captain Oveur: Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?
Tower voice: Tower's radio clearance, over!
Captain Oveur: That's Clarence Oveur. Over.
Tower voice: Over.
Captain Oveur: Roger.
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Tower voice: Roger, over!
Roger Murdock: What?
Captain Oveur: Huh?
Victor Basta: Who?



Captain Oveur: You ever been in a cockpit before?
Joey: No sir, I've never been up in a plane before.
Captain Oveur: You ever seen a grown man naked?



Ted Striker: I flew single engine fighters in the Air Force, but this plane has four engines. It's an entirely different kind of flying altogether.




Rex Kramer: [talking to Steve McCroskey] Our only hope is to build this man up. We gotta give him all the confidence we can.
[to Striker]
Rex Kramer: Striker, have you ever flown a multi-engine plane before?
Ted Striker: No, never.
Rex Kramer: [to McCroskey, with the microphone still on] . This is a God damn waste of time. There's no way he can land this plane.


Controller: I know but this guy has no flying experience at all. He's a menace to himself and everything else in the air... yes, birds too.



Steve McCroskey: [seeing airplane from tower] It's coming right at us!
[he then jumps out of a window]
 
Thanks a lot for all your thoughts on this matter. I figured while i am still young I will give it a shot, if it's not for me, I still have other options. I have never pictured myself as an air traffic controller. I always see myself in a pimped out pilot's costume flying heavy metal over the world. It still may or may not happen but right now I have to be pretty damn stupid to not try ATC.
 
I had thought about it. I even started looking into it seriously. The QOL would probably be better than that of a pilot. No overnights, no long trips. But when it hits the fan, it hits the fan. I hear it can be stressfull, but what aviation career position isn't. I am a little stressed right now. I was supposed to go to LAs and return. Then, LAS, stay the night, return the next day. Now, it sounds like LAS, HII, overnight, LAS return. But who really knows. Atleast with an ATC career, you could plan your life.
 
No......Flying involves alot of multi tasking, but those guys can be overseeing the lives of thousands of people at any given time.
 
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