Question for all you pilots out there.

N

N8081G

New Member
To all of you who are actively flying, would you consider being an Air Traffic Controller if given the chance? Please also state why you would or wouldn't. I have recently been given a tentative offer letter for a center and though it is a fantastic opportunity, I am not sure if I would be happy doing it but I am still going to proceed with the process, I just may like it! At this point in my life, this is the best option for me and I can't say no to this.

So, would any of you consider transitioning to the "dark side" if you were eligible and given the chance?


Thanks
 
ryan1234 said:
No way dude... those guys have to know what they're doing!
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He would not have been given an offer letter if he did not know what he was doing. Dont shoot the guy down. Do what makes you feel the best. I am little confused as too how you got a letter "out of the blue". But, best of luck regardless!
 
ryan1234 said:
No way dude... those guys have to know what they're doing!
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Well yea, it takes a few years of extensive training before you become fully certified. What about the pay? Stability? QOL? Benefits? After all, it is a federal job. Aren't they attractive to you?
 
middies10 said:
He would not have been given an offer letter if he did not know what he was doing. Dont shoot the guy down. Do what makes you feel the best. I am little confused as too how you got a letter "out of the blue". But, best of luck regardless!
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Well I was a CTI student at my college and upon graduation I was recommended to the FAA for hire as a controller. I continually kept ATC as an option in case the airline industry gets worse. It didn't come out of the blue, I was quite active in the hiring process.
 
N8081G said:
Well I was a CTI student at my college and upon graduation I was recommended to the FAA for hire as a controller. I continually kept ATC as an option in case the airline industry gets worse. It didn't come out of the blue, I was quite active in the hiring process.
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I was expecting that answer hehe. I am the same as you my friend. Im doing both Air Traffic Control and Commercial Aviation in college to keep my options open. Too risky to just do Commercial Aviation.
 
middies10 said:
I was expecting that answer hehe. I am the same as you my friend. Im doing both Air Traffic Control and Commercial Aviation in college to keep my options open. Too risky to just do Commercial Aviation.
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Cool, so you know exactly what I am talking about. It isn't unheard of too that controllers can also fly for a living after sometime as well. I know of atleast 5 pilots at my current company who were once controllers and now they fly GVs and Globals around the world. I am currently 23 and I guess I still have time on my side should I not enjoy ATC. I have my CFIs which I am making use of and see what happens. Then again, I may just love the job as a controller and just fly for fun.
 
N8081G said:
Then again, I may just love the job as a controller and just fly for fun.
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Thats what I think I may end up doing.

To answer your original question....if it was me....!
I would follow in the path of ATC at the moment and try to do flight instruction on the side building some time. You know as well as I do its not worth the hassle trying to end up in the flying side AT THIS MOMENT. Hopefully (and im really hoping) in the next five years, flying jobs will become more available.

From your training, you know that you cant be hired as a controller when you are over the age of 31....flying has no age restriction really.
 
Anyone related to this industry, in any way, should not expect a stress free job. If I had the opportunity to, I would probably take an ATC job. The pay is decent, you don't move around a lot, etc.
Time is on our side sir, yes it is! Good luck! Definitely I would NEVER stop flying though. I'm sure experience on both ends would definitely help you, probably make you respect the other end of the radio!
 
It all depends. Assuming I'm not making any money flying, wanting to stay in aviation, the job is close to home and I'm needing an income, then of course. Why? I would because it would be a paycheck, still in aviation (networking and "flying speak"), close to home, and did I mention, a paycheck?

Take it. It's much easier to submit a resignation if something else comes along. Good luck.

PS. It's not the "dark" side. Just the "other" side.
 
middies10 said:
Thats what I think I may end up doing.

To answer your original question....if it was me....!
I would follow in the path of ATC at the moment and try to do flight instruction on the side building some time. You know as well as I do its not worth the hassle trying to end up in the flying side AT THIS MOMENT. Hopefully (and im really hoping) in the next five years, flying jobs will become more available.

From your training, you know that you cant be hired as a controller when you are over the age of 31....flying has no age restriction really.
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Exactly. A good idea too is do your 20 years as a controller and after retirement, considering you are in good health, probably do charter or corporate! This way you get a good pension coming in as well as a cool gig to keep you busy. I can't see myself retiring in my 40s...
 
syntrikz said:
Anyone related to this industry, in any way, should not expect a stress free job. If I had the opportunity to, I would probably take an ATC job. The pay is decent, you don't move around a lot, etc.
Time is on our side sir, yes it is! Good luck! Definitely I would NEVER stop flying though. I'm sure experience on both ends would definitely help you, probably make you respect the other end of the radio!
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Thanks for your input and I won't stop flying! I would probably look into owning my own plane one day as well. Here I have a chance to make a six figure salary in my 20s as long as I am dedicated.... I probably will never see that much money flying.
 
CDNPilotDave said:
It all depends. Assuming I'm not making any money flying, wanting to stay in aviation, the job is close to home and I'm needing an income, then of course. Why? I would because it would be a paycheck, still in aviation (networking and "flying speak"), close to home, and did I mention, a paycheck?

Take it. It's much easier to submit a resignation if something else comes along. Good luck.

PS. It's not the "dark" side. Just the "other" side.
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Thanks for your insight! I call it the "dark side" because I am being sent to a center...and well...it is quite dark in there!:D
 
ryan1234 said:
No way dude... those guys have to know what they're doing!
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middies10 said:
He would not have been given an offer letter if he did not know what he was doing. Dont shoot the guy down.
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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.
 
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.
 
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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I agree. You can always go back to flying, but you won't always be able to go to ATC. ATC is a great career, definitely worth at least trying. You can always fly for fun too, and you'll have the money to do it!
 
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