Taking the FAA ATC Aptitude Test Tommorow (4/16)

PurduePilot

New Member
Folks:

In keeping all my doors open, I'm taking the FAA ATC entrance exam tommorow morning.

If all goes well, I will be in the hiring pool for controllers. I think the FAA is hiring again so that's a good sign.

If (and when) I get the job, I'll have to write a Perspectives on how to get into this career option as I have noticed we don't have one here.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I am still aiming for a job in the cockpit at some point.

Wish me luck!
 
Excellent! You'll do great anyway, but good luck. And about the perspectives article: please do. It's a fascinating field (I've become addicted to listening to the tower at O'Hare on my computer at work) and a viewpoint we are regrettably lacking here at JC.
 
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Excellent! You'll do great anyway, but good luck. And about the perspectives article: please do. It's a fascinating field (I've become addicted to listening to the tower at O'Hare on my computer at work) and a viewpoint we are regrettably lacking here at JC.

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I can only post what people volunteer to the website!
 
Oh, I know. It wasn't meant as a criticism of the website, sorry if it came across that way. It was just me wishin' out loud that we heard from more people in that part of the industry.

Doug, no good can come from listening to the Smiths, you're getting all "sensitive" on me.
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That was an attempt at a joke. I should really stop that.
 
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Doug, no good can come from listening to the Smiths, you're getting all "sensitive" on me.
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...I have just discovered... Some girls are bigger than others...some girls are bigger than others....
 
Well... here's the break down of the test. It's all on ScanTron so I have to wait 2-3 weeks before I know how I really did.

There were 112 radar questions in which they would give you an airway diagram and gave you scenarios like: which two aircraft will conflict? Then they gave you radar strips denoting each flight it's speed, route, and altitude.

They like questions like this too: Which two aircraft fly routes that form the letter X (or Y).

Another question: which two aircraft are flying routes that are directly opposite of each other?

Another question: Aircraft A will end it's route to the ____. You were given options such as NW, E, W, S.

All-in-all, a pretty easy part of the test. Although, because I overanalyze the answers I probably choked. Well see though!

In the next part there was a series of 5 shapes and you had to figure out the pattern and predict the 6th. This counted for the next 40 questions. I can't really describe this part here without scanning in an example, so you'll just have imagine it.

In the next part you were given a series of letters like: RLSMTNU_ _ and you had to figure out the pattern and predict the next two letters in the sequence. This counted for the next 30 questions. I found this part actually pretty fun.

The last part didn't count for anything nor did it hurt you. One could have answered all A's and it wouldn't make a bit of difference. It's a hold over from the 60s when they were taking people off the street. This part was the ATC knowledge test. There were a lot of questions about a transponder Mode 3/B and 707/U. I tried to answer this part as best as I could, but I probably missed a lot because it dealt with technology that probably hasn't been used in years.

I hope I did well and I'll let you folks know my final score (PASS/FAIL - They don't tell you your number although you need a 70 to pass).

Now, I'm going to grab a celebratory lunch and a beer at Jake's!
 
Great! I'm thinking of following the same path actually... it never hurts to have one more option after my 4 years here at Purdue - in case anything happens, I'll have a job somewhat lined up.

Apparently the pay isnt too bad for a government job either?
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Cheers,
 
The Study prep book has the title "Your Guide to the Highest Paid Government" or something like that, so I hope it pays well!
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when i toured washington center the controller who showed us around said that the highest paid guys are making close to 140k....guys starting out were making over 50k...but now since the grand budget cuts they are making closer to 35k....still, after your 3 year training i beleive you are up close to 70k....cant beat that with a stick.
 
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