IAmAn Air Traffic Controller. The FAA will be hiring more controllers next month. This is a 6 figure job that does not require a college degree. AMA.

Is the work as high pressure as we hear?

Edit: thanks for all the responses to my question.

It can be at times, yes. Other times not so much. It varies greatly.

Can you explain in detail what exactly is so high pressure about it? I get you’re responsible for people’s lives but are you scrambling over the controls & radio frantically or what exactly makes this stressful?

You need to know your next 8, 9, 10 moves and keep them in order while having controllers from adjacent sectors calling you in one ear and aircraft reaching out to you in another. Plus weather. Plus pilot error. Plus a lot of random little stuff.

As a student pilot, sorry for the errors lol

Hahaha no problem, bud. We love you guys!

Thanks

No problem!

I’m in my late 30’s and just said damn a lot while reading this. Damn. I’d totally do that job. So I guess the only question I have is what you and your colleges thought of Breaking Bad. Was it authentic enough? Is it even possible that something like that could occur? I’ve wondered about this since those episodes aired.

A distracted controller could absolutely make a catastrophic error. I was impressed with how much of the phraseology they got right.

Thanks dude! You’ve got an awesome job.

Thanks, I think so too!

If I'm 31 now and won't turn 32 until July, should I bother applying? I live in one of the cities with a position available.

If you are already 31 you are ineligible I’m afraid

What happens when you don't pass the first training exams? Are you allowed to try again or are you barred?

If you wash out of the academy I’m pretty sure you can apply again after one year.

Even if your age is 31 or older after that first attempt?

No once you turn 31 you’re done.

so having turned 31 this month, I'm pretty much screwed then?

Unless you are prior military, I’m afraid so :(

I don't believe that's true. If you wash out of the academy generally you won't be extended another offer in the future.

I know that’s how it used to be, but some of the new guys out of the academy have said you can reapply. I’m honestly not sure.

What ‘title’ will the job be posted under next month in which we apply for?

“Air Traffic Control Specialist Trainee”, series 2152

After getting established in the field is it fairly easy to relocate to another terminal?

The short answer is yes, but it may take some time depending on your facility and where you want to go.

Do controllers feel they are understaffed at small, middle, or major airports? If so, how badly understaffed at each level?

It depends on the facility. On a national level, the FAA absolutely has a shortage of controllers. Some facilities are working mandatory 6 day weeks, which is the most they can force us to work because we can’t work more than 6 days in a row without a day off.

Why 31 years old? What if I turn 31 a few months into the process?

Check the first link at the top. You must be under 31 by the closing date of the application period. If you’ve got a few months to go, then you’re good to go!

Do you have any recommendations for a Canadian who might be interested in this? Do you think the process is similar here in Canada and where might one find more information about it?

In the US controllers are federal employees. The Canadian ATC system is privatized.

How often do people burn out, and at what age does that usually happen?

I haven’t seen anybody burn out. Controllers love what they do. That being said, I’m sure that people working at facilities like New York TRACON where the traffic is nonstop all the time and they are working mandatory 6 day work weeks because they can’t get the staffing they need might have something else to say. Although from what I hear they are enjoying their $200,000 plus per year pay lol

If you don't mind my asking, what was your background bwfore you started as a ATC? Were you or people you know ever nervous or scared of the weight of responsibility that you have with the job?

The perks and pay sound awesome and I'm definitely interested, but being personally responsible for so many lives sounds very daunting. So far in my life the most responsibility I've had is just driving my car for work.

I was a college dropout baggage handler who had no direction and was just floating by. I knew I loved aviation, and knew I wanted to make more money. So I looked into being a pilot, and I visited my local ATC tower to see what being a controller was like. I absolutely fell in love with ATC at that point. I called HR and asked what I needed to do. At that time they were only hiring prior military and graduates from an Air Traffic CTI collegiate program. So I moved across the state and went to CTI school. It took 4 years from when I first became interested in ATC to finally getting hired.

Hi, I currently work in public service and have also had a long history as working as a police, fire, and 911 dispatcher. I used to think of air-traffic controllers sort of like dispatchers, but for planes... and requires you to be much smarter and tedious regarding the technical work. I've considered looking into learning more about air-traffic controlling and have been on the fence on whether or not I should make the initiatives to actually pursuing it as a career option. A few questions:

- I am fine under pressure and can handle tense moments as well as demonstrate good multi-tasking and decision making skills. I am also a very good communicator. Thanks to my current career I've developed those skills quite well, but on the contrary I have never been an academic person. I did attend college and have a BA but for the most part I was always a B/C student and struggled with complicated subjects like math or chemistry. I was always under the impression that ATCs had to be very good mathematicians. Is that correct?

- I am red/green color deficient and very rarely I might have a hard time distinguishing two shades of red and green. Is that going to be a medical DQ?

- The benefits are great. Are there any commodities or advantages when it comes to travel, similar to how flight attendants get free or insanely cheap flights?

I appreciate your time.

Thanks for your questions! The skill set it takes to be an Air Traffic Controller really has nothing to do with being “book smart”. There have been med students with 4.5 GPAs who have washed out of the academy, and there have been Starbucks baristas pass the academy with flying colors. The math you need to be able to quickly on your head is very specific and you will learn good techniques for that at the academy and later at your facility.

The vision issue could be another story. Check out this page for some background information, and maybe search around to see if you can find tests online.

What, if any, are the administrative differences between being a Terminal ATC and an En Route ATC? I imagine Terminal controllers will receive a higher starting salary due to what I presume to be more stressful jobs associated with higher volumes of traffic, but I'm curious to know if you have any insight on this.

So the facility levels go from basically level 5 to level 12. The lowest En Route facility is a level 10, and you can’t start at a Terminal facility higher than 8. So if you get picked up for En Route, after about 2-3 years you will be making more money. That being said, you can typically check out at a Terminal facility within a year, meaning you will get your certification raises much faster and be making more money for the first few years. Also, once you check out at a Terminal facility you can transfer to an En Route center, staffing permitting.

You can't go higher than level 7, OKC is the only level 8 offered out of the academy and they're training backlogged. I'm at the academy now

Is that just for your class list? I had level 8’s on my list when I went through in early 2016.

They told us on the first day of basics we can only choose between level 4 and 7, they also changed to one slot per person from two

Ouch.

After mandatory retirement can one work for a contracted tower at a smaller airport?

Yes

What's your average work day like?

Keep airplanes moving and don’t let them touch. Play ping pong, XBOX, or nap on breaks.

So is it 3 years of work experience period or does it need to be somewhat related to the job? Kinda unclear on that for me...

3 years of any full time work experience.

Once you are at your facility, can you stay there for good or should you expect to change facilities periodically?

You can stay at your first facility for your entire career if you wish.

why the age restriction?

Because we face mandatory retirement at age 56 and must be able to put in 25 good years for our pension.

can't smoke weed right ?

Unfortunately not.

What does it pay during training?

You’ll make $10/hr plus $90 per day in per diem while at the academy. Once you graduate and report to your facility you will make roughly $45,000 per year. Then you get raises as you certify on positions until your final raise when you complete all training. I have been at my facility for less than 2 years and I am making $95,000.

Why 31? What makes 33 unable to perform the job?

Because we face mandatory retirement at age 56 and must be able to put in 25 good years for our pension.

How many times have you had to give someone a phone number to call and get in trouble? Respect mah Authoritah!

Why do aircraft designations in the USA start with N? If the USA was first to invent airplanes shouldn't they be A or 1?

Haha I’ve only had to do that twice so far, both for severe pilot deviations. One was a runway incursion with an aircraft on short final, and another was a Cherokee that decided to turn back through the departure fan and almost collide with a citation that departed behind him.

And here is everything you could ever learn about the history of the N designator!

What is considered the best quality of life base/assignment?

That is entirely subjective. I personally prefer the Terminal environment.

Do you love ATCmemes as much as I do?

Yes!

Can I pm you a few questions?

Please do!

I was convicted of a DUI back in January but it was issued in November of 2017. I've been going to AA meetings and fulfilling all requirements. I'm also attending a CTI with my completion date being later on this year. I did not plan to pursue a bachelor's degree because I was set to become an ATC. By the way, my credit score isn't that great. At this point I feel like the chances of me becoming an ATC is minimal. Am I being realistic?

Honestly bud, I have no idea. Your best bet is to call FAA HR. PM me and I’ll give you their number.

I kind of crack under (not sure what to do, mixup words, have a hard time talking) pressure. Can you give me examples of some high stakes situations that might happen?

Not to be sarcastic, but basically this^

What is the age cut-off for former/current military? Does this provision only apply to former military with experience in the air traffic control area, r any military specialty?

I’m not sure. PM me and I’ll give you the number to reach FAA HR and they’ll be able to tell you.