Any Air Traffic Controllers here?
- Thread starter SnoPro753
- Start date
R
RMK7SledHead
Well-known member
Its my #1 choice for second job in the USMC if I were to fail out of flight school...for whatever that's worth. 
I've talked to a lot of ATC guys on the radio.
Have a friend starting school here in Pensacola for it in a couple weeks. 4 months long for him as an officer...he probably won't be controlling many planes though, once he's done here.
Not much help, eh? I'd think it would be a rewarding job. From the times I've been in a tower with the guys, they like what they do and don't exactly work horrible hours. These were of course, small airports, not some big hub like Minneapolis.
I've talked to a lot of ATC guys on the radio.
Have a friend starting school here in Pensacola for it in a couple weeks. 4 months long for him as an officer...he probably won't be controlling many planes though, once he's done here.
Not much help, eh? I'd think it would be a rewarding job. From the times I've been in a tower with the guys, they like what they do and don't exactly work horrible hours. These were of course, small airports, not some big hub like Minneapolis.
I don’t have much help for ya, but I can tell you that a lot of them are making good coin. I happened to start small talk with a guy in the car dealership this weekend that is an ATC here in Sioux Falls. I have always had a fascination with aviation and would start flight school ASAP if there was any money in it and I could still provide for my family. This guy loves his job and is making a heck of a lot more than I am as an engineer with a management position (and I thought I was making good coin). After days of sitting in 7 hours of meetings and writing 2 hours of emails I have seriously considered going to school for it. The guy I was talking to said an airport like KFSD is about perfect, big enough to get a good pay check, but small enough to not be overloaded with lots of local traffic. I think if I started looking for a career change, ATC would be it.
You can easily make six figures in ATC. However, before you jump in consider the requirements. You must be able to think fast, sit for long hours, have an extreme tolerance for dealing with pilots, potential mistakes, problem solving, all while not being able to take a break. Its alot like playing Tetris, only peoples lives are at stake and there is no pause button. I've known controllers who hate there jobs, but I've known controllers that love their jobs. I am a professional pilot. I love my job, but I wouldn't learn to fly starting today. When I started it was $15 an hour flight time, now its $150. Less than 1% of 1% ever go on to be professionals. With the investment required, you'd be better off going to medical school.
Jason
Jason
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Ex-Member
ACCOUNT CLOSED
My sister just finished fight school out there, I'm headed out there next weekend.
A
aksnomachinechic
Well-known member
If you're up for some travel and an adventure try the University of Alaska Anchorage's program. They have a great Air Traffic Control Program! I work with summer students who are pursuing their degree in this field and these students come from all over the US to attend our school.
Here'e some more informtion for ya!
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/ctcnew/programs/aviation/academics/atc.cfm
Tina
S
SnoPro753
Well-known member
If you're up for some travel and an adventure try the University of Alaska Anchorage's program. They have a great Air Traffic Control Program! I work with summer students who are pursuing their degree in this field and these students come from all over the US to attend our school.
Here'e some more informtion for ya!
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/ctcnew/programs/aviation/academics/atc.cfm
Tina
Thanks Tina, I never even thought about Alaska. I will definitely look it up.
Seems like a stressful job but there's a need for good controllers for sure. I don't know that I'd agree about the workload of small town ATC, when you hear "exit alpha, taxi to parking and monitor ground" that's code for there's no need to switch freqs because I'm both. They usually have one earphone hooked to the ground freq. and the other to tower. Check out this guys day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rGyjfDIbHE
You can take this for what it's worth. I am retired now but I spent 45 years in aviation. Started flying when I was 16 many moons ago prior to most on here even being born. Yikes. Anyway, there have been a lot of changes in those years and most not for the good. The good ole days are gone.
If I had it to do all over again and know what I know about it all there is no way on God's green earth I would go into Aviation of any kind. It is too unstable. You have to do what you want to do and would enjoy doing. Forget about the money. Don't ever choose a career based on money. Choose a career based on what your passion is. You young bucks think money is the answer to everything, it isn't.
I know, I am full of it, ha ha. Everyone makes their own mistakes in life. Too bad those that haven't made that mistake yet won't listen.
If I had it to do all over again and know what I know about it all there is no way on God's green earth I would go into Aviation of any kind. It is too unstable. You have to do what you want to do and would enjoy doing. Forget about the money. Don't ever choose a career based on money. Choose a career based on what your passion is. You young bucks think money is the answer to everything, it isn't.
I know, I am full of it, ha ha. Everyone makes their own mistakes in life. Too bad those that haven't made that mistake yet won't listen.
