I’m a 737 pilot. Personally I don’t think I have what it takes to to be an air traffic controller. These men and women are a different breed. It may not sound great, but there’s a reason it’s there’s a high attrition rate. They keep us safe.
Unfortunately, Controllers make a fraction of what you guys make and their quality of life is absolutely trash. 5 on 2 off with all major facilities working mandatory OT. So you get forced into working 6 day work weeks every week.
@@N942UWSurprisingly opposite in Canada. We pay over 100K to build the necessary ratings, and if we find work that isn't instructing we'd make less than 50K per year. Nav Canada controllers though get paid at least 50K per year in their first year of TRAINING, I know a controller that makes over 300K. Absolutely deserved though, controllers are incredible and keep everyone safe, but pilots should be paid more here.
@@N942UW: Not really. I retired at close to $200K 10 years ago and we bid days off based on seniority. I had Sat/Sun off for many, many years and didn't work much OT. The sucky part is working holidays (depending on days-off), the shift work and bidding annual (vacation) in September for the following year. There was also no impromptu time off. I did it for 34 years and it was the best career, hands down! That is, with the correct skill set. A pilot friend and I had a standing "joke." He liked to say pilot screws-up, pilot dies; controller screws-up, pilot dies. I would respond with yeah, I still get to go home, I just have paperwork to fill out :)
I'm an Air Traffic Controller up in Canada, I love it. I've been at the tower at YVR for 3 years now, I just turned 23. I got hired at 18 and spent 2 years doing training and on the job training. I am the youngest Air Traffic Controller at any major airport within Canada by about 9 years. My salary is fantastic, I am able to comfortably support my wife and my step kids and we live downtown Vancouver, so I can take the Skytrain to work (Huge bonus about working at YVR). I wouldn't change it for the world.
Hey i'm about to graduate from highschool in a few months and plan to attend a 2 year program for air traffic management. since your already fully trained what was the hardest concept/procedure u had to learn, what helped you understand everything and how did you go about studying?
@@thatboibryson2440 If I can be honest here, there isn't a whole lot of studying, unless you feel like you need to. I didn't, simply because the basis of what's required is so incredibly similar to video games, you just need to be able to think ahead, everything else follows. I don't know how to answer the first half of your question as there isn't anything "hard" about the job, it can be stressful, but it isn't hard. I hope I was of some small help.
Random question but how are visible tattoos(hand/back of neck) perceived in this work environment and on the basis of getting hired. Would tattoos be a job stopper ?
I’m in college and still trying to figure out what I want to do. This job has really started to interest me but the only thing that is holding me back is the training, and how the hours may be. When it came time to pick a tower to train at, did you get that tower or where you sent somewhere else. And how does your weekly schedule usually look
I'm just happy they showed us the table-top training room. I remember visiting the FAA ATC academy as a kid back in 2011, and the concept of a bunch of grown adults playing with expensive small model planes while another group roleplay's as controllers in the ATC section of the room makes me chuckle even to this day.
The way the FAA has always addressed staffing shortages ensured that staffing would never reach "fully staffed - except for managers, supervisors, and staff (office) positions. Staff specialists, supervisors who might work a sector for 40 hours/month, and developmentals should NEVER be counted in a facility's controller staffing numbers. The FAA counts them because it makes it seem as though the staffing shortage is not as severe as it really is. But those part-time controllers or partially qualified controllers can never replace a CPC (FPL in the olde days). Until the FAA is honest about the real staffing numbers and commits to fully staffing facilities with CPCs, the air traffic controller staffing shortage will continue to be an impairment to the safe, orderly, and expeditious movement of air traffic. Geezer out.
In the 80's I wanted to become an air traffic controller. I was 29 when I took the test. Got an 80% without any preparation. The guy sitting next to me was an ex-military ATC and said he got a 97% the last time and still didn't get hired. He told me they won't call you unless you get 100%. Well, I'm too old now but already wanted to be in ATC.
In the early 2010s I took the air traffic control exam. Scored 100. Didn't even get an interview. I have a negative amount of sympathy for the FAA's air traffic control staffing issues. We can only hope that this hiring surge can be conducted without a loss of safety, and without placing them in a similar position down the road when this wave of new hires starts retiring all at the same time.
I went through in 1982. I can't remember what my score was. I know it wasn't 100%. There were other steps besides the score that could keep you out. Sorry you didn't get in. It was a great job.
@@StephanAhonen I'm not sure if it still applies, but back then if you were in the military or a veteran, you got an extra 5%. So it was possible to get a 105% on the exam.
Ditto--I went in 1989. I had an ex Air Force controller and private pilot in my class fail. I remember them saying the older you got between 21 and 30 the less chance you would pass. It would have been a great career but wasn't meant to be. Much respect for those that do it or have done it.
@@stonecrusher99 I know this guy. A smart mofo. We were in different classes around the same time at the academy. I also washed out lol. The washout rate is prolly around 40-50% -- at least for en route.
@@rusty9959 about 50% for Terminal and Enroute at the Academy, and then a further 30% will wash or withdraw at their first facility (probably largely enroute). So saying 30% fail at the Academy seems light, unless they have drastically increased pass rates since I went through.
@DirtyWizard334 lol. That's not entirely true. The FAA pay cap is 221k. NY Tracon is a Level 12 and a locality is around 35%. Those are people at the top of the pay band and put their time in. Now if you work 6 day work weeks and 10 hour shifts with overtime, sure you could probably hit over 300k. But it isn't easy and you live at work pretty much. But you'd have to be Level 12 with high locality. Not very common. I'd say the average controller depending on the rating Level, is around $120-200k.
The FAA is screaming that we have an ATC controller and pilot shortage. Maybe they should reevaluate the arbitrary limitations and restrictions they've put in place. Plenty of good individuals out there that would love to be given the opportunity but the FAA seems to be living in the dark ages.
I'll listen to liveatc while cycling to work to keep my mind occupied. Sometimes I'll sit on the lookout and planespot, just watching the chaos and trying to make sense of it. It started when I found Kennedy Steve's recordings 2 weeks ago. I know they were from years ago. I knew barely anything about the workings of an airport. In the past 2 weeks, I've memorized a good chunk of the terminology, and the taxiway layout simply so that I can understand the jokes, what the directions are, and picture what's going on. After a while, it became like listening to a program. you start to recognize the "characters." Steve trolling the tugs, his ongoing war with Ramp, and the pilots who get involved are just awesome. :D He always stayed professional and got the job done while adding levity to keep things calm. :) JetBlue, American, and British Airways had some of the best pilots with a sense of humor who enjoyed running with the jokes. I'm sure those encounters lightened up the air for them a bit to bring the stress down. :) This is no way I could do this job. I've wanted to become a pilot since I was a kid, but I can't do that either. It's not for lack of intelligence. I have a brain that runs on windows in a world that runs on Mac. a.k.a ADHD. Even though I'm a gamer, and I'm highly detail oriented - give me something to study and I will find every tiny detail about it - I can't retain a lot of information for long. Too much coming at me at once makes it nearly impossible to prioritize and I get overwhelmed. Full Respect to her and anyone who can be an ATC. You guys have a seriously stressful job. Thank you. :)
FAA needs to get rid of the maximum starting age. They're basically only hiring people in their mid 20s so their pool of potential employees is extremely limited.
@@andrewlorenzo6611 you're citing 2022 numbers for 1,500 trainee spots and total controllers went down that year. Hiring people in their mid 20s for their first real job is borderline reckless and is why attrition is so high.
Just because they’re “high demand”, doesn’t make it easy to get the job. The high stakes nature and low retention rate leads to a far more selective hiring process. I’ve been trying to get into it for 2 Years.
And at night or when there's a little traffic they will only have one controller on who has to do everything from clearance to ground control to tower.
I looked up how much they made and I was shocked. In one of the highest paying states California, they have a starting salary of $55 to $89,000 per year. Pay more and more people will actually stay in the career or be interested in it. All that stress is worth more money.
As a college freshman pursuing a degree in air traffic control, there’s a possibility that college programs will be overhauled such that graduates will go straight to training at a tower instead of spending another year at the FAA academy.
I finished college for the same thing, I got enroute and just finished Online basics, so I go to OKC in about a week. I believe that the program isn't in effect yet, and if it was the requirement is that the classes would have to be way longer. So even if you finish college then they release the program fully. You would likely not meet the criteria for it. (unless your school has already adapted longer classes for it)
@@theluckofone1462 The new program isn’t in effect yet, but starting in April, current CTI schools will apply to start teaching their enhanced curriculum in fall 2024. Not sure where that leaves students that are caught in the middle of that transition, but since that’ll be my sophomore year, I have plenty of time to take any new or extra courses imposed as part of the new curriculum
I just had a degree in finance when I went to the academy for enroute. I personally wouldn't go through a college program for ATC.....but I know some do. It's really hard to tell if the job is for you until you are training with live traffic. But it's a great job and I hope you do great.
First things first, make sure you fulfill all of these requirements: Be a U.S. citizen Be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (Required for males born after 12/31/1959) Be younger than 31 years old before the closing date of the application period (with limited exceptions) Have either three years of general work experience or four years of education leading to a bachelor’s degree, or a combination of both Speak English clearly enough to be understood over communications equipment Be willing to relocate to an FAA facility based on agency staffing needs. If you're still in, go to FAA website and start preparing application and resume. Then I would start studying for the ATSA test. And also practice patience because it takes over a year for hiring
The WORST trainees I had were gamers. They had no ability to "think outside the box." They're creativity was lacking as they were used to operating within certain parameters. The only parameter in ATC is the individual aircraft performance and the rules. I'm just glad I was forced retired at 56. It was a great career and I had an absolute blast working LAX TRACON (now SCT) traffic!
@@azjoe_6310: Southern California TRACON. We worked all the airspace from Magic Mountain to the Mexican border to Palm Springs. It's a consolidation of LA, Burbank, Ontario, San Diego & El Toro TRACONs.
@@MichaelJHall-wy3yd Thanks--I am very familiar with TRACON but never herd the SCT acronym. Thanks for clarifying. Thanks for the great job you do there.
I am a graduate of Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology with a Bachelors degree majoring in Airport Management with a minor in Air Traffic Control. I also got a Masters degree in Aviation and Aerospace Management. Graduated from Vaughn in 2014 and graduated from Purdue University in 2022. Since then I haven’t got a call from the FAA for the hiring process. Since I lost interest I have a better job working for Fedex. All I could say is that the FAA government hiring process is slow. The same goes for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the airlines. A lot of people like my self have the education, start hiring us.
Also an ATC-CTI grad, who has done well every time on the ATSA, while working the simulator at an FAA tower… Never got the call and have since aged out and moved on.
80211smtp don’t worry I am also going for my Phd. I will be more than a show off. You like Apples, well I got a masters degree 📜 how you like them 🍎. 😆
Iam sure they can tell who has played alot on the Vatsim Network on flightsim either as a controller or pilot. I've spent hundreds of hours on vatsim and honestly can't tell between real life atc and online atc it's so realistic.
They could move up the starting age to 35. Also, rather than trying to force people through an intense boot camp, double the training time. If all the faa does is complain and make announcements, nothing's going to change.
To say they are a different bruised an understatement. 😆 I’m housing provider to these guys when they come to train in OKC. The funnest part is they are super intelligent but lack common basic common knowledge about so much. Simple things like left or right, east or west they are clueless. I offer private housing not shared. That definitely helps our students get through the academy, focus & cracks down on the potential for partying or goofing off.
"The funnest part is they are super intelligent but lack common basic common knowledge about so much..." That seems to be the norm for the 20ish year-old these days. I think too many video games and to few life experiences.
The FAA opens the ATC trainee position once or twice a year. To apply, you must be 30 years old or younger, have a 20/20 vision, be a US citizen, be in good health (specific health issues will disqualify you automatically), and have a nearly spotless background. If selected, you will need to take a 3-hour test. Based on your score, you will be placed in 1 of 3 categories, with a higher score increasing the chance of becoming an ATC. If chosen from the pool, you will go through paperwork, deadlines, and physical screening, which may delay your start date. Something like having a slight heart murmur will push back your start date by six months. Why? It takes a while for the FAA flight surgeon to review your folder the first time; then, he will ask you to see a cardiologist, have an echocardiogram, and provide the cardiologist with a note of the results. Something like this is a 2-3 month process alone.
While all types of businesses and government agencies are striving for DEI, I am assuming, or at least hoping, ATC hiring and training is the one exception, right?‼️‼️🤨🤔
As someone who joined at 31, I can confidently say that rule is extremely important. The amount of information you have to absorb on top of the complex airspace, procedures and safety considerations were extremely difficult to internalize in my 30s. It would have been different if I were prior experience, but being past my neuroplasticity prime made it extremely hard at the age I started.
It would help the whole country if every airline is forced to fly much bigger planes, less frequency. This way there is less planes in the sky with the same capacity, and its safer to fly with the amount of controllers now. Competition between airlines and routes has made many airlines have alot of frequency to many destinations, but smaller planes.
"Flight 123, Tower. You've embarked on an unscheduled RTT to the airport's opposite end. If you're not launching a new GND sightseeing tour, kindly execute a 180 and vector to the correct RWY, and please refrain from Tokyo drifting a 737 on your way back." 😄
I’ll get your more staff. Convince congress to waive the age requirements. I’m 37 and there’s no logical reason I shouldn’t be able to do this job, other than plain and simple age discrimination.
Money, it cost a lot of it to train just one person. It’s more logical to train younger people who can work way longer and are usually faster learners than to commit to older generations.
What's so stupid is the maximum hiring age. They will not hire retired military controllers on a permanent contract. There are literally thousands of us already qualified but they won't even talk to us. I'm 43. I could still have a full second career but NOOOO. I could go to the post office, I guess, but not the FAA.
“It takes more time to train to be a barber than it does to be an Air Traffic Controller.” Oh wait, people only make that false statement about police because they’re mad about a speeding ticket they got last year.
The speed and reaction time necessary to be a good controller starts to deteriorate in your 40s. Pilots can lean on experience for much longer than ATC can.
@@amaurea3000 my husband is a commercial pilot and my son is a controller. You're 100% correct. Both are stressful, but ATC is another level of stress!!
Expecting top safety and qualifications from an agency that thought changing Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) needed to be changed to Notice to Air Mission? I do believe their priorities are elsewhere.
Probably because it's someone's "feel good" change. Y'know like changing "Lifeguard" to "Medevac", or "WAFDOF" to "IAFDOF", or "Taxi into position and hold" to "Line up and wait". Adding "will" to the 7110, when "shall" fit the bill, just fine. None of those changes actually accomplished anything. And, still, here we are, waiting for the FAA to get enough people in the system to actually run it without mandatory overtime.
March 1, 2024 Irene Imanil here to inform you that the latest airline travel of me was on November 19, 2019 originating from the island of Guam to Honolulu, HI. No airline travel since then. From now on, vett passengers travelling as Irene Imanil, Norma Laca, Orlando Imanil, Orly Imanil, Jonathan Imanil, Myra Imanil out of Imanil bloodline to cancel their trips. Something must be done even if rules of engagement amongst airline exist to allow thieves of our identities to ensure we're unblock from land bank money withdrawal, ownership of our real estate, and to ensure our long term survival. Because of monetary block, we are becoming slowly and surely poor, yet still strong but there is one fake Irene Imanil named Gloria Casupang Calimlim, backed by Clinton who want us dead. HI's holo (ro in other places) caused many of my nieces and nephews at least seriously wounded, much less death.
The ATSA is a pretty good gauge, but I’ve heard most people fail because stress, study habits, or nerves knowing you’re entire future relies on 1 exam.
They are having enough trouble automating vehicles. Now throw in a third dimension, weather and emergencies. The complexity has increased exponentially. We are decades away from that kind of technology, at least.
Pilots have major trouble extending their downwind. The last thing you want is automation that leads to a reduction in skills for controllers. The planes have more automation and the pilots are less capable
FAA traffic controllers work long shifts? No they don’t. They work a finite eight hour shift which includes breaks and lunch. Anyone who works beyond eight hours, up to 2 additional hours, is a journeyman and he/she compensated very well for that extra two hours of work in a day.
The 8 hours isn't the hard part and there are 10 hours days and many places are working 6 day weeks. It's the changing shifts every day...from night to days to midnight shifts.
@@KB-xd5wq The choice to work rotating shifts is entirely up to the working body. The union and its members vote each year and in nearly every facility, they choose to work rotating shifts themselves. A very small number of individuals are needed on midnight shifts and there are usually volunteers for that duty. This isn’t opinion, it’s fact, coming from someone with 34 years of air traffic experience. On top of that, the job is far easier than it was decades ago thanks to an incredible amount of assistance through technology and automation.
@@CS-gg5hx In theory yes I guess you could say the working body determines what they work. The reality in my facility is management tells the union how many they need on each shift and how many can have vacation off each shift and the union "tries" to develop a "fair" schedule. But with 250+ controllers there is a lot of different ideas with what fair is There may be a mix of permanent and rotating days off. All of them will have some sort of mixed schedule with night and day shifts and some schedules with mids. You can decide to skip a mid shift but you may end up with 3 late night shifts depending on your seniority. Personally I hated the 4 to midnight or 3 to 11PM shifts. Seniority is King at most facilities. They'll put the schedule out for discussion...but very rarely any major changes will be made. I don't know anyone with a 8-4 schedule unless they have a office job. I was in a Center for 32+ years. I don't know how towers or TRACONS do their schedules.
Also those guys you work with are some of the most narcissistic people you’ll ever meet. I have a cousin who works as an ATC and says many of them have this sort of god complex due to the nature of the work
Extend the mandatory retirement age!!!! This is not rocket science! I’m 63 in a very stressful IT career field and I can contest that I haven’t lost any mental capacity, but I have gained more experience!!!!! 56 is too young to force people out, especially when you are risking peoples’ lives by shorting facilities of needed controllers!!!!! Waiting 5-7 years to catch up is unacceptable!
I did it for 32 years. Sure there are people still very good at 56. But it's hard to explain working in thunderstorms with deviating jets trying to get through a hole in the storm. I'd rather have them slow traffic down with flow control for less staffing than have some 60 year olds working the sector.
I’m a 737 pilot. Personally I don’t think I have what it takes to to be an air traffic controller. These men and women are a different breed. It may not sound great, but there’s a reason it’s there’s a high attrition rate. They keep us safe.
Yeah, there's no automatic switch!
Unfortunately, Controllers make a fraction of what you guys make and their quality of life is absolutely trash. 5 on 2 off with all major facilities working mandatory OT. So you get forced into working 6 day work weeks every week.
@@N942UWSurprisingly opposite in Canada. We pay over 100K to build the necessary ratings, and if we find work that isn't instructing we'd make less than 50K per year. Nav Canada controllers though get paid at least 50K per year in their first year of TRAINING, I know a controller that makes over 300K.
Absolutely deserved though, controllers are incredible and keep everyone safe, but pilots should be paid more here.
@@N942UW: Not really. I retired at close to $200K 10 years ago and we bid days off based on seniority. I had Sat/Sun off for many, many years and didn't work much OT. The sucky part is working holidays (depending on days-off), the shift work and bidding annual (vacation) in September for the following year. There was also no impromptu time off. I did it for 34 years and it was the best career, hands down! That is, with the correct skill set. A pilot friend and I had a standing "joke." He liked to say pilot screws-up, pilot dies; controller screws-up, pilot dies. I would respond with yeah, I still get to go home, I just have paperwork to fill out :)
@@MichaelJHall-wy3yd It’s a different agency today than it was 10 years ago when you left is all I’ll say.
I'm an Air Traffic Controller up in Canada, I love it. I've been at the tower at YVR for 3 years now, I just turned 23. I got hired at 18 and spent 2 years doing training and on the job training.
I am the youngest Air Traffic Controller at any major airport within Canada by about 9 years. My salary is fantastic, I am able to comfortably support my wife and my step kids and we live downtown Vancouver, so I can take the Skytrain to work (Huge bonus about working at YVR).
I wouldn't change it for the world.
LOL step kids at 23. Sounds like a fat L. Bro married a girl with baggage.
Hey i'm about to graduate from highschool in a few months and plan to attend a 2 year program for air traffic management. since your already fully trained what was the hardest concept/procedure u had to learn, what helped you understand everything and how did you go about studying?
@@thatboibryson2440 If I can be honest here, there isn't a whole lot of studying, unless you feel like you need to. I didn't, simply because the basis of what's required is so incredibly similar to video games, you just need to be able to think ahead, everything else follows.
I don't know how to answer the first half of your question as there isn't anything "hard" about the job, it can be stressful, but it isn't hard.
I hope I was of some small help.
Random question but how are visible tattoos(hand/back of neck) perceived in this work environment and on the basis of getting hired. Would tattoos be a job stopper ?
I’m in college and still trying to figure out what I want to do. This job has really started to interest me but the only thing that is holding me back is the training, and how the hours may be. When it came time to pick a tower to train at, did you get that tower or where you sent somewhere else. And how does your weekly schedule usually look
I'm just happy they showed us the table-top training room. I remember visiting the FAA ATC academy as a kid back in 2011, and the concept of a bunch of grown adults playing with expensive small model planes while another group roleplay's as controllers in the ATC section of the room makes me chuckle even to this day.
The FAA's been on a 5-7 year to full staffing goal since 1981.
Hahaha they’ve been saying, two years since I got here
The way the FAA has always addressed staffing shortages ensured that staffing would never reach "fully staffed - except for managers, supervisors, and staff (office) positions. Staff specialists, supervisors who might work a sector for 40 hours/month, and developmentals should NEVER be counted in a facility's controller staffing numbers. The FAA counts them because it makes it seem as though the staffing shortage is not as severe as it really is. But those part-time controllers or partially qualified controllers can never replace a CPC (FPL in the olde days). Until the FAA is honest about the real staffing numbers and commits to fully staffing facilities with CPCs, the air traffic controller staffing shortage will continue to be an impairment to the safe, orderly, and expeditious movement of air traffic.
Geezer out.
Thank you traffic controllers. You guys are the best
In the 80's I wanted to become an air traffic controller. I was 29 when I took the test. Got an 80% without any preparation. The guy sitting next to me was an ex-military ATC and said he got a 97% the last time and still didn't get hired. He told me they won't call you unless you get 100%. Well, I'm too old now but already wanted to be in ATC.
In the early 2010s I took the air traffic control exam. Scored 100. Didn't even get an interview. I have a negative amount of sympathy for the FAA's air traffic control staffing issues. We can only hope that this hiring surge can be conducted without a loss of safety, and without placing them in a similar position down the road when this wave of new hires starts retiring all at the same time.
I went through in 1982. I can't remember what my score was. I know it wasn't 100%. There were other steps besides the score that could keep you out. Sorry you didn't get in. It was a great job.
@@StephanAhonen I'm not sure if it still applies, but back then if you were in the military or a veteran, you got an extra 5%. So it was possible to get a 105% on the exam.
Ditto--I went in 1989. I had an ex Air Force controller and private pilot in my class fail. I remember them saying the older you got between 21 and 30 the less chance you would pass. It would have been a great career but wasn't meant to be. Much respect for those that do it or have done it.
Same here! Took test in '88.. got an 80 too. Didn't get accepted - so I became a physician instead!
I live in OKC and visited that place. It will blow your mind about what you can see there.
ATC: All aircraft, switch to CTAF. Figure it out"
Pilot: But, it's 11:30AM
ATC: Figure it out.
You joke, but during covid that wasn’t too far from the truth.
it has happened before lol.
2nd ATC: it’s my lunch hour
Yes it has happened but not often. Saw it in California via another UA-cam video
All aircraft, make right 360.
@@markf19 that's called a holding pattern
I’ll be going to Oklahoma City for training next month, I’m super excited
Enroute or terminal?
Good luck!
How’s it going, I go next week I’ll see you there
Did you make it?
how tf did u make it
What a change. I went thru ATC training in 1960.
30% wash out rate? That's incorrect. It's much much higher
Yeah I washed out in 2022. It was more 50-60% washout for enroute. Maybe for tower it was 30-40%
@@stonecrusher99 I know this guy. A smart mofo. We were in different classes around the same time at the academy. I also washed out lol. The washout rate is prolly around 40-50% -- at least for en route.
He said 30%, and then another 30%. So pretty much correct.
@@rusty9959 about 50% for Terminal and Enroute at the Academy, and then a further 30% will wash or withdraw at their first facility (probably largely enroute). So saying 30% fail at the Academy seems light, unless they have drastically increased pass rates since I went through.
@@stonecrusher99 yessir! lol
I got stressed just watching this. I quit.
For real bro. Just sitting in that room, staring at all those screens is stressful. 😂 😂
Lowkey lol
ATC works so hard. Thank you for your services.
I just applied for ATC 2 days ago. Hope and pray that I will get in
I had the chance to do this as a college elective. After a 30 min sim session you wanted to jump out of a window.
I also did this as an elective and really enjoyed it. I didn’t do this for a career, but what I learned has been very useful in my airline career.
If they're not making 6 figures a year than it's not enough. With that many lives in their hands you make sure they're paid well and taken care of.
Usually a bit more is what they make. Im going through this process right now. Definitely a lengthy couple months. Not easy getting in.
Center controller cpc’s are making anywhere from 200-400k
@DirtyWizard334 lol. That's not entirely true. The FAA pay cap is 221k. NY Tracon is a Level 12 and a locality is around 35%. Those are people at the top of the pay band and put their time in. Now if you work 6 day work weeks and 10 hour shifts with overtime, sure you could probably hit over 300k. But it isn't easy and you live at work pretty much.
But you'd have to be Level 12 with high locality. Not very common.
I'd say the average controller depending on the rating Level, is around $120-200k.
@@DirtyWizard334that’s what the pay should be. Starting cpc pay at an enroute facility is pry around 150k-160k
@@DirtyWizard334 200-400k working 6 days a week, 10hrs a day.
They forgot one key requirement:
Be age 30 or under (on the closing date of the application period).
If you’re over age 30, you’re SOL.
under 31, but yeah
What’s the reason for the young age cap
@@808Goose mandatory retirement by 56
Happened to a friend of mine, did the college program but due to diversity requirements, got aged out after a few years of applying.
The FAA is screaming that we have an ATC controller and pilot shortage. Maybe they should reevaluate the arbitrary limitations and restrictions they've put in place. Plenty of good individuals out there that would love to be given the opportunity but the FAA seems to be living in the dark ages.
I just passed and I’m going to Boston center!
What did you do to get in/ what steps did you take
I would love this job but I am 44 and don’t meet their age requirements. Listen to LiveATC daily as a hobby and fly as a private pilot
I’m praying I’m accepted this spring 😩 🙏🏽
Can I get a like for good luck? 👍🏽
Did you?
@@wazzoa4790
App is still under review
I’ve been checking everyday 🤞🏽
They should change the age limit to 35. I gained interest by the time I was too old to apply (32)
It’s super hard to teach older people how to do this job
@@sdloeffler They're having a tough time recruiting talent, so maybe it's in their best interest.
When I went in 89 I was almost 26. They had statistics and showed the washout rate steadily increased from 21 to 30.
When I went through we had 4/12 pass our enroute class. I saw wash rates when I was there in 2016/2017 more like 50%.
well now everyone gets a prize 😢
I went through in 1982. We had a class of 30 and 11 made it out of OKC. We had 5 out of the 11 who made it to FPL at our facility.
@@KB-xd5wq About 5 out of about 25 in 89 when I went.
I'll listen to liveatc while cycling to work to keep my mind occupied. Sometimes I'll sit on the lookout and planespot, just watching the chaos and trying to make sense of it. It started when I found Kennedy Steve's recordings 2 weeks ago. I know they were from years ago. I knew barely anything about the workings of an airport. In the past 2 weeks, I've memorized a good chunk of the terminology, and the taxiway layout simply so that I can understand the jokes, what the directions are, and picture what's going on. After a while, it became like listening to a program. you start to recognize the "characters." Steve trolling the tugs, his ongoing war with Ramp, and the pilots who get involved are just awesome. :D He always stayed professional and got the job done while adding levity to keep things calm. :) JetBlue, American, and British Airways had some of the best pilots with a sense of humor who enjoyed running with the jokes. I'm sure those encounters lightened up the air for them a bit to bring the stress down. :)
This is no way I could do this job. I've wanted to become a pilot since I was a kid, but I can't do that either. It's not for lack of intelligence. I have a brain that runs on windows in a world that runs on Mac. a.k.a ADHD. Even though I'm a gamer, and I'm highly detail oriented - give me something to study and I will find every tiny detail about it - I can't retain a lot of information for long. Too much coming at me at once makes it nearly impossible to prioritize and I get overwhelmed.
Full Respect to her and anyone who can be an ATC. You guys have a seriously stressful job. Thank you. :)
Wash out rate at the academy needs to be higher. We’re washing out 50% at our facility and that is a huge waste of time and money.
Where it?
what facility?
@@theluckofone1462 Many of the larger facilities can have high washout rates. But you never know how you will do until you train with live traffic.
FAA needs to get rid of the maximum starting age. They're basically only hiring people in their mid 20s so their pool of potential employees is extremely limited.
they got upwards of 50000+ people applying in one of the recent bids
@@andrewlorenzo6611 you're citing 2022 numbers for 1,500 trainee spots and total controllers went down that year. Hiring people in their mid 20s for their first real job is borderline reckless and is why attrition is so high.
Hey man the military will take you at 18😂 I joined later but these kids are getting great experience and training, in the navy it’s great for radar
Just because they’re “high demand”, doesn’t make it easy to get the job. The high stakes nature and low retention rate leads to a far more selective hiring process. I’ve been trying to get into it for 2 Years.
Good luck. I was a Center controller for 32 years. Great job.
What an interesting in-depth look inside of the Academy
It's 2 minutes, how in depth can it be
Dear cyanide and happiness, that's my point @@Tumleren
And at night or when there's a little traffic they will only have one controller on who has to do everything from clearance to ground control to tower.
& record the ATIS
in okc right now at the academy for terminal its really interesting stuff. very challenging though!
What do you think so far? I want to apply
@@papidagunguy its really really interesting my finals are this week. I would recommend it to anyone, and it leads to an amazing career!
I looked up how much they made and I was shocked. In one of the highest paying states California, they have a starting salary of $55 to $89,000 per year. Pay more and more people will actually stay in the career or be interested in it. All that stress is worth more money.
State & Federal Hiring is broken and outdated. The burn out rate and mental health side also not in the story.
As a college freshman pursuing a degree in air traffic control, there’s a possibility that college programs will be overhauled such that graduates will go straight to training at a tower instead of spending another year at the FAA academy.
I finished college for the same thing, I got enroute and just finished Online basics, so I go to OKC in about a week. I believe that the program isn't in effect yet, and if it was the requirement is that the classes would have to be way longer. So even if you finish college then they release the program fully. You would likely not meet the criteria for it. (unless your school has already adapted longer classes for it)
@@theluckofone1462 The new program isn’t in effect yet, but starting in April, current CTI schools will apply to start teaching their enhanced curriculum in fall 2024.
Not sure where that leaves students that are caught in the middle of that transition, but since that’ll be my sophomore year, I have plenty of time to take any new or extra courses imposed as part of the new curriculum
I just had a degree in finance when I went to the academy for enroute. I personally wouldn't go through a college program for ATC.....but I know some do. It's really hard to tell if the job is for you until you are training with live traffic. But it's a great job and I hope you do great.
go get a degree in literally anything else
you can just apply via an off the street bid, but still have the degree as a backup
AI will take this job within the next 10 years.
I’m 19 I’d like to learn what do I have to do?
First things first, make sure you fulfill all of these requirements:
Be a U.S. citizen
Be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (Required for males born after 12/31/1959)
Be younger than 31 years old before the closing date of the application period (with limited exceptions)
Have either three years of general work experience or four years of education leading to a bachelor’s degree, or a combination of both
Speak English clearly enough to be understood over communications equipment
Be willing to relocate to an FAA facility based on agency staffing needs.
If you're still in, go to FAA website and start preparing application and resume. Then I would start studying for the ATSA test. And also practice patience because it takes over a year for hiring
56 years old is quite young for mandatory retirement
The WORST trainees I had were gamers. They had no ability to "think outside the box." They're creativity was lacking as they were used to operating within certain parameters. The only parameter in ATC is the individual aircraft performance and the rules. I'm just glad I was forced retired at 56. It was a great career and I had an absolute blast working LAX TRACON (now SCT) traffic!
What does SCT stand for?
@@azjoe_6310: Southern California TRACON. We worked all the airspace from Magic Mountain to the Mexican border to Palm Springs. It's a consolidation of LA, Burbank, Ontario, San Diego & El Toro TRACONs.
@@MichaelJHall-wy3yd Thanks--I am very familiar with TRACON but never herd the SCT acronym. Thanks for clarifying. Thanks for the great job you do there.
Mike Monroney aeronatical center. Me failed the screening process there in 1986, and it all looked quite different back then.
I was there in 1982 for enroute. I think they've moved the non-radar to a new building. Much different now.
1989 for me and yes--much much different.
Entire new building. Went through and passed in 2021. Apparently the new building is much nicer than the old haha.@@KB-xd5wq
I am a graduate of Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology with a Bachelors degree majoring in Airport Management with a minor in Air Traffic Control. I also got a Masters degree in Aviation and Aerospace Management. Graduated from Vaughn in 2014 and graduated from Purdue University in 2022. Since then I haven’t got a call from the FAA for the hiring process. Since I lost interest I have a better job working for Fedex. All I could say is that the FAA government hiring process is slow. The same goes for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the airlines. A lot of people like my self have the education, start hiring us.
There's also the federal lawsuit regarding their hiring practices where 90% of non-minority applicants are excluded.
well, that's too bad DEspIte your education
Also an ATC-CTI grad, who has done well every time on the ATSA, while working the simulator at an FAA tower… Never got the call and have since aged out and moved on.
Show off
80211smtp don’t worry I am also going for my Phd. I will be more than a show off. You like Apples, well I got a masters degree 📜 how you like them 🍎. 😆
Iam sure they can tell who has played alot on the Vatsim Network on flightsim either as a controller or pilot. I've spent hundreds of hours on vatsim and honestly can't tell between real life atc and online atc it's so realistic.
See, I’m not wasting my time playing video games. I’m training!
I love that college grads go straight to OJT. What degree do they need for that?
They don’t yet. This won’t start until later this year.
We're just gonna act like the OTS N90 courses didn't exist...
They could move up the starting age to 35. Also, rather than trying to force people through an intense boot camp, double the training time. If all the faa does is complain and make announcements, nothing's going to change.
For simulation wonder if they use fsx or fs2020
To say they are a different bruised an understatement. 😆
I’m housing provider to these guys when they come to train in OKC. The funnest part is they are super intelligent but lack common basic common knowledge about so much. Simple things like left or right, east or west they are clueless. I offer private housing not shared. That definitely helps our students get through the academy, focus & cracks down on the potential for partying or goofing off.
"The funnest part is they are super intelligent but lack common basic common knowledge about so much..." That seems to be the norm for the 20ish year-old these days. I think too many video games and to few life experiences.
How do you become an air traffic controller?
www.faa.gov/be-atc
Click on that link and it'll take you to the page to apply. The application closes at 11:59 pm ET on April 22, 2024
The FAA opens the ATC trainee position once or twice a year. To apply, you must be 30 years old or younger, have a 20/20 vision, be a US citizen, be in good health (specific health issues will disqualify you automatically), and have a nearly spotless background. If selected, you will need to take a 3-hour test. Based on your score, you will be placed in 1 of 3 categories, with a higher score increasing the chance of becoming an ATC. If chosen from the pool, you will go through paperwork, deadlines, and physical screening, which may delay your start date. Something like having a slight heart murmur will push back your start date by six months. Why? It takes a while for the FAA flight surgeon to review your folder the first time; then, he will ask you to see a cardiologist, have an echocardiogram, and provide the cardiologist with a note of the results. Something like this is a 2-3 month process alone.
I attempted to apply but was turned down because I was too old.
how do you apply?
As a GA pilot we tend to pay close attention to ATC just in case they do make a mistake because we pay the price
Why is there a mandatory retirement age of 56 . that is so young? What is this 1925?
Well....many people at that age don't handle stress well. There are some good controllers at 56....but some are really toast.
Pay them well!
I am a vatsim controller and it is stressful. Not for me irl.
They are using the same tech from the 60s. The private sector would solve this problem in a year.
While all types of businesses and government agencies are striving for DEI, I am assuming, or at least hoping, ATC hiring and training is the one exception, right?‼️‼️🤨🤔
A role with little room for error. I guess a meteorologist wouldn’t stand a chance in this role if they decided to do something different.
They seriously limit themselves with a limit of not being older than 30 years old to apply
As someone who joined at 31, I can confidently say that rule is extremely important. The amount of information you have to absorb on top of the complex airspace, procedures and safety considerations were extremely difficult to internalize in my 30s. It would have been different if I were prior experience, but being past my neuroplasticity prime made it extremely hard at the age I started.
You have to retire at 56.....plus your best years in ATC are in your 20's and early 30's
@@raymonddesrosiers6164 Spot on.
It would help the whole country if every airline is forced to fly much bigger planes, less frequency. This way there is less planes in the sky with the same capacity, and its safer to fly with the amount of controllers now. Competition between airlines and routes has made many airlines have alot of frequency to many destinations, but smaller planes.
"Pushing Tin"
All the way to the other side
"Flight 123, Tower. You've embarked on an unscheduled RTT to the airport's opposite end. If you're not launching a new GND sightseeing tour, kindly execute a 180 and vector to the correct RWY, and please refrain from Tokyo drifting a 737 on your way back." 😄
I’ll get your more staff. Convince congress to waive the age requirements. I’m 37 and there’s no logical reason I shouldn’t be able to do this job, other than plain and simple age discrimination.
Money, it cost a lot of it to train just one person. It’s more logical to train younger people who can work way longer and are usually faster learners than to commit to older generations.
@@theluckofone1462well obviously that hasn’t worked out cause they always have a shortage of jobs
Planes having following me. And have been destroying the world. The FAA isn’t able to help?✨✨✨
What's so stupid is the maximum hiring age. They will not hire retired military controllers on a permanent contract. There are literally thousands of us already qualified but they won't even talk to us. I'm 43. I could still have a full second career but NOOOO. I could go to the post office, I guess, but not the FAA.
CPDLC get it done.
not in a busy ARTCC it doesn't
“It takes more time to train to be a barber than it does to be an Air Traffic Controller.” Oh wait, people only make that false statement about police because they’re mad about a speeding ticket they got last year.
Audie Throughway
Where do they train the people who have mental disabilities, the blind, the deaf, and the other unqualified people in the name of “inclusion?”
Why don't you stop being spoon fed by fox news?
Is the FAA liable for lawsuits flying illegals from other countries or illegals that have already crossed the border and flying them within the US
Forced to retire at 56!?! Make it 60yrs old!!
I don't think you'd want some 60 year olds working traffic.
Did I hear 56 maximum age before mandatory retirement?
If not 25 years in some can retire late 40s early 50s
I would feel safe with the MOST QUALIFIED and not a DEI-hire. I hope they don't lower the bar.
Clanged off the concrete floor.
I'm air traffic controller i respact all pilot and aviaton members
Gen Z Air traffic controllers? No thanks! I will walk 😂
It is ok for a president to be 80 year old senile but have to retire ATC at 56 years old? Airline pilots are flying til 65 so why not controllers?
Wrong question. Why are politicians, judges, and presidents allowed to work past 56?
It’s an incredibly stressful job, burnout rates are high and increases with age. That’s why the retirement age is so low
The speed and reaction time necessary to be a good controller starts to deteriorate in your 40s. Pilots can lean on experience for much longer than ATC can.
@@amaurea3000 my husband is a commercial pilot and my son is a controller. You're 100% correct. Both are stressful, but ATC is another level of stress!!
Expecting top safety and qualifications from an agency that thought changing Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) needed to be changed to Notice to Air Mission? I do believe their priorities are elsewhere.
Why does this bother you? Jesus. Found the Trumper.
@@PolishMythology People can walk and chew gum at the same time...
Probably because it's someone's "feel good" change. Y'know like changing "Lifeguard" to "Medevac", or "WAFDOF" to "IAFDOF", or "Taxi into position and hold" to "Line up and wait". Adding "will" to the 7110, when "shall" fit the bill, just fine. None of those changes actually accomplished anything. And, still, here we are, waiting for the FAA to get enough people in the system to actually run it without mandatory overtime.
I thought AI was talking over these jobs and filling the gaps. Huh?🤔
Ah yes… the PTSD lol
Looks eas
Video gme to the rescue
So 30% quit because they have to go to work and can’t pick their shift.
GAMMMMEMEEWEEEEERSASSA
Video games to the rescue once again and as always video game propelle tech and thus proppel humanity
We need to take DEI as far away as possible for this job. Could you imagine wokies controlling our airspace?
you are so weird. Stop bringing culture war into everything. Go outside and touch grass
@@evano5635 how about you do that and stop pretending POCs are being oppressed in every aspect of life?
March 1, 2024
Irene Imanil here to inform you that the latest airline travel of me was on November 19, 2019 originating from the island of Guam to Honolulu, HI. No airline travel since then. From now on, vett passengers travelling as Irene Imanil, Norma Laca, Orlando Imanil, Orly Imanil, Jonathan Imanil, Myra Imanil out of Imanil bloodline to cancel their trips.
Something must be done even if rules of engagement amongst airline exist to allow thieves of our identities to ensure we're unblock from land bank money withdrawal, ownership of our real estate, and to ensure our long term survival.
Because of monetary block, we are becoming slowly and surely poor, yet still strong but there is one fake Irene Imanil named Gloria Casupang Calimlim, backed by Clinton who want us dead. HI's holo (ro in other places) caused many of my nieces and nephews at least seriously wounded, much less death.
Mandatory retirement at 56 but biden can be president 😂😂😂
Underpaid and overworked horrible profession to get into
All that stress and training to not even make $100k a year 💀
chatgpt will replace them
A 30 percent washout rate means a poor selection process is used.
The ATSA is a pretty good gauge, but I’ve heard most people fail because stress, study habits, or nerves knowing you’re entire future relies on 1 exam.
When I was there it was 50-60%
It is most definitely not 30%. It's higher.
Nope, the selection process is verrry lengthy and well thought out. Just a high stress job
Nope. Not even close. Pizza delivery drivers wash out at higher numbers.
Mandatory retirement shouldn't be until the age of full social security benefits
You get a ATC retirement.
I don't agree when it comes to this job.
They can automate half of this work no problem just have a person double check for safety.
They are having enough trouble automating vehicles. Now throw in a third dimension, weather and emergencies. The complexity has increased exponentially. We are decades away from that kind of technology, at least.
Pilots have major trouble extending their downwind. The last thing you want is automation that leads to a reduction in skills for controllers. The planes have more automation and the pilots are less capable
OK sure...🤣
FAA traffic controllers work long shifts? No they don’t. They work a finite eight hour shift which includes breaks and lunch. Anyone who works beyond eight hours, up to 2 additional hours, is a journeyman and he/she compensated very well for that extra two hours of work in a day.
The 8 hours isn't the hard part and there are 10 hours days and many places are working 6 day weeks. It's the changing shifts every day...from night to days to midnight shifts.
@@KB-xd5wq The choice to work rotating shifts is entirely up to the working body. The union and its members vote each year and in nearly every facility, they choose to work rotating shifts themselves. A very small number of individuals are needed on midnight shifts and there are usually volunteers for that duty. This isn’t opinion, it’s fact, coming from someone with 34 years of air traffic experience.
On top of that, the job is far easier than it was decades ago thanks to an incredible amount of assistance through technology and automation.
@@CS-gg5hx In theory yes I guess you could say the working body determines what they work. The reality in my facility is management tells the union how many they need on each shift and how many can have vacation off each shift and the union "tries" to develop a "fair" schedule. But with 250+ controllers there is a lot of different ideas with what fair is There may be a mix of permanent and rotating days off. All of them will have some sort of mixed schedule with night and day shifts and some schedules with mids. You can decide to skip a mid shift but you may end up with 3 late night shifts depending on your seniority. Personally I hated the 4 to midnight or 3 to 11PM shifts. Seniority is King at most facilities. They'll put the schedule out for discussion...but very rarely any major changes will be made. I don't know anyone with a 8-4 schedule unless they have a office job. I was in a Center for 32+ years. I don't know how towers or TRACONS do their schedules.
Just use AI the planes already land using ILS , gca, mls, gbas and other radar auto pilot systems
It’s the government, that will take ages for them to implement new technology. It’s also a security risk.
Democrats enforcing communist style racial and gender quotas would make Karl Marx proud
Found the Russian bot.
How sad are you?
Hey you just accidentally fall down a well. Clown 🤡
Cry in my lap . You might get poked in the jaw ….but it’s a safe place .
@@mrlt1151Obama actually did that. The guy is correct
No offense but probably the FAA Air Traffic Control environment is toxic as well
Depends on what you call toxic.....you have to have a thick skin and not get offended easily.
Also those guys you work with are some of the most narcissistic people you’ll ever meet. I have a cousin who works as an ATC and says many of them have this sort of god complex due to the nature of the work
Too bad they age limit ATC or I’d love to join. :///
Extend the mandatory retirement age!!!! This is not rocket science! I’m 63 in a very stressful IT career field and I can contest that I haven’t lost any mental capacity, but I have gained more experience!!!!! 56 is too young to force people out, especially when you are risking peoples’ lives by shorting facilities of needed controllers!!!!! Waiting 5-7 years to catch up is unacceptable!
I did it for 32 years. Sure there are people still very good at 56. But it's hard to explain working in thunderstorms with deviating jets trying to get through a hole in the storm. I'd rather have them slow traffic down with flow control for less staffing than have some 60 year olds working the sector.