Airway Facilities info?

JosueZQ8 Trusted Member Akron, OH

Again, didn't see anywhere else that this fit into, so off topic it is!

But, does anyone have any info, or know anyone who works for Airway Facilities? I'm looking for maybe some personal feedback on the career. My brother will be graduating with an Associates Degree in Computer Networking and Maintenence soon, and is looking at this career as one of his options.

He is torn though, because he's been working at McDonalds for over 10 years (he's 28 now), and has worked his way up to store manager. As silly as most people might think working for McD's is, he's very proud to say that he can single handedly run a 2 million dollar a year business! And because he's so needed at his current job and it's all he's known, he's afraid to leave it behind, he likes the security.

So like I said, I'm just looking for some personal experiences and insight. There's a guy at his college that deals with internships and whatnot, but those people usually just sugar coat everything and don't tell you about the nitty gritty stuff...lol

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

oh where oh where did our AF guy go...oh where oh where could he be.

u home Dale??

JosueZQ8 Trusted Member Akron, OH

Does he work for AF? Tha'd be great!

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

he's retired AF

JosueZQ8 Trusted Member Akron, OH

Cool. Hope he see's this.

Lab_Rat Newcomer

I recently submitted for a AF position. The new hiring process is not user friendly. I have submitted all paperwork and was told that I need to wait for an email if I was selected for an interview. They will not send any information if your not selected so it seems to be a big waiting game.
If anyone has been hired or interviewed lately please let me know how the process works.

ATSSman Newcomer Wisconsin

I see that the ATSS section of this site isn't getting any love so I'm going to try to rectify that.

I'm a relatively new ATSS (Airway Transportation Systems Specialist, we aren't called Airway Facilities anymore) with the FAA. I've been with the agency since Feb 08. I was previously an avionics specialist in the Air Force.

The hiring process can be a little odd. Here is some things you should know:

When filling out the standard applications, use specific aviation and technical terminology. The applications are sorted by a computer that looks for specific keywords. For example, don't just mention that you are familiar with radio test equipment. Specifically mention vector voltmeters, oscilliscopes, spectrum analyzers, modulation meters, time domain reflectometers etc.

When you are being intervewed, make sure you are armed with good information. Be familiar with the pay bands. Coming in at the high end of the F band is better than coming in at the bottom of G. You will be promoted to H band in a fairly short while. Where on the H band you fall is generally dependent on where you were in the previous bands. YOUR STARTING PAY IS NEGOTIABLE. I'll say this again in case someone didn't get it. YOUR STARTING PAY IS NEGOTIABLE. If you don't know it now, the first time they'll tell you this is during your meeting with the union after your new-hire class. It's too late then.

What you'll be doing is mostly dependent on where you work. I work at a small airport in Wisconsin. I am the only FAA employee of any type at the airport. While my Air Traffic Control Tower is federal, the controllers are contractors. I am responsible for all of the federal aviation electronics on my airport. I take care of the ILS, radios, voice switch, marker beacons, runway visual range, legal recorders, etc. If you work at a large airport you will be responsible for a specific type of equipment. (Comm, Navaids, Automation, Surveillance, etc.) The difference is that I am a jack-of-all trades and master of none. I also travel to other airports to assist when needed. In fact I often spend over half my day just driving from site to site. At a major airport you will become a master of a few specific systems. If you like working in a team environment, prefer a set shift, don't particularly enjoy long drives, and don't mind fielding desperate calls from people like me to mine your expertise you would probably prefer the large airport. If you are self-motivated, enjoy working alone, don't mind changing work hours, and have a weird fetish for tromping around in muddy cornfields looking for a well hidden outer marker beacon and then coming back 6 months later for a semi-annual inspection and finding the same muddy cornfield is now waist deep in snow, you will want to work at a small airport.

Anyway, enough with that wall of text. Different airports, regions, service areas, and managers do things in different ways. As always with advice, your mileage may vary. Any other questions, ask away!

JosueZQ8 Trusted Member Akron, OH

Thank you VERY much for the info! I'll be sure and pass it along to him.

He's acutally inquiring about an internship at Cleveland Hopkins International right now. The internship is for 40 hrs a week, but he's got a house and car note to pay for, so there wouldn't be any way for him to quit his 60hr/week job, and work for next to nothing ya know? But, he asked to program director if he could maybe intern for 10-20 hrs or something like that, and since there's only 1 other person applying for the internship, he's hoping they'll work with him.

JosueZQ8 Trusted Member Akron, OH

Thank you!! I'll pass this on to my brother and let you know what he says.

shanner226 Newcomer Atlanta, GA

Does anyone know where I can get information on the FAA coorespondence courses and/or the equipment installed at locations? Basically, I am attempting to familirize myself with the newer equipment. I was in the Navy for 6 years as a radar tech and also as everyone knows, that stuff is OLD. I know that there are alot of advancements and changes to the systems and I would just like to get some more information if possible.