GovCentral article on Security Clearances

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

Here's a short article on security clearances for those who are unfamiliar with them. If you're headed to En Route, you're required to receive a Secret clearance. Terminal positions are a Position of Public Trust, which is less involved and typically goes through much faster.

Clearances can take a while to go through. My own observation's been that they seem to go faster for ATC than for private companies. Maybe they get moved up the queue since it's considered a more pressing need?

If you'd like to read more, there's a pretty good (and long) FAQ here, in PDF form: http://www.clearancejobs.com/security_clearance_faq.pdf

stewart_1212 Junior Member Wichita

I am in the Air Force Reserve and have a current TS Clearance. Do you know if the FAA will do a separate clearance?

duranme Trusted Contributor Porn Capitol of the World

yes, when transferring agencies the new agency will do their own clearance check

opie stepchild ATL

i failed at trying to find that link that listed people that passed and failed to get security clearance and why... know what i am talking about? got the link?

DogmaEnigma Senior Member Virginia

xrayoscar28 Rookie

I'm sure you're right but that just sounds really "off". A level twelve is a level twelve. I can't for the life of me understand why any facility that starts with the letter "Z", requires a diff/higher security clearance. But then again it is the government so who the hell knows. I know there is a waiver in which a controller who is hired can start training/working while the SF96 is still being processed...

RdRunnr12 Site Editor

You can control under a conditional clearance. They are given within a couple weeks while the secret is being processed in its entirety.

It's true about the Enroute facilities though. Completely different security questioneer and everything. Enroute uses SF86 (Secret) and terminal uses SF85 (Postion of public trust).

xrayoscar28 Rookie

Guess I was wrong. I kinda wanna know what they do that's different..hmm.

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

It's not based on traffic levels. [strike]It's based on airspace and what's inside of it. A tower or TRACON position has a comparatively small amount of airspace to handle, and infrequently or rarely will handle things of a security sensitive nature. En Route controllers have military operations, VIP movements, and other considerations.[/strike]

Edit: I'm wrong. And also, we don't have a strikethrough tag here. Anyway, read this instead: http://www.stuckmic.com/131114-post15.html

JMelch Rookie

so what happens if your denied? Im reading alot of those cases and their interesting, but would suck if you can't have a job because your denied under something you did 12 years ago