CTO (certified tower operator)

ATCMAN Rookie St.Cloud,MN

Sorry if there was another link for this I just could not find it anywhere. In any case I am trying to find out first and foremost, where does one obtain a study guide from the CTO exam. Second question, how do you get approved to take the CTO exam itself, I am taking a tower class this fall and was hoping after this fall I could take the test and by summer get an internship over at minneapolis tower. Third and final question.... assuming I take and pass the CTO test, can I apply for the CTO announcement? I presume so but was not sure if that was only for the CTI's that have graduated already.

Thanks!

otterstrom Trusted Member of NATCA

as far as i know, for the CTO announcement you need to actually have a CTO license and not just pass the written test. the license requires time spent in a tower certifying on several positions. someone else chime in, its been a long time since i got mine.

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

the CTO license is different than passing the CTO written test. the CTO license means you've certified in all the positions in a tower. the CTO LICENSE is what you need to have in order to apply for the CTO announcement. the written test is just a ho-hum test that you take in order to even be eligible to train up in a tower. one is a prerequisite for tower and the other means your fully certified in the tower. huge difference.

polo708 Epic Member tower

yeah... it sounds weird but taking and passing a CTO test wont actually get you a CTO, haha.

MikeATC Retired FAA, NATCA Member Nashville TN

In addition to the above which is acurate, they DO NOT let interns talk to aircraft, at most you will get to have a headset so that you can monitor controllers as they work.

I'm sure you can find an example of a CTO exam on the internet, but you shouldn't really waste your time, you need to get hired first, then your facility will arrange whatever test and training you will need.

travelingcutie Junior Member Portland, Oregon

I disagree. I am an intern (student) and I talk to aircraft all of the time. There is always a supervisor watching me, but I AM the one who talks to the pilots.
Also, the CTO exam is very easy. It just comes from a bank of about 400 questions... if you are interested, PM me and I'll send it to you...

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

A student is different than what the OP was referring to. They were referring to doing an internship at an FAA tower, not a school run training tower. You have to be on the payroll in order to work traffic or to even cut an ATIS.

SoCal_ATCer Senior Member So Cal

As a matter of fact MSP interns do more running around as an admin aid than actually up in the cab. At least that is the way it was a few years ago.

NYcGaNgStEr Senior Member Brooklyn, NY

Unless your prior military, DOD or contract with a CTO you might as well start applying PUBNAT as soon as the next announcement comes out! This is straight from the CTO job announcement ----> ***Applicants with 52 weeks experience within the last two years as a Certified Air Traffic Controller with Certified Tower Operator (CTO)/radar certification may be considered for a recruitment incentive of up to $20,000, paid as a lump sum upon appointment or in installments over a two year period. A two year service agreement is required. The recruitment incentive does not apply to current federal employees or formerly appointed employees with less than a 90 day break in service.*** And they make sure you have an offical CTO with a minimum of 52 weeks experience --> ***MUST FAX COPY OF CTO CARD FRONT AND BACK WITHIN 14 DAYS OF APPLICATION WITH ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER AAC-AAT-09-CTO ON COVER PAGE to (405) 954-5766 OR (405) 954-6393. SEE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS*** apply early and expect to wait a bit Good Luck!

MikeATC Retired FAA, NATCA Member Nashville TN

Travelingcutie,

If an FAA supervisor is allowing you to work traffic then that individual is putting their job on the line if something should happen (accident, operational error or deviation). As an intern you are not an FAA employee and as such not covered by the TORT laws should something occur.