dyttam Newcomer

# 1

howdy folks,

I'm graduating from Florida State University this summer and I was contemplating joining the Air Force or going to CTI school for ATC.

I have done a vast amount of resource gathering and I have found out that CTI school doesn't guarantee anything, no matter what. Whereas 6 years in AF will guarantee a good career.

The problem I have here is that I am 24 and joining Air Force would risk not getting into FAA. I know I could work for contract towers and DoD for decent pay (or great pay overseas) but the big leagues and main goal is the FAA.

Should I pursue a fast-track CTI school and hope for the best? Or perhaps take what is guaranteed in the Air Force? As you can see, this is probably the biggest decision I will make in my life so far... (minus saying "I DO", which I will be doing this summer, cheers!)

Basically, I know CTI is going to be a bit of a waiting game...
My biggest concern is that I just see myself in 2 years sitting pretty with 2 BA degrees (one being a fast track CTI degree in Avaition Management with CTI certification and the other an International Affairs bachelors from FSU) ANDDDDD...no career job.

No FAA, no TOL, no CTOs, no OKC school, no nothing, 2 degrees. 3 years of waiting, 30k in debt and no real career in ATC. I can't even work Contract Tower or DOD!

What I am asking is, can I get into a contract tower by obtaining my CTO somewhere, somehow and get experience to be hired at the same time? what I have gathered is that contract towers will not hire without a CTO and experience... and I cant get a CTO with required experiece without joining the air force/navy.

Is this true?

anyway to get said exp within the next 4 years without having to go into the air force?

this would make things easier while I was for the FAA... plus its experience and a career.

Is this possible? What do you know that I don't yet?

cheers,

matthew

ny87 Rookie

# 2

One of my professor told me that, the way FAA hires is in waves. like 3 years ago when they hired.. they hired in a large mass..then they slowed down. but theres going to be another wave where they will do the same and hire another large mass of people, its basically a cycle.. so your just have to wait and anticipate when that wave is going to be.. the way things are it could be couple of years, if you have the CTI Cert most likely when that wave comes you will get it. my only regret of doing CTI is that i should have done it after i got a degree in another profession..

n1ck88 Junior Member Hawaii

# 3

i finished a 2 year xray program while waiting for this job
ive been xraying for 3 months now and just got my fol.

RadarContact Junior Member

# 4

Another thing to consider, having recently separated from the AF myself... Going AF doesn't guarantee you'll end up getting a CTO. I was only in ATC for about 3 years after I retrained from maintenance, but I ended up leaving with only a radar ticket. So that pretty much eliminates me from doing any kind of contract work at a tower... and DoD jobs are like winning the lottery more so than the FAA from what I understand.

All things considered, I would probably be more comfortable waiting out your shot at the FAA, since you have 6-7 years. That is, unless you think you might actually stick out the 20 in the AF, but if you can, you're a better man than I

I'm now hanging on by a thread, just turned 29 and waiting for my VRA "front of the line" privilege to kick in... which I hope it does at some point here before I go insane.

FALCON Junior Member Alaska

# 5

Radiology?

ny87 Rookie

# 6

n1ck88 nice job on the exray job.... im trying to get into medicine right now as well

DeGro1317 Rookie Edgewater, FL

# 7

Anyway you go AF or CTI is not gonna guarantee getting in. Since you are only 24 you have plenty of time to do CTI somewhere and having a good shot of getting into the FAA within the next four years. As someone else had said things hopefully will pick up in the next year or two with the hiring. Good luck in whatever way you decide to go.

ineedatc Trusted Member Location: a box with three walls (a cubical for the corporate impaired)

# 8

I would go CTI. I think the only thing that would keep you from getting hired as CTI is if you only score qualified on the ATSAT. Remember, ATC, as with any other career, is not stagnant. People get hired, fired, retire, quit like any other career. The only rush now is that 20-25 years ago they hired a lot of people at once. Now -- for the most part -- they need to retire at once. That -- on top of normal attrition -- leads to a hiring blitz. However, that doesn't mean that hiring needs will cease all together.

When going CTI, I would just suggest you not get too wrapped up in your books to where you lose your ability to think out side the box. Though the CTI degree gives you a definite upper hand over off the street folks, the test is full of information that should come innately to you and is not generally learned knowledge. I notice that there was a person who frequented one of these boards. Took the test over a year ago and scored a 86. They retook the test -- studied hard for it -- and scored an 87 or 88. There is no concrete way to study for the test.

Essentially, play along with the classes you take as CTI, but don't lose your ability to reason. I see people on/around here lean on their books/gpa a little too much.

Raydon Happy Camper OKC

# 9

The sooner you get an application on file the sooner your career with the FAA will begin - no sense in getting experience in the military and waste good years you could be spending building up tenure.

I'd say get an application on file, work, save.. get a nest egg going and maybe even fly a little to get accustomed to the aviation industry. That will do good for you.

The bigger thing is that after a "career" in DoD you still have to go through an application process, and you'll have to start all over again at the bottom when you finally get that FOL.

RFDATM Junior Member IL

# 10

It does not appear that he is qualified to apply to the FAA at this time - no CTO, no CTI, no VRA ect. It is highly unlikely there will be a PUBNAT this FY as the "pool" is full. I would suggest checking out the military reserves - ANG.