What is differences between Tracon and Center?

blakeh Trusted Member SLN

Hello everyone,

It looks like Id really want to work the centers in Utah, New Mexico, Washington, or Colorado. Anyways, Im wondering how hard it is to get into any of these centers?

Or would it be better to look into tracon as well?

For tracon I was wondering,

How similar is it to Center?
Is tracon alot busier?
More relaxed?
Whats the major differences between the two?

Please add what you think I should know.

Thanks alot!!!

irishcarbomb Moderator Houston, TX

this explains it pretty well
What is an Air Traffic Controller

blakeh Trusted Member SLN

Read that. Thanks. Kinda looking for more of a personal touch to the answer like from someone who works or has worked at one or both of them. You know what i mean?

SnowAviation Senior Member Escondido, CA

There aren't that many folks who have been in both options to tell you
the difference. I work with three who made the transition from Center
to Tracon, however you won't find them online telling their stories.

I will say that everyone I have met who transitioned from Center to
Tracon was glad they did it. Don't think it's the work they disliked but
the work environment and the locations. Center controllers and Tracon
controllers have very different work environments, rules etc... and different
equipment.

However everyplace is different and I would imagine that some Centers
are pretty nice places to work.

Cirrus12 Epic Member So. NH

I know I'm wrong, and I'll probably take some flak for this, but I just can't shake the image of centers being little more than "Continental 7-10 Heavy, continue on course"

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

When you have to feed large terminals and keep in-trail spacing, I can imagine it gets pretty rough.

TRACONs get the benefit of more separation options than centers, but centers get more gadgets to play with. I'm with Snow, everyone that I have talked to that made the switch from center to terminal is happy with it. However, I have not met anyone that went from terminal to center so I don't know the flip-side of it.

I have visited two centers and the atmosphere is different than that of TRACONs. For one, there are a lot more people. You're chances are better of becoming just a number while training at a center than TRACON.

One thing I can say in favor of centers, is that they are accustomed to training new hires, where "most" TRACON's aren't. When I went to A80, I was in the first group of new hires so we were the guinea pigs...not fun.

I would suggest taking a tour of both facilities and seeing what impression they make for you. Ultimately it is your future, and you have to call the shots. We can tell you we think, but in the end you have to make your own decision.

Me personally, I'm a terminal guy. You have the option of WINDOWS!!

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

tracon has about 50 controllers and center has about 300 controllers. that's the major difference. oh yeah and the rules and separation is different too. maybe that's the major difference.

Battani22 Trusted Contributor Minnesota

Centers use an MDM scope which is a lot different from the TRACONS scope which I think is called ARTS. I'm a CTI student in Minnesota were we are trained just En Route, but I did an internship at M98. From my experience at M98, I think their scopes are more efficient. They update faster, 2 lines for data blocks opposed to the centers 4, and are color coded. Although the centers radar offers a lot more information at your finger tips then the TRACONs(which is very handy). Overall they are both great work environments, if you like working with radar. Also, another big difference is TRACONs use 3 miles separation opposed to centers 5 miles below FL600 or 10 miles above FL600. I think TRACONs require more critical thinking then centers and requires more on the spot decisions. If you want more info, just send me a message. This is getting a little lengthy.

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

TRACON's use 3 mi separation, 5 mi outside of 40NM from the antenna.

blakeh Trusted Member SLN

Thanks and Thanks Noid as well. Its funny cause before posting this thread i had no idea. Now, after finishing first semester of CTI school I think i know it pretty darn well. lol.

Thanks for the help!