Anyone have MN/TX facility info?

ControlPhreeqBassGeek Senior Member Duluth, MN

Hey guys,

I'm wondering if anyone out there knows anything about staffing levels/workload and environment at any facilities throughout Minnesota or Texas.

Also, anybody know what's up with the japan, belgium, uk and germany geo pref options from PUBNAT8? I put these as my last four preferences because I'm not too attached to my current residence...I also have a minor in German. Anyone know if this will influence anything?

Thanks a lot

ControlPhreeqBassGeek Senior Member Duluth, MN

Please stay alive, thread! Someone will respond eventually

Battani22 Trusted Contributor Minnesota

I've heard mixed thoughts on Minnesota. I did an Internship at MSP/M98 last winter and am a CTI in Minnesota. Everyone at the terminal facilities I have visited FCM, STP, MSP/M98 have all said they are fully staffed. At MSP, the manager emphasized that they are only taking controllers with past experience or, controllers from there satellite facilities (I guess that?s the same thing). ZMP is considered fully staffed, but when I visited last month they said they will still be hiring people. They didn't specify how many and at what rate.

jrkoczur Rookie Hastings, Minnesota

In June during my interview with the manager ZMP told me they were told they were scheduled to get 35 in 2010, but would probably end up with 60. He said the same happened this year, can't remember the number but they got about 20 more than expected.

SpinningHat Mr. Hat Minneapolis, MN

I have a couple friends at ZMP, and they really like it, and I am slated for ZMP as well. They do have a lot of people in training there, but people are training, so that's good. And, the Management there is very good from what I've been told without a ton of BS. The Facility Manager has one of their kids working there as a CPC if I remember right...

jrkoczur Rookie Hastings, Minnesota

I have to agree, everyone there has been nothing but nice and helpful, and any question has been answered with a straight forward answer. I was told also that they are going to have a lot of upper management retirements over the next 5 years, and will be in desperate need of trainers. For training though, the sound pretty fair and let you flat out know if your having problems. The manager said that they try to get you fully trained in 2.4 years instead of dragging it out and using you as fill for vacations etc... so so far i'm pretty excited to be part of that center. I'm sure it has it politics like every other job in the world but on the whole it sounds like a good place.

ControlPhreeqBassGeek Senior Member Duluth, MN

Thanks guys!

Sounds like I have a small chance of getting in there? Minneapolis is my number one choice for geo prefs on PUBNAT8, so I hope that helps me. I have no prior experience, but I'm taking the Minneapolis AT-CTI program this year as a backup. Man that would a dream if I could get in at the center...

Anyone know who to contact directly at the center regarding staffing levels and such?

Battani22 Trusted Contributor Minnesota

are you going to MCTC?

ControlPhreeqBassGeek Senior Member Duluth, MN

Yeah. Taking the four online courses this semester and then moving down there from Duluth to complete the rest next semester and possibly summer semester. My BA should cover all generals..I'll find out within the coming weeks.

Battani22 Trusted Contributor Minnesota

Nice...I'm there now, our class is graduating this Aug. 7th. It's a good program, it's challenging and has great instructors. There is an internship program at MSP/M98 that you should do when you're down in the cities. They only take I think 5 or 6 people at a time.