When to apply for a contract tower job?

Jed Rookie Arizona

Hey everyone,

I am currently in the Air Force and have a been in ATC for 3.5 years. I am not CIC certified but I have had a current CTO for about 2.5 years. I am separating from the AF at the end of August 2010 and I was wondering when I should start the application process for contract tower companies. I am interested in staying in the states but I don't want to apply to early and get negative feedback for not being able to accept jobs that are currently open.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

SMPolkinghorn Junior Member United States

Hey man I'm seperating from the USMC at the end of 2010 and will be on terminal at the end of Aug. I've got a few guys I know that are working for Midwest and theyre tellin me that about 90 days out of when you can actually start is when to apply for the contract jobs. Heard that around here on SM as well.

polo708 Epic Member tower

Id say closer to 2 months out... and you can work FCT while on terminal leave if you have any. The hiring process will take almost a month after you are offered a job. Thats waiting for the drug tests and security clearances...

Also, dont sweat the CIC thing. They dont really care if you are or arent CIC certified. All they care about is a CTO and a class II physical. Good luck.

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

about 90 days prior to separation. when i say separation i mean the earliest of the following 2 dates. terminal leave or end of service. you can work for an FCT on terminal leave so 90 days from terminal if u plan on taking it.

any earlier and really the company can't hold a job for you that long. start watching for openings about 120 days prior and start making networking calls. knowing someone goes a long way in the FCT world. someone has to vouch for either your skills or your personality, or both.

polo708 Epic Member tower

if your resume goes to the local manager and they see that you cant start for 3 months they will go to the next person on the list... I guarantee it. Ive seen it first hand for 3 years. Every person that wasnt able to start work within a few weeks was passed over. They want manning when they want it... not months down the road.

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

when i got hired by Serco for IWA, they waited almost 2 months for me. the places that go through a lot of trainees are more open to waiting for someone they want. but polo is right, if u apply TOO early they will move to someone that can start sooner.

if u start to apply about 3 months early, by the time the process gets to hiring u, u could be in the right zone for them to pick u. it's really a crap-shoot on timing. it involves some luck on the timing.

Ramstar13 Senior Member

dude, when i got out, i applyied to serco and midwest and that very day i got to offers for serco and a week later midwest called me...its easy

redwing76 Rookie

way ever happened to fct getting fss pay? ha ha ha