pass age 31...

anoms Newcomer

I have been doing some extensive reading to find some answers. I have found many but I still have a few, hope you all can lend a hand.

Unfortunately, I was one of those stuck with turning 31 while the FAA was going through a hiring freeze and my age was never grandfathered; hence no FAA job.
My only option after that was the military... or the contract tower? However, it appears that to work with NFCT you need to have the 'CTO' and 6 months of experience?

1. Is there a way of getting a 'CTO' other than the military?
2. Why are NFCT so hard to get into? it seems for someone in my case almost impossible?
3. Someone here said that the NFCT requirements will go down? Not sure that that really means?

Is there any route I can go at this stage (besides the military)??

otterstrom Trusted Member of NATCA

these people will give you a CTO certificate... no facility rating though. its all sim time:
Air Traffic Control School Air Traffic Controller Training / Academy / College - Advanced ATC Valdosta Georgia United States

here are two threads about it:
Has Anyone Done Advanced ATC?
http://www.stuckmic.com/atc-employme...to-school.html

another option is to control in a guard unit . i hear they're fun. you get rated in the tower and then are required to deploy for a short time before you're eligible for VRA hiring in the FAA.

meadelz Senior Member

Go to Community College of Beaver County. Last I knew they were still issuing CTO's with facility rating. After you earn your CTO, stay at Beaver tower for 6 months as a controller/instructor and voila. You would have 18 months invested, but then a contract tower would pick you up. I'm in a similar boat, but I have a CTO with facility rating BUT without the 6 months experience. Big pain in the *&^.

Good luck.

Michael

GolfJuliet F*** Terrorism

That would be incorrect. Due to a new FAA regulation CCBC no longer offers a CTO, but they still plan to train students in the tower just no CTO or facility rating. Idk about the CTO only schools, but it doesn't look like you'll be able to get a CTI & CTO at the same time anymore. This information came from the program director J.S.

atcguruaf Rico Suave AZ

1. Yes, but it won't help you like you think it will with getting a job in an FCT.

2. One of the reasons they're difficult to get into is because of training. At MOST Contract facilities, they give you 30 days to get fully checked out, or you're done! Some places give you more time because of complexity of traffic, but without prior experience, you won't make it, period. I saw someone WITH prior experience get fired in a week. I'd also imagine that at an FCT, it's not an "FAA" approved training program. Meaning you need coursework, tests, etc. just like any classroom. When you get into a contract facility, you plug in and sink or swim pretty much. There is "training" involved, but it's all technique, you should know the regulations already.

3. Don't listen to rumors. That's all they are. I have not heard about the FCT program "lessening" their requirements, even still, like you said, wtf does that mean?

4. Doesn't seem like it. However if you do the minimum amount of time in the military, you can then go FCT (pretty easily) or DoD. You can also apply to be an instructor, work for Raytheon, Adacel, and a variety of other operations. You won't limit yourself to just ATC, but rather a lot of ATC-related opportunities.

Good luck.

meadelz Senior Member

Wow, that must be a big blow to CCBC. I talked to Mr. Scott last Spring and come to think of it he did mention something about losing the CTO deal....Too bad....

Guess options are few and far between then.

Good luck.

GolfJuliet F*** Terrorism

Thanks, I emailed him back but their already out for Christmas I suppose. I should have some more information later on though.

jl_aatc Newcomer Valdosta, GA

If you go to Advanced ATC, you will be facility rated.

RFDATM Trusted Member IL

There are two of these programs that have the potential for you to earn the CTO license - one in TX and one in GA. Check some of the other threads though as it looks like there is only the potential - not 100% with all students. Plus these are very expensive programs- 50K