Need help

wannabav8r Newcomer

Hi everyone,

I am from PUBNAT 8 and still waiting to hear something like everyone else. Lately, I have been thinking about attending Vaughn Online to complete the CTI course in a year. I am trying to get a general cost number based on everything and haven't been successful. The only thing that concerns me about this degree is that if I am not picked up, I just blew a lot of money for degree that has no use to me. Should I wait to hear from the PUBNAT and if I am not picked up, do the CTI thing? One more thing, do I need a PPL to graduate from Vaughn?

Thanks for the help,

Wannabav8r

irishcarbomb Moderator Houston, TX

cant help with the cost, but if you're serious about being a controller CTI is going to be your best bet...

ALPHA_DELTA22 Rookie Bermuda Triangle

Id say the best bet would be L3 link air traffic academy in denison,tx,. its very pricey but its only a year long and you spend half the time in a real tower working traffic, instead on talking to fake planes in a sim, you get your facility rating and cto! but again, its pricey

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

Considering this is the OP's concern:

I think Link (or Advanced ATC) is worse than going the CTI route with regards to cost, etc. At least with the CTI program, you come out with a degree. While it may be "worthless" outside of ATC, some companies just like the fact that you have a degree. With the CTO programs, that's it. No ATC job, it's not even worth the paper it's printed on.

ALPHA_DELTA22 Rookie Bermuda Triangle

Well the with the faa a cto will get you in the door so im fine with it. I just think it looks better that you actually talked to real a/c instead of a simulator. I think it will for sure be able to get a job with FCT coming from a Advanced cto school though, then that will just open the door to the FAA. So well see what happens. If these link school is BS, ill probably end up going cti for 2 years anyway, because I love ATC

irishcarbomb Moderator Houston, TX

have not heard many good things about link...

ALPHA_DELTA22 Rookie Bermuda Triangle

Its not a bad school, I like it. some things seem iffy, but I dont see why the faa wouldnt hire some of them out of that school.

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

There is nothing in the CTO announcement that requires any sort of time frame with the CTO, so yeah, you can get hired with the FAA. However, it is a different story with contract towers. They require you to have a CTO for at least a year.

ALPHA_DELTA22 Rookie Bermuda Triangle

Ya true, thats why im shooting for the faa, but however I have known people and heard that some fct towers dont care at all as long as you have a cto, thats all you need, but im not for sure, just what I heard

jarhead0863 Trusted Member Grand Forks, ND

They want actual experience in the work place.