Need help with Timeline!

osirismdw Newcomer

Sorry I posted this in a different forum first, but it looks liek this one might be more appropriate.

I am going to be going back to UND CTI school to finish my ATC training. I just turned 26 and I am wondering about the timeline since 31 is the age cut off. Id appreciate it if you could give me averages. My girlfriend wants me to wait one more year before I go back to school.

So if I start back at UND when im 27, say I have 2.5 years of school left. Ill graduate in May of 2012, and will be 29 years old. A few months later in July of 2012 I will be 30. At what point does the FAA actually cut you off? You go oklahoma after youve accepted a job offer correct? What exact part do you have to hit before 31? How long do the steps after graduating CTI school TYPICALLY take? How long is the academy TYPICALLY for CTi grads?

Please help, I feel like im under the gun!

aprolla23 Junior Member Raleigh, NC

Once you get a TOL your age is "frozen in time." You can go beyond 31 while waiting for a FOL and/or academy date.

I'm starting school this fall at Vaughn and will be turning 28 this month. I'm going to do the fast-track program, about 10 months, so I'll be close to 29 when I graduate and feel this is just enough time without pushing it too close.

The steps after CTI school can be equal, shorter, or longer than the OTS route, just depends on facility needs amongst other things. Best bet as always is to do both. That's why I've applied to Pub7 and 8.

osirismdw Newcomer

Does that mean that its frozen only in relation to the facility that the offer came from, or its frozen from that period on for anyone to continue to make an offer to you?

Muneco Epic Member

Once you get a TOL, it freezes, no matter the facility. Once you get a TOL, it means you most likely accepted the position, therefore there will not be any future offers to worry about.

I also wouldn't turn down any offers in a world where thousands of people want your job!

rogersjf Trusted Contributor New Jersey

+1 like they all say your time is frozen. However you gotta get the FOL first, with that said your easiest way to get a FOL is request a center when the time comes. When your limited on time take what you get, your best bet being (ZNY, ZLA, ZMA)

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

Huh? Why do you say those are your best bets?

rogersjf Trusted Contributor New Jersey

because they historically take the most people each panel and have the most slots to fill for the fiscal year (due to retirements, washouts etc). Do to the fact they have age issues(the poster) there best bet is to go for a center due to the fact there are less VRA's then slots at centers and the next people CTI's tend to try and avoid centers compared to terminals for some reason.

I would say ZMA is prob a question mark. but def ZNY and ZLA to def get selected CTI the easiest. My friend just got checked out in ZDC and in his class out of 16 he was the only CTI the rest were OTS.

Davo Trusted Contributor VT

He is talking about apply a couple of years from now, who knows what facility needs will be then.

I know you said you want to go through a CTI program but I would also encourage you to apply to any pubnats that come up along the way. It can't hurt you other than you won't have the degree which is only for ATC only.

To answer your other questions: Most CTI schools recommend you to the FAA within a month after you graduate. You will then get an access code to apply on the ASAP website. The time line from there varies but I have seen from 8 months to 1 1/2 years. If you get accepted I would think you would at least have a TOL (tentative offer letter) 8 months into the process which freezes your age. As a CTI graduate you get to skip ATC basics at OK and go only for the other requirements which depends on what you are going their for, terminal or enroute. I believe there is a tracon only course as well. Read around this site and you will get an idea of how long each is.

mills3ff Junior Member Port Orange

I'm CTI, Applied the beginning of March 09 and TOL at the June PEPC. Waiting for Med to clear and class date.

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

Sounds reasonable enough. Of course, it all depends whether or not they're actually taking people on for the panel in question.