Greer ATCT/Tracon - GSP

ladiesolo Trusted Member

Anyone have any insight on GSP? Staffing levels? Good/Bad choice to start for OTS applicants? ANY info you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

joecoolinsc Rookie Spartanburg, SC

I've been at GSP 20 years. The tower is as easy as towers get. One runway, no taxiways crossing, cleared to land, cleared for take-off. Traffic in the pattern is rare.

The RADAR room on the other hand is extremely difficult. Several instrument airports in close proximity to the main airport. A dozen instrument airports, and 3 more that have approaches that start in our airspace. We coordinate with 7 ZTL sectors, 1 ZJX sector (occasionally) and 5 approach controls. We are sandwiched between A80 and CLT. There are preferential routes into A80 that are of little impact. But almost all of our eastbound en route aircraft require reroutes around CLT.

If you (or anyone else) are looking for an easy facility, this is not the place. If you are looking for and are up to the challenge, welcome.

We have 6 trainees right now. Well, 5 I guess, 1 just withdrew. Another is not doing very well. The other 4 should do fine, and 2 more on the way I think. So I believe we are fully staffed.

badtone Senior Member Unknown Whereabouts

I toured there recently thanks to a fellow member [joecool] (controller), was told on average it takes 2 years to check-out (it's a lvl 7). The tower was built in 62 and most of the equipment is vintage as well [ARTS Scopes]. A uniquely challenging airspace given that is in the middle so to speak of ATL and CLT. Tracon runs 300+ ops/day (typically 1-2 working) and Tower runs anywhere from 100-150+ ops a day (just 1 person). Lot of IFR/VFR GA traffic at Greenville Downtown & Donaldson, Spartenburg Downtown, Clemson, Anderson Airport, and a few others on the map.

Oh yes I'd be remiss to point out: The break room had a big flat panel lcd and satellite tv and some comfy recliner chairs. The most modern pieces of equipment on that floor.

Definitely a place I'd love to end up at.

fromORF2CLT Rookie CLT

[QUOTEWe have 6 trainees right now. Well, 5 I guess, 1 just withdrew. Another is not doing very well. The other 4 should do fine, and 2 more on the way I think. So I believe we are fully staffed.[/QUOTE]


Thanks for the info, I was contemplating going for GSP for PUBNAT 7 but I guess I'll reconsider. Do you have any friends/insight into CAE? Any idea of their operations and/or staffing levels?

Thanks for your help!

joecoolinsc Rookie Spartanburg, SC

CAE is open 24 hours so their total staffing would be higher than GSP's, but I do not know their current numbers.

joecoolinsc Rookie Spartanburg, SC

We've had several transferees with CPC time at ATC 6/7 facilities that had a very difficult time checking out. And a couple others who didn't.

Try not to get caught up in the numbers. The higher level facilities have increasingly more structured procedures to ensure things run smoothly, and in some cases they can be easier than some lower level facilities.

ladiesolo Trusted Member

joecoolinsc! Has anything changed at GSP? Any idea whether you all are hiring for FY'10?

kdothammond Rookie

Bump...

What's the latest now that traffic has declined for the country?

Ham