St. Thomas Tower - STT

penaltyvectoring · Posted: 08-09-2009, 12:39 PM

Has anybody been to the tower in St. Thomas or worked there? I've been at a level 7 tower/tracon for 7 years and I just submitted an ERR to go out there. There isn't much on the web about the facility, and no pics that I can find.

ColtsATC · Posted: 08-09-2009, 02:39 PM

Last manning doc I saw showed 7 tower positions, all of them full and no one slated to retire any time soon. Good luck getting that place. Would be a great view though!!!!!

Welcome to St. Thomas Air Traffic Control Tower

penaltyvectoring · Posted: 08-10-2009, 08:15 AM

That's the first link I found to the facility, but it hasn't been updated since '98 and the e-mail addy on it is incorrect. I eventually, after rigorous search engine hunting, tracked down the current NATCA rep and ATM. I ended up getting contact info for both, so I've got current insider info, I'm just trying to gather as many "band camp stories" before I make it out there. I went to terminalapps.faa.gov and they're slotted for 8 controllers and appear to be fully staffed. I'm just gonna keep shoving my ERR under their door and hope they take pity on desparate lil ol' me.

polo708 · Posted: 08-10-2009, 02:18 PM

Swap maybe? See if someone there wants to swap with you...

ZDCATC · Posted: 08-10-2009, 07:59 PM

One of our developmentals just got reassigned to St. Thomas, after failing to check out here - reported down there early this year (Feb or March I think).

I've heard that she loves it down there.

I may be able to get her contact info if you're interested or pass yours along, just PM me.

penaltyvectoring · Posted: 08-23-2009, 11:21 AM

Well, I'm going there in mid-September for a scouting trip. I'm calling it a mini-vacation, but I'll be taking a tour of the facility (mostly to get my face known) and check out prices, housing, and drive times. Hopefully I'll be able to get some pics of the tower to post up for everybody. Chant with me now... No hurricanes... No hurricanes... No hurricanes...

P_to_the_R · Posted: 08-24-2009, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZDCATC

One of our developmentals just got reassigned to St. Thomas, after failing to check out here

WOW! talk about rewarding bad behavior...lol

can i rescind my cpc and try to wash out to the islands!!! what a lucky break for her!

penaltyvectoring · Posted: 09-25-2009, 01:51 PM

I just got back from visiting the facility and checking out the island. Some may look at STT as a punishment. The cost of living is through the roof. $2000 per month will get you one side of a crappy, run-down duplex with little to no view. Good luck finding a cheap rental if you have pets. We have two great danes and the only decent looking rental that would take us was going to cost $2300 per month plus utilities (which are insanely expensive as well). Toothpaste was $7-$9 per tube. You might as well forget about eating cheese regularly unless you qualify for a loan. Rum is cheap though, so this is an alchoholic's paradise. $9 for a liter of Bacardi. $8 for the local Cruzan rum. A mediocre quality (Chilis/On the Border) style restaurant will run you $60-$70 on a dinner for two with no alcohol. There's no way on Earth that a freshly washed out developmental can live out there and save anything for retirement. The 2012 payscales will make it easier, but it will still be hard to make it out there. Most of the people out there are Enroute washouts and don't like living there one bit. Sure, the island is beautiful and the shopping opportunities are plentiful, but you have to have quite the cash flow to take advantage of all the leisure activities. I'm still looking to ERR out there, but I think I'll wait until the 2012 payscales come out. My wife and I are DINKs with no debt except a mortage and there's no way we could do it and save for retirement under white book pay. I'll post up a few pics that I took so anyone else interested can get a better idea of the place.