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Hello from Sacramento, questions
Posted: 10-30-2009, 06:33 PM Hello all, and thanks in advance for any help.
I'm a furloughed "freight dog" and have been wondering about the feasibility of becoming a controller for a while now. I'll have an AS in Flight Technology shortly, and I've been flying professionally for a few years now. I'm a CFII and MEI with 2300 hrs if that makes any difference. I've read that 31 is the cutoff for beginning school at the FAA academy in OKC. I'm 29 and will be turning 31 in May of 2011. Do I have any chance of pursuing ATC (with the FAA) or would I be wasting my time? Will the FAA consider someone like me without a BA degree or CTI school? And lastly, how difficult would it be to get into a terminal/approach/enroute facility in northern California? Thanks! |
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Re: Hello from Sacramento, questions
Posted: 10-30-2009, 08:07 PM Welcome to StuckMic.
In you situation, I think you could go either PUBNAT or CTI. If you choose PUBNAT, then you will have to wait until January 2010 when the next one is rumored to open. Usually there is a lot of movement on here when one opens so just watch the forums. PUBNATs are usually the longest of the applications and you can expect at least 18 months before you make it to the academy. That will put you close on time, but if selected you will receive a TOL (tentative offer letter) that will freeze your FAA age if you receive one before you turn age 31. TOLs usually appear, if selected, around the one year mark. To apply for a PUBNAT you need a minimum of 36 months work experience and college is credited as 30 credits is equal to nine months work experience. If you choose CTI, then you will be looking at a minimum of one year in school before you can apply. Once you apply, since CTI applications are open for one year at a time and are rolling announcements, you will be considered at the next selection panel and all panels following until your announcement expires. However, the same age rules apply to CTIs as they do to PUBNATs and you will need to have a TOL by age 31. CTIs have a better chance of being selected, than a PUBNAT applicant, and CTIs usually have a shorter wait time. You can apply to these announcements via the FAA's ASAP page or trough the USAjobs when you are ready to apply. Neither CTI or a BA degree are necessary for employment with the FAA and you can make it without having either. Your flight time will play a role in the selection process somewhere, but to what extent I cannot say. I only know that the application will ask about pilot ratings, especially an instrument rating, and flight time. Facility staffing is hard to pin down as staffing needs change. Your best bet would be to call the facilities you like and ask about staffing and make your case to the facility manager. Good luck and in my opinion apply for the next PUBNAT and investigate the CTI route if you are interested. You can always apply for the PUBNATs if you are a CTI, but you cannot apply for a CTI without a CTI endorsement. Map of CTI schools: CTI schools - Google Maps |
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Re: Hello from Sacramento, questions
Posted: 10-31-2009, 01:40 AM Wow, thank you very much for taking the time to provide a excellent answer. I'm definitely going to apply for a PUBNAT as soon as it's advertised. Unfortunately moving my family to attend a CTI school is just not an option for me. I've been told, however, that a community college here in Sacramento is going to be starting an "FAA approved" ATC training program next year. CTI school maybe? If so, I'll definitely be looking into it. Thanks again for the informative reply.
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