Airline Pilot <-> ATC

Windsor

Windsor

Newcomer
Feb 4, 2009
23
0
1
mke/msp
Hey guys,

I'm in the same boat as you guys. The airline career has been in decline for the last 10 years or so. The light at the end of the tunnel has been getting dimmer with every passing year. Now that my dream jobs are currently getting ready to furlough, I'd be stuck at my regional for much longer that I had planned. With two small kids at home, I'm getting sick of being gone 5-6 days at a time sitting reserve.

I applied for the ATC job on a whim. If I can get either ORD or MKE, I'll gladly leave flying for a living behind and do what I should have done all along, Fly for fun.
 
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archie_league

Junior Member
Jun 17, 2008
113
0
16
Chicago
Windsor said:
Hey guys,

I'm in the same boat as you guys. The airline career has been in decline for the last 10 years or so. The light at the end of the tunnel has been getting dimmer with every passing year. Now that my dream jobs are currently getting ready to furlough, I'd be stuck at my regional for much longer that I had planned. With two small kids at home, I'm getting sick of being gone 5-6 days at a time sitting reserve.

I applied for the ATC job on a whim. If I can get either ORD or MKE, I'll gladly leave flying for a living behind and do what I should have done all along, Fly for fun.
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I definitely wasn't an RJ captain or anything but I did the CFI thing and was a corporate pilot for a company in ATL working up to the airlines. Back in 2002 a CFI buddy and I had interviews scheduled with ASA. He did the interview and is still with them. I decided to take the ATC route (Air Force at the time was the best route...4 years in FL). I have been at ORD since 2006. I make way more money, have more job satisfaction, great benefits, job security, I sleep in my bed every night, I am here for my son every day, etc, etc.

I made my decision because I saw what was happening to my dream job (Airline Pilot at the time) after 9-11 and I was tired of being away from home all the time with a flying job. It has been one of the best decisions of my life. And as you mentioned, I now fly for fun.

Good luck. Hope it works out for you.
 
strykr

strykr

Junior Member
Aug 18, 2008
130
1
18
Warrenton, VA
archie_league said:
I made my decision because I saw what was happening to my dream job (Airline Pilot at the time) after 9-11 and I was tired of being away from home all the time with a flying job. It has been one of the best decisions of my life. And as you mentioned, I now fly for fun.

Good luck. Hope it works out for you.
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Yeah! A Sucess story! theres hope for us pilot used-to-be's :gleam:
 
Windsor

Windsor

Newcomer
Feb 4, 2009
23
0
1
mke/msp
DLconnection said:
Would you go from jetBlue to working as a controller?
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That depends on what you think of Jet Blue. If thats your "dream job" at an airline then no, I wouldnt. If you are thinking of leaving flying anyway, maby you should make the leap.

Personally if i were at my dream job of fedex or ups, i would not leave for atc. But seeing as how most people are stuck where they are for the forseeable future, its time for a change.
 
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atcMegIAD

Newcomer
Mar 8, 2009
13
0
1
Maryland
hey pilots! anyone fly into IAD? Im a controller there, and was curious if anyone was interested in doing a "pilot day" was gonna get the union to maybe sponsor something like that, tour of the tour, meet with the controllers...that kinda thing...anyone interested?
 
strykr

strykr

Junior Member
Aug 18, 2008
130
1
18
Warrenton, VA
atcMegIAD said:
hey pilots! anyone fly into IAD? Im a controller there, and was curious if anyone was interested in doing a "pilot day" was gonna get the union to maybe sponsor something like that, tour of the tour, meet with the controllers...that kinda thing...anyone interested?
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I know pilots that fly in there all the time, but they are charter so its mostly quick turns...
 
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Mclaren99

Junior Member
Jul 9, 2008
88
0
6
Southern Region CPC
I say go for it. But take the test soon before the hiring slows. I heard wait time is 6 mos to a year now. Only what I heard...don't know that for sure. I did all my flying as a CFI and then corporate jet Part 135 before deciding to become a controller (did the CTI route). I've got my ATP and a couple type ratings and can tell you my experience helped A LOT! I feel it directly helped me to get checked out.
 
Windsor

Windsor

Newcomer
Feb 4, 2009
23
0
1
mke/msp
atcMegIAD said:
hey pilots! anyone fly into IAD? Im a controller there, and was curious if anyone was interested in doing a "pilot day" was gonna get the union to maybe sponsor something like that, tour of the tour, meet with the controllers...that kinda thing...anyone interested?
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I fly in there every once in a while, but havent stayed on the ground longer than an hour. I'm actually overnighting in DCA right now, too bad my company doesnt overnight in IAD, I'd trade a beer for some ATC tips. :cheers:
 
ParrotheadJGR11

ParrotheadJGR11

Junior Member
Apr 2, 2009
108
0
16
35
Atlanta
irishcarbomb said:
i got hired but had my class cancelled 4 days prior to start at comair in june. i'll be going CFI to ATC hopefully, and looks like we're pretty much on the same track as far as time goes.
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sounds just like me except for I was about to start at ASA when my class was cancelled..
 
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emb145

Junior Member
Nov 23, 2008
77
0
6
Weegie said:
I'm there with ya. This career is BS as far as I can tell. So, going to ATC, what have I really got to lose? Give up a really crappy schedule, really crappy pay, plus really crappy lifestyle to get to go home ever day. That sounds like a plan to me.

Its funny, I used to love flying, then I got a job working in the airlines... Honestly, I just cant wait to go back and do something fun with flying, like flying upside down again. Mabey I'll actually be able to afford it now, depending on what facility I get to go to.

Oh yea, one more thing... NO MORE ALPA. Yes, I know its now NATCA, but when ALPA went after my retirement, that was the last straw.

Good luck to all you guys.
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That pretty much summed everything up for me, I only hope I get the chance to quit pretty soon.
 
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tiredoftheairlines

Newcomer
Apr 8, 2009
10
0
1
Austin
I agree, im a colgan pilot on the SAAB. I love flying but the airlines are nothing what they are built up to be. Come on pubnat 7, I cant wait to get the ball rolling on this!
 
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wiscoacey

Newcomer
Jun 19, 2009
14
0
1
I was talking to a bunch of guys at the ATSAT and there were a bunch regional capt/fo's for mesaba, tsa, asa, comair, go jet, and asa.
 
Cheeks

Cheeks

Senior Member
Mar 28, 2009
179
6
18
wiscoacey said:
I was talking to a bunch of guys at the ATSAT and there were a bunch regional capt/fo's for mesaba, tsa, asa, comair, go jet, and asa.
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The FAA shouldn't hire any Blow Je... I mean Go Jet pilots. They should make them stay there as punishment for ever taking a job with them in the first place.
 
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