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what about basing for ATC? (sorry to high jack the thread a bit)
You can only bid for the state, not by facility. So if you put down WA, you could get anywhere from Spokane to Moses Lake to Seattle. Kinda a big difference in some states.
Of course, this is all changing very quickly, so who knows? Maybe it's different already.
A lot of the Washington State Positions are going to the ARTCC in Auburn (ZSE). I put down every facility in WA, and I along with two of my very good friends all got offered ZSE. From what I understand, for career progression purposes, you want the Center assignment because they have a greater capability to afford the time to train you on different areas (so I've heard).
SEA had some terminal openings, but I think the laterals filled those up.
Just FYI for anyone thinking about it.....
CD
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Yeah, that's right baby...I'm a Hooker, too.
Put in my app a few days ago and heard from a friend that it took 2 months to get an email to set up the testing. Thats fine with me, I don't want to start 'til next summer anyway. Any ideas of putting off an offer to delay training?
If I wanted to put in MI for my State, there's no way of electing a certain airport? I have a house in Portage, MI and am not looking to move. There is 4 major airports within driving distance, that's the reason I ask. I'd love to work at any of them. Does anyone know if there's a website that lists what towers/agencies have current openings? Thanks guys!
As of six-ish months ago, no, you can't elect a specific airport, just a state. Of course, if there are that many large facilities close by, chances are good that you will be selected for one of them. I believe you can also turn down a facility assignment twice, but you'd need to confirm that with the OKC people.
If you go to the online application website from the FAA, some of the job postings are for people with CTOs or Radar certs. I was helping someone out a while ago, and those postings let you pick a specific facility. Pick the state, then a new drop-down menu opened up, and you could pick the facility. I don't know if it's still that way, but that was current as of this past winter. If you have no experience, you don't get to pick the specific facility, I guess. I think that for most people, the job is going to be a lot different that you'd expect, especially for pilots.
If you have no experience, don't take a job at Chicago Tracon, Socal Tracon, ORD tower, or any other high level facility that the FAA loves offering people. The washout rates are around 90%, from what I hear. (Chicago Tracon washed 8 of 9 new hires recently). Go to a smaller facility, like a class C airport with radar, get some tower and radar experience, and then if you like the tower better, move up to a big time tower. If you like the Tracon, move to a big time radar facility. If you like them both, there are still some bigger facilities that are combined (PHL, MIA, CLT, etc . . .).
The FAA will try to tell you how great a job these big facilities are, but you're probably just going to wash out with no experience and you'll be looking for another new job. You wouldn't put someone with no experience in the front seat of a 747 and expect them to do well, would you? Start in a 172 and work your way up.
and then if you like the tower better, move up to a big time tower. If you like the Tracon, move to a big time radar facility. If you like them both, there are still some bigger facilities that are combined (PHL, MIA, CLT, etc . . .).
A lot of good info.... but I'd like to add that all three of the facilities you mention are fighting a split. I believe MIA is currently sectorized (which means that there are areas within the facility, so you don't work every position), PHL will be shortly, and I don't know where CLT is in the process. Of course, if you listen to jmcmanna, you won't be at those facilities for a long time, so the situation will have resolved itself by then.
Last edited by kt61 : 09-30-2008 at 07:37 AM.
Reason: misspell
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