Air Traffic Control, Revisited
 

I'm in a young life crisis. I'm out of college, having trouble finding a real job in this economy, and aren't even sure what I want to do anymore. I looked around online and saw the FAA had a window open (I think closing thursday 7/31) for ATC trainee applicants from the general public. So I went through the online program and submitted the application. I'd love to hear from any ATC's one here or anyone closely familiar with ATC. I think I may have asked about this stuff a while back but this is a little more advanced.

Industry: What is the current state of American ATC? I've heard that staffing levels are horribly low but that the FAA doesn't have the funding to increase the stafffing. Is this true? Is it related to our lovely president and his mouth-foaming demands for GA user fees?

What are the chances of people from the regular public ranks getting hired to go to training? I know most new ATCs come from the military or the ATC colleges.

What are they looking for in people? What would one have in order to be considered "competitive" from the general public?

Here is my background: 23 years old. No disabilities. BS in meteorology, aviation weather intern for 6 weeks. Private pilot (airplane and glider), instrument rating. Working on comm/CFI for both. Civil Air Patrol officer, operations specialty, mission aircrew qualified.

What should I do next? Just hold on and see if they call me for testing?

Thanks y'all!

If you applied online through the FAA's job site then you will be getting an e-mail about testing. It might take a few months but they'll get around to you in time.

Also, yes current ATC is retiring the second they become able to do so. As for new controllers, there are probably a good amount that come from the military but ATC college degrees are not any real advantage. Everyone still has to take and pass the FAA AT-SAT entry testing. If you've got an ATC degree then you get to skip the first week or two at OKC which covers ATC 101 stuff.

Flyboydan, If you're an ATC guy, could you send me a PM. I just submitted by application tonight and I'd like to shoot a few questions your way. Thanks

MikeB525, I'm in pretty much your exact situation. Just graduating from college but having a really tough time finding any job that will pay the bills. Have my private and inst. and working on the comm.

See IM Lifter123