I'm not sure if it is set in stone or not, but the word going around right now is that there might be a hiring freeze in effect for the remainder of the year due to budgetary shortfalls. The COLA increases were not given this year.
If you are still interested then continue to keep an eye on the USAJOBS and FAA job websites. If I hear anything I'll post it.

USMCFLYR

Update:
Have heard that there should be some hiring this coming year, but after that the attrition will not be replaced as part of the pairing down of government positions. Something along the line of a loss/gain ratio of 3:1 for example.

All of the other gouge in this thread is still good though.
If interested, keep an eye out on the USAJOBS and FAA employment websites - series 2181.

USMCFLYR

just curious, how much TDY do you guys do a year. I would assume quite a bit. Also, say hired into the King Air, any chance for upward promotion to the bigger stuff.

One more thing, retirement age is when

I'm doing about 6 nights a month right - I'm flying what we call a week-on/week-off schedule which really means leave Monday morning and come back Thursday afternoon for example. I'm in training though and my boss has worked hard to keep me on this schedule. Once fully qualified, there will be weeks when I don't fly or times when I fly 3 weeks in a row. The schedule defintiely changes. The schedule QOL issues are the no weekends or holidays - and if you do work for some reason then you get the premium pay hours. I'm doing a trip next week for example which is shortened and I'm only spending one night on the road because much of the work is fairly local. Everyone in the office is the highest membership level of whatever hotel chain they like the best :)

All the civilians (I'm saying that because I am not counting the active duty AF or AF Reserve guys) go into the King Air first. There is opportunity to move into the L60s and Challenger 601/604/605 at later times. They are striving to make it a King air and Challenger fleet but it takes as long as watching mold grow!

Retirement? Well I haven't looked into it too hard - but it seems to be as long as you can hold a 1st class physical. I didn't hear that a recent retiree had been working so long that it "was costing him money to come to work". It is FERS of course for anyone coming in now and it certainly is a long shot from CSRS - but it is still something!

USMCFLYR

good info, thanks ! I assume you guys are GS-13's, correct

Hired at GS-11, progress to GS-13 pretty quickly, and then bid on (and as far as I have seen) selected for GS-14 when the opportunity arises (typically between 2-2.5 years from hire is what management is putting out). Pay scales are matter of public record of course if you want to Google GS pay scales. I think they are posted back in this thread too or in another similar thread by mjb.

USMCFLYR

roger that, thanks USMC

Bump
 

NEW OPENINGS!

Posted on USAJOBS.GOV (search series 2181):
USAJOBS - Search Jobs

and FAA EMPLOYMENT Website (all opportunities, then series 2181):
FAA Opportunities Search Results

On the FAA's site - there are two announcements.
The top one is for EXTERNAL applicants (closing date 11/22/11).
The bottom one is for INTERNAL (already a federal employee - ATC is a popular switch) applicants (closing date 11/30/11).

These announcements seem to be targeting the Battle Creek Michigan (BTL) office, but there could be more in the near future I guess.

USMCFLYR

Posted today?

Saw it...Battle Creek