I have been doing a lot of searching to find out what I want to do with the rest of my life, I'm 20 so I need to figure it out sometime soon! I'm really interested in air traffic control even though I know it can be stressful especially in a busy air space... So I was wondering what a day in the life of an air traffic controller was like, as well as the best way to become one. I have some years of college under my belt and I want to finish my degree but i'm willing to take a break or finish it in the air force!
2007-07-13 15:23:37 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Yes, the Af is a good way to go. I have a friend who became an ATC in the AF. Now he is reserves and also works for the Philadelphia Airport. He does very well for himself.
2007-07-13 17:36:45 · answer #1 · answered by carebear 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The AF is a great way to go I just did 21 yrs...Here is a suggestion... finish your schooling first and then come into the military. that gives you a chance to come in as an officer or as an college degree earned person. The military is not for everyone and if it's not for you... you have a degree to fall back on. The Air Traffic Controller training is serious and demanding. Of course they make a good bonus and you can get big bucks when you get out. A lot of people can not take advantage of the college courses while in the military. ATC are one of those that may not be able to go to school right away but after the neded training school can be attended.
2007-07-13 23:44:37 · answer #2 · answered by Askme 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, with a few years of college under your belt, the best two ways are to go military or transfer to one of the CTI colleges / universities and change your major to ATC, that way when you graduate you'll be hired directly into the FAA. If you go military, everyone is right. Finish your degree so you can get in with more rank and better pay. Be careful though about making sure you do get guarenteed ATC on paper.
There really isn't any typical day for a controller. A typical day at JFK tower is far different from a typical day for someone at Tulsa tower and any typical day at a tower is far different from a typical day at a TRACON or ARTCC. There will be periods of high activity with alot of scheduled airline flights coming in and lulls where nearly nothing is coming or going and periods in between. If you're working clearance delivery in the tower on a given day your typical day is spent calling and recieving calls from other ATC facilities, getting clearances for airplanes and relaying those clearances to them. If you're working a sector in an ARTCC your typical day will be stringing traffic together so that the 5 planes going to abc airport will be seperated nicely for the tower controller there so abc tower can land them one after another with no delay, meanwhile you're calling up xyz tower and giving clearances to airplanes on the ground there. Pretty general info, but it isn't an easy answer go give.
2007-07-14 17:51:46 · answer #3 · answered by Kevin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes! The Air Force is a great branch to go to be an ATC, finish college first though, i wish i had.
But! When you go to the recruiter's office, make sure that air traffic controller is a guarenteed job, so go to school for it and get all the education you can for it. When i came in, i didn't know about guarenteed jobs. I went to bmt and atc was first on my list, but i got security forces. Although now i love my job. Don't let the recruiter jerk you around and lie to you.
2007-07-13 22:50:26 · answer #4 · answered by Sherri 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Air force would have the best life style, but army atc isn't bad either. I'm not sure about the af, but the army gives atc guys a 300 a month bonus, just something to think about.
2007-07-14 15:34:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was Army and my daughter went in the AF as ATC. High school diploma only.
Basic at Lackland, then school at Biloxi.
Then stationed at Spangdalem AFB in Germany. Its learn as you go. You have to qualify on every aircraft, but you only get to qualify on whjat that base has. She qualified on A-10's and F-16's
From there she went to Del Rio texas, again re-qualifiying on the same planes. You don't just show up and start, they check you out all over again.
Then she went to Whiteman in Missouri where the Stealth Bombers are. Again re-qualifying on A-10's and F-16's.
She did 6 years and made Staff Sgt in 5, but it jst wasn't her cup of tea.
And she is not a person good with stress, but she loved it. Go figure.
2007-07-17 19:44:41 · answer #6 · answered by GRUMPY 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the USAF is a good way to get ATC, but the Army also has ATC and it can be guaranteed to you in writing during the contracting process. Check your options and check with both branches to see who offers the bigger bonus (Army) and will put it in writing for you up front (Army).
2007-07-17 21:21:30 · answer #7 · answered by Mike A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definately! Just make sure you talk to your recruiter and get a guaranteed job for ATC. If you don't, you'll end up with a job that you'll totally hate, like being a cook.
2007-07-13 23:36:56 · answer #8 · answered by DH 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋