1-1-1. No front-page posts relating to the US hiring process

Yesterday I was operating a Florida to west coast trip and noticed that our first Jax center controller was absolutely jammed. She did fantastic working it all and alerting us to ride reports due to “remnants of hurricane Raphael”.

However, our hand off to the next controller was working multiple sectors. And was busy, but not as busy as she was.

How is such a task (working several sectors) decided upon?

Are there restrictions to doing that? If so, what are they?

I’m 27, no background or experience in aviation whatsoever, other than an affinity for the skies. Is it too late for me to get into this? The extent of my academic career is a high school diploma. In my state, there is a collegiate program at one of the community colleges. In theory the program takes two years, would that be enough? Would it be worth it? Is something like this even possible?

Basically what I’m asking is, is it even possible for someone at my age to go from absolute zero to having a shot at something on the FAA‘s job board?

TIA

Has anyone ever gone from US flight service to Canada flight service? Is it possible? If so, how do the jobs differ? Thanks

Hi everyone!… I just wanted to know for those Controllers that are in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam. How was your move? Were you nervous relocating? What’s the best thing about where you’re located? And what’s something you didn’t take into account, until it happened?

Thanks in advance for sharing! ☺️ I just wanna hear y’all’s stories 😁

Didn’t know this until Mr. Indy center said it on freq the other day. Is this true? Why?

Pilot perspective- 3 general reasons why I am only doing 500 fpm:

1. High altitude enroute- more comfortable for the pax and more gradual.

2. You told me to go down and slow down and I’m trying to compromise.

3. I’m trying to miss a TCU that a normal descent/climb would send me into.

Otherwise I’ll generally give 1-2k fpm down.

Bonus question: how many FPM is considered expediting up or down?

How long does it take to move through the CPC pay band once you’re fully checked out? About to get my list and need some insight as it will help with my decision on where I’d like to go. Thanks.

Anyone know what's going on with the Purple Book contract negotiations now that Trump got elected? I know they paused ratification until after the election to see if they should continue with next admin or just keep what they got so far, but I haven't heard anything in a while and was wondering if there's any kind of update.

Question for Potomac TRACON. I fly out of GAI and some CFIs have been suggesting that instead of an SFRA flight plan and then requesting flight following when we pick up our squawk, to instead file an IFR flight plan and put "For VFR Flight Following" in the comments. We would then use this to exit the SFRA and already have flight following ready to go.

Is this an acceptable or even desired practice? I know that you don't like us to wait until we're in the air to ask for flight following as then the SFRA controller has to go to another position to enter everything (I believe).

Hello! I found some photos on the internet which showed flight strips used in Norway. Some parts of the strips are barely readable. The yellow/orange strips are arrival strips, while the blue ones are departure strips. What does the text in the upper right corner of the arrival strips (yellow) say? Also, in the departure strips, what does WAR and VA 1 / VA 2 mean? Appreciate all help!

Can't upload the photo to reddit (reddit won't let me upload both photos), so here is a link to the photos instead: https://ibb.co/DLMG6C7

Im about to finish the Irish equivlent of high school and had the idea to move to amarica to study for 4 years, work for 1 after and then apply for a citzenship and then applying to become ATC

I know the realistic thing would just be to become an air traffic controller in Ireland but this is a dream I've had for a while

I'd love some advice if this is feasible or from anyone who's tryed somthing like this.

Im currently a softmore in high school and had found ATC as a good job idea. I have really good grades, and from past career testers, ATC has always come up. Are there any things I should look out for if i want to become an ATC, and is there any advice you have to ensure i can get the job? Or general advice?

Also, I saw the manditory retirement at 56, and that seems a little early to me. I can see why they do that, but I am wondering, after doing ATC for years, are there later careers or jobs to take?

For those on 6 day work weeks I’m sorry… what is your favorite RDO?!

From NORCAL, goal is to transfer to tracon asap, would like to be near family but dont know if its really even possible with this list

I know nobody’s a financial expert and most of us are just crayon eating controllers, but realistically, what’s the smart play for our TSP in this first year of Trump? G and I fund?

Trying to get other opinions on this one. IFR C172 shooting an RNAV approach to runway 15, says it's going to be a touch and go and come back to radar. Controller gives runway heading and a climb to 8000, change to advisory frequency approved.

The pattern is fairly busy with people using runway 33. The C172 circles to runway 33, does a touch and go, comes off heading 330 climbing to 8000. Off runway 33, we have to assign 350 or greater due to terrain, so the 330 heading is an error.

There are no circling mins published. Only LNAV. E airspace all the way to the ground when tower is closed.

Controller brashers the pilot, pilot says he had to comply with the traffic pattern.

QA says controller error. Pilot is allowed to do what they need to do to comply with local pattern. Others argue it's controlled airspace all the way to the ground. Pilot should have went missed and flown runway heading to the south. Referencing 91.175.

Here is the plate. What are your thoughts?

https://aeronav.faa.gov/d-tpp/2411/05677R15.PDF

Over the past week there has been numerous internal and external communication failures.

Happening currently . Newark radio failure all flights grounded. Internal Comm issues at N90 also. How’s the upcoming Thanksgiving travel weekend going to look? Radio AND RADAR failures? This is unacceptable. @AirplaneCentral @FAANews @united @UnitedPilots @EWRairport @AINonline

https://x.com/metropolitanatc/status/1854547214963503172?s=46

Radar issues haven’t been fixed during peak traffic. Comms issues are happening regularly with no fixes. This upcoming peak travel weekend will potentially end up in the perfect storm of failures: RADAR and radio failure.

——————-

Last night:

Total radio failure at Newark Sector in Philly currently. Planes NORDO all over NY airspace shutting down LGA and JFK also. @FAANews doesn’t care about safety as they continue to attempt to keep this move alive. @AviationNews @united @UnitedPilots @AINonline

https://x.com/metropolitanatc/status/1854336053705842734?s=46

———

10/28

Last night landline comms at the Newark Area in Philly went down with override issues. Ground stops issued. Unk cause. Just add it to the list of this unsafe, inefficient and ineffective facility move. These problems will continue to get worse. @united @UnitedPilots @EWRairport

https://x.com/metropolitanatc/status/1851271825038180679?s=46

How likely would it be to get in if im 18, meet all the requirements, and apply to the bid?

Hi I'm an atc looking for positions that hire international candidates. Thinking of HK or Middle east and was curious about how they proceed with APC. Can anyone share? I assume it must be difficult with the heavy traffic they operate... Thanks.

Everyone was put into holding for nearly an hour and change. Someone said that it was some kind of equipment outage?

Did something change recently which forces GPS capable airplanes to follow T routes, even when a simpler/shorter flight path exists using victor ariways, or off route between waypoints?

When I file a VOR victor airway IFR route to destination it usually gets rejected and I get assigned an unpredictable and sometimes wild route involving GPS airways.

Any thoughts on how the recent election will affect us?

Read an article saying that he is trying to privatize ATC

G'day,

Got my emails yesterday for the initial entrance tests. I was expecting the SHL tests. Any tips on how to prepare for these new ones and as they come in three emails, were you able to do them at different times or all at once?

Oh you thought it was a 15% pay raise? Sorry fuckers, but be sure to grab your NATCA themed drink-ware now at 15% off! Just in time for the holidays!

It certainly seems everyone’s outlook for the future here isn’t positive. But as someone who finished their CIL and is expecting academy dates soon (and has little idea what the election results mean for ATC), putting emotion aside, what would your honest opinion be for someone pursuing this career? I was all in on it and ready to leave for academy soon and now wondering if I should reconsider.

Joining Air Force and would like to know fundamentals of how it works would like any words of advice before I sign a contract. Aside from good money and stressful situations what else am I to look for

How likely the fatigue mou and OT mou gets terminated when Trump takes over? The FAA administrator said to slow down the traffic and close airspace if there isn’t enough staffing. I would bet that it would get terminated.

Because of current events and the fact that republicans now have more than half the senate/house to support it…. I read up on trumps plans to privatize ATC- which they give the why’s and how it would supposedly make The NAS cheaper for government to run and supposedly more efficient, but how would that affect us controllers day to day functions? Lay offs? Salary? Facility Reassignment? Breaks?