Hi! I am looking to attend Mt. SAC in fall 2010 and had a few questions that I hope some of you may be able to answer before I get started…
Are my chances of becoming employed in CA improved by attending a college in CA?
What are the chances of relocation if necessary?
How much say do I have in employment location?
Is one school better than another in terms of starting salary, job placement, etc.?
Does PATCO have a say in placement?
Do most students get hired right away assuming good standing throughout the program?
I didn’t go to Mt Sac, but I was a CTI student several years ago and am currently an FAA controller. . .
Going to school in CA won’t help you get hired in CA. When it comes time to apply, you have the option of applying only to CA if that’s what you prefer. It may take longer to get hired, but I don’t think it will. In 2006, I was offered Santa Monica, CA, and I had picked 4 other states as well as CA.
If you apply to other states and accept a job there, you will have to move there (obviously). The hiring procedures change from time-to-time, but if you pick CA, you will probably not have a problem getting hired into CA. Just don’t pick NY if you aren’t willing to move there. If you want to get hired the fastest and don’t care where you go, pick 5 states with a lot of FAA facilities.
Everyone starts in the FAA at the same pay rate. The location offered also has nothing to do with where you went to school. The FAA does not care where you completed the CTI program, just that you did it.
PATCO represents a handful of contract towers. NATCA is the union that represents FAA controllers. NATCA has no say in the hiring process and can’t really do too much for you until you have completed your training at the academy and arrived at your duty location. Even they, they are limited until you’ve completed a 1 year probationary period (I would still recommend joining on day 1 at your facility, though, the other benefits are worth it).
I graduated from my CTI program in May of 2006. I was offered the job in November of 2006, and I started at the academy in February 2007.
For tons of information, check out www.stuckmic.com . It’s a forum geared towards future and current air traffic controllers with tons of good information for people in your situation. I don’t want to take you away from flightaware though, so keep coming here, too!
