FSS jobs in Alaska

Do you know what pay is like?
$40,038 plus substantial per diem at the Academy in Kenai, $54,472 when you graduate and start training at your facility, $73,518 when you certify on Flight Data and Preflight, and $79,869 when you certify on Inflight.
 
$40,038 plus substantial per diem at the Academy in Kenai, $54,472 when you graduate and start training at your facility, $73,518 when you certify on Flight Data and Preflight, and $79,869 when you certify on Inflight.

When you did AT basics last year, was it virtual? Or in OK?
 
Do you know what pay is like?
I'd like to add, BASE is 79. That doesn't account for holidays, night/Sunday differential, or OT. We're really short handed right now, so because of that, it's not uncommon for people here to hit 110. And even with the few new hires coming in, there's still going to ample opportunity to make good money.
 
I'd like to add, BASE is 79. That doesn't account for holidays, night/Sunday differential, or OT. We're really short handed right now, so because of that, it's not uncommon for people here to hit 110. And even with the few new hires coming in, there's still going to ample opportunity to make good money.
What's the situation for FCT up there? My ATM says they will hire prior experience ATC instantly and pay was at $50/hr because of the need
 
Is the Alaska bid generally easier to get hired into than the nationwide atc opening?
The entire application/testing process is identical because both jobs are coded as 2152. MAYBE there's some behind the scenes stuff that I don't know about, like lowering the passing threshold, on the ATSA for FSS, but I cant imagine anyone in D.C. going through the effort of implementing something like that.
 
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What's the situation for FCT up there? My ATM says they will hire prior experience ATC instantly and pay was at $50/hr because of the need
I know a lot of FCTs are short staffed, but I also know of some low time controllers with CTOs that have gotten picked up and used it as a stepping stone. All the negatives of low staffing of course, but I'm not sure about the pay. Four FCTs in the state that I'm aware of. Kenai, Bethel, King Salmon, and Kodiak. Kenai being the only one on the road system.
 
Ahhhh gotcha! So, I will say that there are other things you can do, however the FAA words certain supervisor/training specialist bids to sort of exclude FSS people from applying to them. “...must have at least 52 weeks of experience in an ATO facility,” which flight service is not. Some people have gone to different regional ops centers around the country, a few to other facilities as support specialists, but yeah if you wanna stay on the ops floor, it’s Alaska only.
It’s unfortunately in a grey zone of rules. There’s no official staffing but even if there was, my guess/opinion is that NATCA/FAA would still find a way to exclude FSS from ERRing, even though you’d not be getting the same options other union members are. You CAN however on occasion move between different flight service stations, like between the 3 hubs, if you wanted to. There’s rules, but as a former colleague said, “rules are rules...until they become inconvenient.”
Adub:
No. ATS Sup positions require previous area or facility certification in an ATS facility. They word bids, even QA bids, specifically to exclude FSS... Even if you're QA in FSS. You can get to a regional supervisor role and then go back down, but otherwise, it's not possible.

I'm a newbie to the forums and wanted to continue these two posts from those who have more experience.
If I understand this correctly, the 2152 FSS Alaska Option is a job in which you are pretty much stuck at?
There is no career progression for someone who wants to make the leap to "ATC" or 'sup' or 'support staff' at the level of terminal, enroute, or even the command center? And this is because FSS AK is not consider an ATO facility...

How difficult is it to get into a regional office then? Has anyone done it?
 
Adub:


I'm a newbie to the forums and wanted to continue these two posts from those who have more experience.
If I understand this correctly, the 2152 FSS Alaska Option is a job in which you are pretty much stuck at?
There is no career progression for someone who wants to make the leap to "ATC" or 'sup' or 'support staff' at the level of terminal, enroute, or even the command center? And this is because FSS AK is not consider an ATO facility...

How difficult is it to get into a regional office then? Has anyone done it?
From my limited experience:
Same job code with OPM in Washington. You retire with the same benefits and have the same pay schedules. But organizationally FSS controllers are not getting the same qualifications required as ATC controllers. You'd have to wait for someone in the FAA to probably answer the other questions :coffee:. Within the NAS, FSS and ATC do different jobs which is why so many people say they are not the same.

TL;DR FSS do non-control work, ATC control aircraft. To go ATC from FSS you have to leave the FAA and either get a CTO or deal with OTS hiring. To go FSS as ATC you leave the FAA and apply.
 
From my limited experience:
Same job code with OPM in Washington. You retire with the same benefits and have the same pay schedules. But organizationally FSS controllers are not getting the same qualifications required as ATC controllers. You'd have to wait for someone in the FAA to probably answer the other questions :coffee:. Within the NAS, FSS and ATC do different jobs which is why so many people say they are not the same.

TL;DR FSS do non-control work, ATC control aircraft. To go ATC from FSS you have to leave the FAA and either get a CTO or deal with OTS hiring. To go FSS as ATC you leave the FAA and apply.
Or just have NATCA fix ncept like they said they would for fss
 
From my limited experience:
Same job code with OPM in Washington. You retire with the same benefits and have the same pay schedules. But organizationally FSS controllers are not getting the same qualifications required as ATC controllers. You'd have to wait for someone in the FAA to probably answer the other questions :coffee:. Within the NAS, FSS and ATC do different jobs which is why so many people say they are not the same.

TL;DR FSS do non-control work, ATC control aircraft. To go ATC from FSS you have to leave the FAA and either get a CTO or deal with OTS hiring. To go FSS as ATC you leave the FAA and apply.
It is unfortunate. So basically with FSS you put your time in and be done in 20 years minimum (doing the same thing for years) or try to look for other opportunities elsewhere (in the FAA or government) once you have some time build (if you went the FSS route) but actual terminal or enroute are not an option (including staff or sup positions).
 
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