Yeah ive thought about it. But i meant like KATL from what ive heard through the controllee grapvine. PDK isnt really a feeder facility into KATL. I was trying to get to MEM as a pit stop or maybe STL.
Stuck in a holding pattern at a facility
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CaptainObvious
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I don’t think pipelines are really a thing anymore
Maintainvfr
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This is so wrong. First of all the difference in structure and level of difficulty from center to center is staggering, and so is it from tower to tower. To say that no 7 or below tower is more difficult than D sides is just absurd. This goes for up/down as well as VFR towers. If you think washing out of one center and certifying at two small towers somehow gives you enough knowledge base to make a statement like that, you're clueless
Kind of heard a mixed bag on that. A buddy of mine said PHX pulls from the local area a lot.
Center to center is pretty close. Seen a ALBUQUERQUE center to Memphis center transfer. Cert in min hours. Memphis center to Houston Center cert close to min hours. Cleveland Center to Houston Center pretty much the same thing. Airspace changes. You separate all the same. Now tower to tower changes a lot. So does TRACON to TRACON. But not center to much. But maybe my experiences and my friends experiences are off and not normal. I'm not gonna argue that. We are all different
Yeah coworker said to try and get that experince at a mid level before trying to go up to a 12. Kind of have an idea about traffic pushes and procedures you would see at those higher facilities. But at this point with the ERR say just shoot for the stars and train my ass off. Lol.
FightingIrish2012
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Pipelines were never really a thing, we are finally at the point where people no longer pretend that they are (just like the RPI basketball rankings again). The pipeline facility is the one with the best staffing, plain and simple and that is the ONLY thing that matters now.
Is there a difference in structure and level of difficulty from center to center? Yes. Is it staggering? No. Saying "staggering" is a complete exaggeration. Bouncing from one center to another is usually a pretty smooth transition for competent en route controllers. At least it was for the 8 or 9 that i know that have done it. Calling me "clueless" when I have a legitimate point just because you don't agreewith me is a cry baby move
170tovocus
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I've always been surprised that the FAA hasn't tried to introduce some sort of test* to determine if someone is naturally better suited to a terminal or an enroute environment. While there's obviously many people who can and have succeeded in both, I'm sure there are many others who may naturally be much better at one or the other. Considering it's purely random at this point, it seems like they should look into some sort of personality test that you could take during basics that would help decide which path you'll be put on, and I bet the pass rates would rise.
*Trying to resist the urge to say something about IQ tests and tower flowers
*Trying to resist the urge to say something about IQ tests and tower flowers
32andBelow
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Do you want BQ2. This is how you get BQ2
170tovocus
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Keyword: DURING basics. They've already determined they're ATC material by passing the ATSA. This would just decide if they lean strongly toward one track or the other or if they're somewhere in the middle, in which case they can go to either track. In my mind only a small percentage of people would actually lean strongly to one side - the majority of people could probably be equally successful in either track.
I'm pretty sure that's what Obama was trying to do. /s or s/
Maintainvfr
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There are definitely different structures center to center. Look at the ones that have choke points. Someone from one of those wide open centers going to somewhere like ZJX or ZNY is in for a totally different world. Is there also not a big discrepancy between difficult/easy areas in centers? You just separate all the same? A lot of people would beg to differ. I'm not saying center transitions aren't usually easier than terminal, but sweeping generalizations like you made aren't fair to the controllers at the towers and are just plain wrong.
If I called you clueless about a legitimate point I disagree with yeah that would be. But saying NO 7 tower is more difficult than D sides at a center? That's illegitimate and there's not a single person in a position to make such a claim in the first place.
BrocolliRob
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I work at a 5 up/down that has a fixed wing and helicopter flight school, multiple flying clubs, an air national guard base with f16s that fly daily, an airplane manufacturer production facility and a terminal with air carrier traffic. Our traffic is very weather dependent, but on a nice day, we’re mixing f16s in the pattern with c130s doing practice approaches and some kids doing stop and goes on the runway.
I’m not saying it’s the hardest place to work on the planet, but I’m sure busting my ass some days. Sure doesn’t feel like someone at ORD should make 50k more than me but I would surely get my shit kicked in working ground at those big facilities.
I’m not saying it’s the hardest place to work on the planet, but I’m sure busting my ass some days. Sure doesn’t feel like someone at ORD should make 50k more than me but I would surely get my shit kicked in working ground at those big facilities.
I don't think working at a level 5 up/down gives you any reference point for understanding what it's like to work at a place like ORD. They should absolutely be making 50k more than you.
My life is fantastic, thanks for asking.
vectorwagon
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They like if you have radar experience whether it’s a tower w radar, an up/down ideally, maybe a center but tower experience ideally what I was told
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