32andBelow
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They get paid a lot compared to a flight attendant.
2 job offers - need advice
- Thread starter Conflicted in Aviation
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- N90 New York Tracon
Seriously? I'm having a hard time trying to comprehend how anyone would even hesitate for one second to take an ATC job because of an offer to be an FA.
Then again, anyone that doesn't have ATC as their one and only career goal, probably shouldn't be an ATC. Go take the FA job, and leave the ATC job for somebody that truly wants it!
Not all ATC jobs are paid the same. Yes, there's other jobs that pay more, but how many jobs out there that have the pay and benefits of an ATC job don't require a college degree? or even a masters? A lot of the guys I worked with at N90 were hired either directly from the Air Force, or off the street (I was off the street) and nothing more than a high school diploma. I was grossing over 300k a year (with overtime) for my last 5 years on the job (well over 200k for the last 15). Took early retirement with a near 6 figure pension. There is no FA job in the world that can even come close to that.
I have a highly educated wife that has a masters degree and is an HR executive at a very large national laboratory, and after 25 years of work experience, and grinding through the corporate ladder she's finally getting close to catching up to my last year as active ATC salary. I know a lot of people with degrees that are just barely over 6 figures, and they're working for big companies.
If the OP has a useful bacherlors or masters, sure....there's likely other high paying opportunities out there, but if not........ I highly doubt that a better opportunity will come up. Certainly not as an FA.
Then again, anyone that doesn't have ATC as their one and only career goal, probably shouldn't be an ATC. Go take the FA job, and leave the ATC job for somebody that truly wants it!
Not all ATC jobs are paid the same. Yes, there's other jobs that pay more, but how many jobs out there that have the pay and benefits of an ATC job don't require a college degree? or even a masters? A lot of the guys I worked with at N90 were hired either directly from the Air Force, or off the street (I was off the street) and nothing more than a high school diploma. I was grossing over 300k a year (with overtime) for my last 5 years on the job (well over 200k for the last 15). Took early retirement with a near 6 figure pension. There is no FA job in the world that can even come close to that.
I have a highly educated wife that has a masters degree and is an HR executive at a very large national laboratory, and after 25 years of work experience, and grinding through the corporate ladder she's finally getting close to catching up to my last year as active ATC salary. I know a lot of people with degrees that are just barely over 6 figures, and they're working for big companies.
If the OP has a useful bacherlors or masters, sure....there's likely other high paying opportunities out there, but if not........ I highly doubt that a better opportunity will come up. Certainly not as an FA.
Conflicted in Aviation
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I have a BS degree in marketing. I just don’t want a desk job and hate the soul-sucking 9-5. Ideally, I could do both ATC/FA jobs but the FAA prohibits dual-employment :/
Robert_Boucher
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They actually don't prohibit dual employment, in some locations people have to get a second job just to make ends meet. In your situation the FAA would allow you to be an FA because it's a conflict of interest. They wouldn't want you giving special treat to whatever airline you work for.
Conflicted in Aviation
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Makes sense. For academy training, you cannot be dual-employed. So that’s why I assumed ATCs can’t be dual-employed either
Mike Kilo
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Do you have a class date yet? If not you might as well start the FA and see how you like it. Maybe you’ll hate it and it will be an easy choice. If you do have a class date I would probably let ATC play out through the academy and hold off on the FA which you can probably reapply to down the road. Letting academy play out will at least show you where you would start your career and whether enroute or tower. Don’t like any locations on the list you can just bow out and hit up the FA again.
Conflicted in Aviation
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I was completely cleared for the Academy in October. I am still waiting for an academy date. Those who were cleared in March 2021 are just now getting to the academy in November/December 2021.
So I am thinking I won’t go to the academy until late spring or summer 2022. I could be wrong.
Hired by the legacy airline on 11/8/21. Flight attendant training would be 12/6/21. Graduation in late January 2022
I am also scared of failing the Academy and being back at zero, I’m not worried about passing FA training. I’m sure it has its challenges, but it is far more passable than ATC.
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Mike Kilo
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So you could potentially have 5 months of FA experience to judge by the time an academy date comes along.
Robert_Boucher
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Yeah I'd go with FA since you've got a date set and it seems like your almost guaranteed to graduate. If think it's worth risking your FA job for a shot at the FA down the road then make that call. I personally wouldn't risk a dream job just for a shot with the FAA if you aren't 100% into it.
Edit to add I just remembered I had a guy in my class that was an FA at the time and the airline let him take a leave of absence then he quit when he passed the FAA. Maybe that's an option for you, he was at a regional airline if it makes a difference.
Edit to add I just remembered I had a guy in my class that was an FA at the time and the airline let him take a leave of absence then he quit when he passed the FAA. Maybe that's an option for you, he was at a regional airline if it makes a difference.
steakvendor
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Be aware that you’re asking for input on an ATC forum, so you’re going to get quite a bias here.
That “toxic work environment “ comment is so spot on but rarely mentioned
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- ZLA Los Angeles Center
I’m also preemployment, so I don’t have any actual insight on the job itself. That being said, this is likely your one opportunity to pursue air traffic control. I’m not saying getting an offer as an FA is easy, but I’m certain that you could find another job if things didn’t work out at OKC, especially with the training you’ll have in your pocket by the time a class date comes around.
It makes sense to accept your offer for FA at this time. By the time your offer materializes with the FAA, you should have at least a couple months of experience under your belt to determine whether or not FA is all its cracked up to be. Your offer will also include your track, so if career trajectory is a big concern, you can make your decisions accordingly when the time comes.
For what it’s worth, I have an okay desk job right now. I didn’t necessarily have dreams of being an engineering technician or anything, but it’s about as good as it gets for someone with my credentials. While the prospect of going to OKC and failing is certainly a concern, I think the FOMO from playing it safe would induce overwhelming regret.
Either way, best of luck.
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If you ever bring it up, you’re a snowflake. I’d say that is the worst thing about this job vs the schedule
TushingPin
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people sleeping on the overall stress of the job. Majority of controllers dont have a problem controlling it/handling it, but its there. Always there.
Conflicted in Aviation
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So someone from my bid was just notified by his/her HR rep to look out for a March 2022 class date.
I cleared before him.
FA training graduation would be late Jan 2022.
I am considering going to FA training and then requesting a "personal leave of absence".
Probation is 6 months long. They grant up to 6 months for personal leave.
However, there is no guarantee of approval. If they approve it, I'd use that leave to go to the Academy and see what happens. If I fail Academy, then I can request to return back to "active duty" for the airline.
Is this unnecessary? Am I doing too much lol.
Ideally, I would complete the 6 months probation with the airline, become a permanent employee, and then request leave and go to the Academy. I would really appreciate not having to go through the hiring process with the airline all over again. 40k applicants, only 1k are being hired.
However, I have no idea and no hope that the Academy would hold out an offer for me and let me go to the Academy in July/August 2022.
ugh 🙁
I cleared before him.
FA training graduation would be late Jan 2022.
I am considering going to FA training and then requesting a "personal leave of absence".
Probation is 6 months long. They grant up to 6 months for personal leave.
However, there is no guarantee of approval. If they approve it, I'd use that leave to go to the Academy and see what happens. If I fail Academy, then I can request to return back to "active duty" for the airline.
Is this unnecessary? Am I doing too much lol.
Ideally, I would complete the 6 months probation with the airline, become a permanent employee, and then request leave and go to the Academy. I would really appreciate not having to go through the hiring process with the airline all over again. 40k applicants, only 1k are being hired.
However, I have no idea and no hope that the Academy would hold out an offer for me and let me go to the Academy in July/August 2022.
ugh 🙁
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Phanatical
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I would talk to HR, but I do not believe the agency allows dual employment while at the academy. Also, it’s generally very difficult (not impossible) to have outside aviation employment approved by management in general, even if you would be on leave status.
Mike Kilo
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Do the FA gig to start and see when you get a date when you applied doesn’t necessarily relate to your date as we have seen. The FAA has also allowed people to push their dates back.
Conflicted in Aviation
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I would like to ask the FAA for a delayed start date. However, how far back of a delay will they grant me?
If they ask why, I'm sure I can't say "oh I have a FA offer on the table and I want it as a back-up in case I fail the Academy."
I'm sure that's a conflict of interest, isn't it?
Mike Kilo
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I think you mean a family obligation ?. People talk all the time about delaying just to attend a wedding that’s not even their own lol.
I know of several others that asked for a June-July star because of their kid being in school and there was zero proof required
