No, and full disclosure I don’t know ALL the ins and outs of going back as an atc, but I’m saying if you’re trying to go to a competitive or high-level facility, natca and/or management may select from ncept first because they’re gargling the NEB’s and NCEPT’s balls…. and then after that say they’re full so you can’t get there.
The process to go back is largely through networking and HR. If there’s a facility with a slot, your 3 yrs are up, and you network with the atm and have your ducks in a row with HR (yes it takes some legwork, the faa doesn’t just give you a list of vacancies) then you can get anywhere really. I think ncept has more to do with staffing #’s and releases.. which then turns into selections, but these okc instructor jobs aren’t in the ATO and ncept applies specifically to the ATO.
There is a little gray area since most ATM’s will try to hold you to the ncept policy and you might have to do some work fighting to get released. Leaving to another position per HR is typically 2 pay periods or something reasonable that you negotiate but If your manager tells the hiring manager it’s a 1-2 year release date and the receiving manager agrees to that then you’re going to really have to fight to get them to honor the HR policy (or something less than 1-2 yrs.) Someone out there had to get their congressman involved to honor this.
You don’t necessarily have to go back to your region if you can find another job elsewhere, you’re just guaranteed something in your region. If you don’t put the work to find something you want then you prob won’t like where you end up. And whether atc or non-atc position there doesn’t necessarily have to be a bid out for it there just has to be an ‘empty chair’ so to speak. Also people who want to stay in that okc position can usually get the three years extended 1-2 or possibly made permanent, or switch to some other okc faa job. These bids say instructor but it’s evaluator duties fyi. Might teach one class/year.
