Hiring Bid Air Traffic Control Specialist - Trainee: FAA-ATO-17-ALLSRCE-53474

[boots]

I don't believe basics counts for seniority at all. But that is a long debated topic.

I believe he just meant time in the agency.

 

[LEAD004]

I don't believe basics counts for seniority at all. But that is a long debated topic.

Well, all I have to say is that my Service Comp Date is day 1 at the academy... which, for me, was day 1 of Basics. This is what my facility bases seniority off of. If you didn't attend the academy, then those people have a Service Comp Date of day 1 at our facility.

 

[boots]

Where could one find this basics assessment?

It's gone.

 

[LEAD004]

Where could one find this basics assessment?

Well, I did attach some images to show you how to get to it, but I just tried the link and the page is gone. It use to be "http://atbasics.faa.gov" and you could look at the study guide and take the 1-1.5 hour long assessment to go with. I guess they got rid of it. sorry about that, it was a great tool IMO.

 

[breakaway2000]

Well, all I have to say is that my Service Comp Date is day 1 at the academy... which, for me, was day 1 of Basics. This is what my facility bases seniority off of. If you didn't attend the academy, then those people have a Service Comp Date of day 1 at our facility.

I can assure you your facility does not use service comp date as your seniority date in terms of bidding schedule and leave. It's the third tiebreak.

There are two individual seniority dates that are important.
Service Comp Date - The day you start at the academy. It factors into your retirement, FERS, probationary period, etc.
Cumulative Bargaining Unit Time - The day you enter the bargaining unit at your first facility. This date is used for bidding yearly schedules, leave, etc.

You can view your facilities seniority on web scheduler or via portal.natca.org.

Via the NATCA national constitution...

Section 1. The following shall be used to determine seniority for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
a) Cumulative NATCA Bargaining Unit Time;
b) First Tie Breaker: NATCA Bargaining Unit Time;
c) Second Tie Breaker: EOD/FAA;
d) Third Tie Breaker: SCD;
e) Fourth Tie Breaker: Lottery. The lottery shall be determined at the local level.

 

[LEAD004]

I can assure you your facility does not use service comp date as your seniority date in terms of bidding schedule and leave. It's the third tiebreak.

There are two individual seniority dates that are important.
Service Comp Date - The day you start at the academy. It factors into your retirement, FERS, probationary period, etc.
Cumulative Bargaining Unit Time - The day you enter the bargaining unit at your first facility. This date is used for bidding yearly schedules, leave, etc.

You can view your facilities seniority on web scheduler or via portal.natca.org.

Via the NATCA national constitution...

Section 1. The following shall be used to determine seniority for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
a) Cumulative NATCA Bargaining Unit Time;
b) First Tie Breaker: NATCA Bargaining Unit Time;
c) Second Tie Breaker: EOD/FAA;
d) Third Tie Breaker: SCD;
e) Fourth Tie Breaker: Lottery. The lottery shall be determined at the local level.

I just looked at WMT.. my "NATCA date" is the first one listed, followed by a "tie breaker date." My "NATCA date" is day 1 at the academy and my "tie breaker date" is day 1 at my facility. Everyone's seems to be off a little. Ie.) a guy that got to our facility a few months before me has that date as his "NATCA date" and the following day as his "tie breaker date." Most people's seems to be like mine though.

How do we get this sorted out?

 

[AB19]

Is AT basics mostly just plane identification and such? I remember the email they sent me saying what each part of the 5 weeks is, but that just seems like such a bore for someone who already knows phraseology

 

[LEAD004]

Is AT basics mostly just plane identification and such? I remember the email they sent me saying what each part of the 5 weeks is, but that just seems like such a bore for someone who already knows phraseology

Basics was a blend of a lot of stuff. You will get a bunch of material that you go over in class. Each book that you get has different lessons/chapters covering different topics and at the end of Basics you'll have a cumulative test covering all of it. You'll go over everything AT related.. weather, navaids, aircraft types, coordinstion, positions, position relief briefings, phraseology, wake turbulence, etc.. literally everything applicable to this job. The ELTs (end of lesson tests) are a good way to test what you're retaining. You can always make flashcards or study sheets once you get your material to make it easier to study. The books you get are yours to keep. You can write and highlight until your heart's content.

 

[breakaway2000]

I just looked at WMT.. my "NATCA date" is the first one listed, followed by a "tie breaker date." My "NATCA date" is day 1 at the academy and my "tie breaker date" is day 1 at my facility. Everyone's seems to be off a little. Ie.) a guy that got to our facility a few months before me has that date as his "NATCA date" and the following day as his "tie breaker date." Most people's seems to be like mine though.

How do we get this sorted out?

If I were you, I'd never mention it to anyone lol. Somebody made a mistake inputting the data. Depending on the region (shockingly some regions track this differently), your NATCA date would adjust to the Sunday or Monday of the first pay period you were officially at your facility. I'd sit back and enjoy it and pray it stays with you if/when you transfer. It might not make a difference (+/- 2-3 months) at your current facility, but could make the world of difference down the road. You hear stories of people missing out on their ideal days off for a decade due to a week of seniority difference.

 

[LEAD004]

If I were you, I'd never mention it to anyone lol. Somebody made a mistake inputting the data. Depending on the region (shockingly some regions track this differently), your NATCA date would adjust to the Sunday or Monday of the first pay period you were officially at your facility. I'd sit back and enjoy it and pray it stays with you if/when you transfer. It might not make a difference (+/- 2-3 months) at your current facility, but could make the world of difference down the road. You hear stories of people missing out on their ideal days off for a decade due to a week of seniority difference.

Haha, gotcha. There's always been confusion at my facility so now I see why. So, your "cumulative natca date" should realistically be the first day at your facility, OR is it the first day of the pay period in which you started at your facility? Depends on the region?

 

[MJ]

Where could one find this basics assessment?

Is AT basics mostly just plane identification and such? I remember the email they sent me saying what each part of the 5 weeks is, but that just seems like such a bore for someone who already knows phraseology

It wasn't updated for years, and eventually they just removed it. However, there is this....

 

[WorldsGreatest]

It wasn't updated for years, and eventually they just removed it. However, there is this....

Awesome. I won’t mess with that until the academy though, if I make it through the CIL process.

 

[Southern]

So I saw someone on Reddit had said something about finding a place to live using a website like apartments dot com. Are we allowed to find places to live using our own methods? It seems to be MUCH cheaper to find your own place vs renting with the per diem and paying the full ~$57 per day.

Are there any rules against this? Like if I find a cheaper place to live could I pocket the per diem not used as long as I pay up front and have the FAA reimburse me the full amount minus whatever I pay for the apartment plus food?

 

[breakaway2000]

So I saw someone on Reddit had said something about finding a place to live using a website like apartments dot com. Are we allowed to find places to live using our own methods? It seems to be MUCH cheaper to find your own place vs renting with the per diem and paying the full ~$57 per day.

Are there any rules against this? Like if I find a cheaper place to live could I pocket the per diem not used as long as I pay up front and have the FAA reimburse me the full amount minus whatever I pay for the apartment plus food?

The only rule that I'm aware of is the room has to be publicly available to rent. For instance, you couldn't live with a family member or friend for $0. You can find a place on craigslist, airbnb, apartments.com, etc. Simply save a copy of the public advertisement, then your landlord will be responsible for filling out a few forms. You'll get the full per diem. I found a guy on craigslist and ended up pocketing ~3k when all was said and done. There's a reason Kim started out with one Duplex and now borderline owns the whole neighborhood, she makes a killing.

 

[Southern]

The only rule that I'm aware of is the room has to be publicly available to rent. For instance, you couldn't live with a family member or friend for $0. You can find a place on craigslist, airbnb, apartments.com, etc. Simply save a copy of the public advertisement, then your landlord will be responsible for filling out a few forms. You'll get the full per diem. I found a guy on craigslist and ended up pocketing ~3k when all was said and done. There's a reason Kim started out with one Duplex and now borderline owns the whole neighborhood, she makes a killing.

Okay so there is nothing explicitly saying you cannot pocket unused per diem, good to know! My wife and I are expecting baby #2 so literally anything I can save would be phenomenal. I was already considering eating ramen noodles to save more LOL!

 

[AB19]

Okay so there is nothing explicitly saying you cannot pocket unused per diem, good to know! My wife and I are expecting baby #2 so literally anything I can save would be phenomenal. I was already considering eating ramen noodles to save more LOL!

Pretty sure Kims place has an option that lets you keep about 600 a month alone in your housing per diem

 

[jyuuu]

i thought you two were the same guy until this string of posts, i should start looking at usernames
being able to pocket the per diem is nice and all but i wouldnt overlook the value of being able to go next door to study with classmates! that extra money isnt going to be worth much if you end up having to go back home with your tail between your legs

 

[Southern]

That’s the funny part though, I found the FAA apartments online for cheaper than what is on their website. IB was on there idk about Kim’s place but once the FOL is here and I get a class date you can bet I’ll be asking around for study partners & room mates!

 

[Schu04]

That’s the funny part though, I found the FAA apartments online for cheaper than what is on their website. IB was on there idk about Kim’s place but once the FOL is here and I get a class date you can bet I’ll be asking around for study partners & room mates!

I saw a bunch of places on craigslist that looked pretty decent for $25 or so a day. Basically a single family house with each room rented. Looked pretty solid to me.

 

[AB19]

I saw a bunch of places on craigslist that looked pretty decent for $25 or so a day. Basically a single family house with each room rented. Looked pretty solid to me.

Yeah, I get wanting to make the most money, but Kims has an option for just 37 a day and you get to be right next to the academy

i thought you two were the same guy until this string of posts, i should start looking at usernames
being able to pocket the per diem is nice and all but i wouldnt overlook the value of being able to go next door to study with classmates! that extra money isnt going to be worth much if you end up having to go back home with your tail between your legs

This

I saw a bunch of places on craigslist that looked pretty decent for $25 or so a day. Basically a single family house with each room rented. Looked pretty solid to me.

If you got enroute and don't study hard you're gonna fail. Terminal on the other hand is easy as hell