At what point is one officially an air traffic controller?

SkyPapi

Trusted Contributor
FAA
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141
Facility
ZLA Los Angeles Center
Given all of the training involved, I figured it'd be somewhat official once you receive your first facility assignment. I wanted to pick the brains of actual controllers to get an impression if controller culture would indicate otherwise (e.g. upon certification).

I am no doubt getting ahead of myself here, but I love a dangling carrot. So at what point, in your guys' opinion, would it be prudent to change my LinkedIn, buy a pilot watch, and make aviation my entire personality?
 
Depends on who your audience is.
If it's an average Joe on the street, as soon as you get access to the building and a DOT badge, you are a controller.
If it's a pilot, as soon as you get to talk on the radio, you are a controller.
If it's your friends/family, once you CPC.
If it's anyone with more seniority than you, you'll always just be the dumb trainee who gets to work on their own after a santa claus check ride.
 
Depends on who your audience is.
If it's an average Joe on the street, as soon as you get access to the building and a DOT badge, you are a controller.
If it's a pilot, as soon as you get to talk on the radio, you are a controller.
If it's your friends/family, once you CPC.
If it's anyone with more seniority than you, you'll always just be the dumb trainee who gets to work on their own after a santa claus check ride.
lol this is actually pretty good
 
When you can work a control position by yourself
^this. As soon as you get a position, you get an FAA credential saying you’re “qualified to exercise the privileges of air traffic control specialist.” At that point, you’re working alone, making controller decisions, and it’s all on your ticket. If you fuck up, you’re filling out the ATSAP and being called into the office. To me, that clearly means you’re an Air Traffic Controller. Now whether you become area rated is another story.
 
After you finalize your first divorce

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Given all of the training involved, I figured it'd be somewhat official once you receive your first facility assignment. I wanted to pick the brains of actual controllers to get an impression if controller culture would indicate otherwise (e.g. upon certification).

I am no doubt getting ahead of myself here, but I love a dangling carrot. So at what point, in your guys' opinion, would it be prudent to change my LinkedIn, buy a pilot watch, and make aviation my entire personality?
When you go to the doctor and tick the box that says 14+ drinks/week on the medical history form
 
Depends on who your audience is.
If it's an average Joe on the street, as soon as you get access to the building and a DOT badge, you are a controller.
If it's a pilot, as soon as you get to talk on the radio, you are a controller.
If it's your friends/family, once you CPC.
If it's anyone with more seniority than you, you'll always just be the dumb trainee who gets to work on their own after a santa claus check ride.
This is the correct answer.
 
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