Enroute Class pass rate

Tracon = Terminal Radar Approach CONtrol

Termine said:

So the only way to get to a radar-only facility is to be assigned Enroute, or go to a tower or up/down and ERR out.

You can get to a TRACON by going to enroute as well. Once you're in the agency, you can transfer to any type of facility you'd like. Most people who transfer to a TRACON do come from small towers because they are just trying to progress their career. Or like myself, you can transfer from a center to a TRACON to get where you want to be. Several people did that from the center I was at in just a span of a couple years.

slim said:

You can get to a TRACON by going to enroute as well. Once you're in the agency, you can transfer to any type of facility you'd like. Most people who transfer to a TRACON do come from small towers because they are just trying to progress their career. Or like myself, you can transfer from a center to a TRACON to get where you want to be. Several people did that from the center I was at in just a span of a couple years.

What made you want to go from center to TRACON? How different is the day-to-day?

PaperAirplane said:

What made you want to go from center to TRACON? How different is the day-to-day?

Purely to be back in the area I grew up for myself, I know same for Slim as well. Can’t speak for him on the day to day but they are both their own different beasts. Lot of aspects I miss about the center (like eram, variety or traffic, bigger facility) but there is aspects I would really miss about TRACON if I ever went back to center.

Both are fun but vastly different. To me for purely controlling, TRACON is a lot more fun, challenging, and satisfying vs the area I was in at zmp

HenryTheAce said:

Purely to be back in the area I grew up for myself, I know same for Slim as well. Can’t speak for him on the day to day but they are both their own different beasts. Lot of aspects I miss about the center (like eram, variety or traffic, bigger facility) but there is aspects I would really miss about TRACON if I ever went back to center.

Both are fun but vastly different. To me for purely controlling, TRACON is a lot more fun, challenging, and satisfying vs the area I was in at zmp

I got assigned Enroute and currently just focusing on passing the academy in that part of 2152... however ngl I've always been a tower princess at heart. working ground and local appeal to me the most but I'll take whatever gets me in ATO to start. Any info on the transition from ARTCC to ATCT?

JulietWhiskey0314 said:

I got assigned Enroute and currently just focusing on passing the academy in that part of 2152... however ngl I've always been a tower princess at heart. working ground and local appeal to me the most but I'll take whatever gets me in ATO to start. Any info on the transition from ARTCC to ATCT?

Keep in mind you will likely get assigned some sh*t facility in a sh*t area 1000+ miles away from home making level 5 pay with little chance of getting out in the next 10 years. Not trying to be rude but lots of tower boners deflate once they see the full career picture.

On the other hand if you get an enroute facility in a location that you can handle living in your entire career, consider that to be basically hitting the jackpot nowadays. Level 11/12 pay your entire career without ever having to worry about the NCEPT?? I also thought that tower would be cool, but I got assigned enroute, then was thrilled when I got ZAU being from the Chicago area, and have actually really enjoyed the job itself, the level 12 pay, and the general vibe of being in a larger facility.

RalphBeast said:

Keep in mind you will likely get assigned some sh*t facility in a sh*t area 1000+ miles away from home making level 5 pay with little chance of getting out in the next 10 years. Not trying to be rude but lots of tower boners deflate once they see the full career picture.

On the other hand if you get an enroute facility in a location that you can handle living in your entire career, consider that to be basically hitting the jackpot nowadays. Level 11/12 pay your entire career without ever having to worry about the NCEPT?? I also thought that tower would be cool, but I got assigned enroute, then was thrilled when I got ZAU being from the Chicago area, and have actually really enjoyed the job itself, the level 12 pay, and the general vibe of being in a larger facility.

That completely makes sense. I'm from Maryland originally so ZDC would be ideal but I wouldn't mind ZHU, ZFW, ZLC, or ZDV. Luckily I got many facilities I'd be open too. ZDC seems to be consistently having 2 slots per class recently.

JulietWhiskey0314 said:

I got assigned Enroute and currently just focusing on passing the academy in that part of 2152... however ngl I've always been a tower princess at heart. working ground and local appeal to me the most but I'll take whatever gets me in ATO to start. Any info on the transition from ARTCC to ATCT?

You nailed it. Focus on passing the academy and whatever first facility you get rocking it out! Once you get to your first Z and have 2 D-Sides under your belt there are options to bail out and go to a tower… but you’ll be at the mercy of the nest list what your options are.

Lot of “what if’s” on the table for the future. Check out, make level 10-12 pay, try and ncept out, take a supervisor job, take a tmu gig, go to command center job (near DC), or intentionally washout/withdraw once you have a few D-Sides.

The main thing is like you said, to get your foot in the door and pass the academy. You can always try and call your aviation careers POC and see if they can switch you to terminal… worse they can say is “no”… but realize when you start terminal, like Ralph said above, you are limiting yourself to level 7 pay and below in lord knows where, could be some place middle of nowhere… center at least are high pay out of the gate and bigger city areas.

Can’t speak for the switch from center to ATCT.. I know a lot who have (a lot not by choice).. but I myself have never been a tower flower.. can’t see myself ever leaving radar either. Radar is a lot of fun imo

HenryTheAce said:

You nailed it. Focus on passing the academy and whatever first facility you get rocking it out! Once you get to your first Z and have 2 D-Sides under your belt there are options to bail out and go to a tower… but you’ll be at the mercy of the nest list what your options are.

Lot of “what if’s” on the table for the future. Check out, make level 10-12 pay, try and ncept out, take a supervisor job, take a tmu gig, go to command center job (near DC), or intentionally washout/withdraw once you have a few D-Sides.

The main thing is like you said, to get your foot in the door and pass the academy. You can always try and call your aviation careers POC and see if they can switch you to terminal… worse they can say is “no”… but realize when you start terminal, like Ralph said above, you are limiting yourself to level 7 pay and below in lord knows where, could be some place middle of nowhere… center at least are high pay out of the gate and bigger city areas.

Can’t speak for the switch from center to ATCT.. I know a lot who have (a lot not by choice).. but I myself have never been a tower flower.. can’t see myself ever leaving radar either. Radar is a lot of fun imo

really appreciate the words of wisdom. will have to give it some thought after I pass academy and while I work toward certifying over the next couple years. can't argue with that artcc pay. strong motivator. always had the ATCSCC in my mind for later career options. artcc experience seems to be more valuable there

JulietWhiskey0314 said:

That completely makes sense. I'm from Maryland originally so ZDC would be ideal but I wouldn't mind ZHU, ZFW, ZLC, or ZDV. Luckily I got many facilities I'd be open too. ZDC seems to be consistently having 2 slots per class recently.

What part of MD?

JulietWhiskey0314 said:

really appreciate the words of wisdom. will have to give it some thought after I pass academy and while I work toward certifying over the next couple years. can't argue with that artcc pay. strong motivator. always had the ATCSCC in my mind for later career options. artcc experience seems to be more valuable there

It definitely is great experience to have for there, along with tmu time. Lot of options in the FAA… and they all become a lot bigger and more achievable once you have a cpc ticket under your belt. Best of luck JW, rock it out!!! If you can’t switch or decide not to switch to terminal, hope you get ZDC or your desired Z!

JulietWhiskey0314 said:

That completely makes sense. I'm from Maryland originally so ZDC would be ideal but I wouldn't mind ZHU, ZFW, ZLC, or ZDV. Luckily I got many facilities I'd be open too. ZDC seems to be consistently having 2 slots per class recently.

Wash is an absolute joke. But at least you always have the option of shutting off everyone when you feel like you have too many planes. I’ll just hold them for you.

Brotallion said:

Wash is an absolute joke. But at least you always have the option of shutting off everyone when you feel like you have too many planes. I’ll just hold them for you.

oh please elaborate.. in your experience with them what are the biggest pro/cons for ZDC.

JulietWhiskey0314 said:

oh please elaborate.. in your experience with them what are the biggest pro/cons for ZDC.

They shut off consistently. Not just for specific airports, sometimes they’ll refuse to take any traffic at all. They don’t space anything themselves. 15-30 MIT requests for everything. All the playbooks take traffic from them and push extra planes to us. I never see them turn people to solve conflictions, only use altitude. They make airplanes descend ridiculously early for their destination. I’m sure an exorbitant cost of living.

Pros- command center protects the hell out of you and you can get away with just about anything.

Brotallion said:

They shut off consistently. Not just for specific airports, sometimes they’ll refuse to take any traffic at all. They don’t space anything themselves. 15-30 MIT requests for everything. All the playbooks take traffic from them and push extra planes to us. I never see them turn people to solve conflictions, only use altitude. They make airplanes descend ridiculously early for their destination. I’m sure an exorbitant cost of living.

Pros- command center protects the hell out of you and you can get away with just about anything.

Thanks for the input. you're definitely correct about the low alt assignments early. PCT mentioned something similar when I was there couple months back for my mmpi.

Hope said:

8/9 Enroute List

ZDC
ZLA
ZAU
ZOB
ZTL
ZTL
ZMA
ZBW
ZMA
ZAB
ZHU
ZLA
ZDC
ZME

ALTs
ZNY
ZNY
ZAN
ZAN
ZSU
ZSU

From the ATC New Hiring Discord

class went 11/18, there were 4 requests that were approved not on the list

8/15, 11/18. With the batch we have gotten over the last year they might as well just get rid of the academy. Leave it to the center to determine if they are worth the time to train. We are wasting 2-3 years training someone just to wash them out when really they had no business getting through the academy. I’m seeing a trend here. Are they making it easier on women at academy? I wouldn’t put it past the government to lower their standards just to fill a quota. I had people in my area express the same thing about me and I worked hard enough to prove them wrong. If you get to the center at least try and act like you want to be there. I understand the knew facility placement is horrible but if you don’t want to be there stop wasting my time.

PointSixty5stalker said:

Are they making it easier on women at academy?

You okay?

PointSixty5stalker said:

8/15, 11/18. With the batch we have gotten over the last year they might as well just get rid of the academy. Leave it to the center to determine if they are worth the time to train. We are wasting 2-3 years training someone just to wash them out when really they had no business getting through the academy. I’m seeing a trend here. Are they making it easier on women at academy? I wouldn’t put it past the government to lower their standards just to fill a quota. I had people in my area express the same thing about me and I worked hard enough to prove them wrong. If you get to the center at least try and act like you want to be there. I understand the knew facility placement is horrible but if you don’t want to be there stop wasting my time.

That is one of the takes of all time. That’s for sure.

PointSixty5stalker said:

8/15, 11/18. With the batch we have gotten over the last year they might as well just get rid of the academy. Leave it to the center to determine if they are worth the time to train. We are wasting 2-3 years training someone just to wash them out when really they had no business getting through the academy. I’m seeing a trend here. Are they making it easier on women at academy? I wouldn’t put it past the government to lower their standards just to fill a quota. I had people in my area express the same thing about me and I worked hard enough to prove them wrong. If you get to the center at least try and act like you want to be there. I understand the knew facility placement is horrible but if you don’t want to be there stop wasting my time.

You either have the ability / capacity to do the job or you do not. No one discriminates referencing the past or present to my knowledge. As long as you can do the job no one cares gender/preference/etc…