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[GulfCharlie]

11 years of Fed time, 8 of which are good time?
Sounds like you are in the spot to either cut bait and GTFO or move to a job that counts as good time.

It is why I am laying all my options on the table.

 

[Spoony90]

8 years as a 2152 (not including contract tower time), 11 service years total (including other fed jobs prior to ATC). Lots of marketable skills: doing TERPS atm (FAA), interfacing and briefing senior management to include Secretary Pete (and others), and some FAA intelligence stuff (TS/SCI).

I love the job, just the scale of life and compensation is finding somethings wanting. The prestige of this job alone will not replace my health/family/potential kids.

You at TERPS right now?

 

[GulfCharlie]

You at TERPS right now?

Affirm.

 

[Raise when?]

This job used to earn enough to provide for a family.

Now it’s turning into a job that is okay if your spouse works 50 hours a week and you don’t have kids

 

[CaptainObvious]

Another win for the biden and kamala administration 👏

They’re eating the cats and eating the dogs

 

[Mike Kilo]

8 years as a 2152 (not including contract tower time), 11 service years total (including other fed jobs prior to ATC). Lots of marketable skills: doing TERPS atm (FAA), interfacing and briefing senior management to include Secretary Pete (and others), and some FAA intelligence stuff (TS/SCI).

I love the job, just the scale of life and compensation is finding somethings wanting. The prestige of this job alone will not replace my health/family/potential kids.

Australia air traffic control is hiring!

 

[GulfCharlie]

Australia air traffic control is hiring!

Haha a friend told me, I might have dropped an app out of curiosity.

 

[Raise when?]

This profession is literally cucking us. The traditional role of a man is to be a father who earns and provides for his family.

Now at many 12s due to inflation and cost of living many 12 CPC’s are forced out of their traditional masculine role as a provider and father bc they don’t earn enough.

FAA is trying to cuck and emasculate us

 

[ClearanceClarence]

This job used to earn enough to provide for a family.

Now it’s turning into a job that is okay if your spouse works 50 hours a week and you don’t have kids

It’s amazing how far downhill this job has fallen in the past few decades. 20 years ago, a controller making $100,000 had the equivalent of $166K in buying power today. Even low level facility controllers were solidly middle class and easily able to support a family. Working an OT day was a rare treat for extra cash and not the norm. NCEPT wasn’t a thing and it was easier to move to where you wanted to be. Really the only thing that’s still appealing is that there’s no requirements to get the job. That doesn’t offset the bullshit conditions and mediocre pay though.

 

[Raise when?]

It’s amazing how far downhill this job has fallen in the past few decades. 20 years ago, a controller making $100,000 had the equivalent of $166K in buying power today. Even low level facility controllers were solidly middle class and easily able to support a family. Working an OT day was a rare treat for extra cash and not the norm. NCEPT wasn’t a thing and it was easier to move to where you wanted to be. Really the only thing that’s still appealing is that there’s no requirements to get the job. That doesn’t offset the bullshit conditions and mediocre pay though.

Brother one of my buddies said his trainer was clearing over 200k in 2006. Run that through your calculator 🤣

I’m a member of natca, I believe in unions, but we need to get our BALLS back

 

[GulfCharlie]

It’s amazing how far downhill this job has fallen in the past few decades. 20 years ago, a controller making $100,000 had the equivalent of $166K in buying power today. Even low level facility controllers were solidly middle class and easily able to support a family. Working an OT day was a rare treat for extra cash and not the norm. NCEPT wasn’t a thing and it was easier to move to where you wanted to be. Really the only thing that’s still appealing is that there’s no requirements to get the job. That doesn’t offset the bullshit conditions and mediocre pay though.

Agreed. Now most people (if they are lucky, minus OT and differentials) are being paid the same as a GS12/13/14. Why kill yourself for that early retirement (my MRA is 58 if I stay non-good time), work a shit schedule for 15/16 years to until a decent set of RDO's, and the rattler (or reverse rattler in this case)? Might as well be a normal person: take leave when you want, make your kids lacrosse games, etc... ? Not to mention I WFH 90% of the pay period and only go into the office once a week.

The scale is tipping drastically in the other direction.

 

[PooseMaGoose]

Agreed. Now most people (if they are lucky, minus OT and differentials) are being paid the same as a GS12/13/14. Why kill yourself for that early retirement (my MRA is 58 if I stay non-good time), work a shit schedule for 15/16 years to until a decent set of RDO's, and the rattler (or reverse rattler in this case)? Might as well be a normal person: take leave when you want, make your kids lacrosse games, etc... ? Not to mention I WFH 90% of the pay period and only go into the office once a week.

The scale is tipping drastically in the other direction.

Is the prestige and pleasure of working the boards enough to offset the years taken off your life from inconsistent sleep schedules and missed family functions that you can never get back? Not suggesting anything, but merely asking. Some people would say yes. I hope whatever decision is made by anybody who has the luxury of the option can look back after a long career and regret nothing. For me the answer is as clear as it can get.

 

[VikingsFan85]

Least whiny federal employees. How many of your friends have 4 hours of breaks and get to retire at age 50?

 

[GulfCharlie]

Is the prestige and pleasure of working the boards enough to offset the years taken off your life from inconsistent sleep schedules and missed family functions that you can never get back? Not suggesting anything, but merely asking. Some people would say yes. I hope whatever decision is made by anybody who has the luxury of the option can look back after a long career and regret nothing. For me the answer is as clear as it can get.

Exactly brother. My ego is not so large that I feel the need for the prestige or ability to introduce myself as an "Air Traffic Controller." Having decent healthcare, the family, and time irreplaceably spent with those that matter is infinitely more important. That said, you and I have a good rapport, if you were in my position of choices what would you choose and why?

 

[AB19]

I've never met a more out of touch group of people

 

[PooseMaGoose]

Exactly brother. My ego is not so large that I feel the need for the prestige or ability to introduce myself as an "Air Traffic Controller." Having decent healthcare, the family, and time irreplaceably spent with those that matter is infinitely more important. That said, you and I have a good rapport, if you were in my position of choices what would you choose and why?

I would 100% choose the option that affords the greatest QoL. Most likely, that's going to be sacrificing the good time and the title but perhaps not. Everyone has different circumstances. I would seek out an alternative agency position that is the most mentally stimulating which actually makes the largest positive change for the agency given your skillset (i still feel it's vital to have a sense of purpose at work because it is such a major factor in our lives).

Depending on the pay band, a cap around 190k-220k (increasing by ~2-3% a year) for weekends off, out the door at 1430 every day, guaranteed leave approved, and life's priorities in good order (wife and kids first).. no brainer. Prestige and ego are the young man's game.

At the end of the day, a ton of people will always get the biggest sense of purpose and satisfaction from turning the chaos of a shit-sandwich into a perfect sequence.. and that's awesome. We need MORE of these people. But it's not for everyone, forever. I'm not afraid to admit I no longer see that as numero uno, because on my death bed, I'll be happy to know I put the family first when I had the option.

 

[ClearanceClarence]

Brother one of my buddies said his trainer was clearing over 200k in 2006. Run that through your calculator 🤣

Equivalent to $308,000 in 2024 buying power. Basically rich almost everywhere except liberal run shit hole big cities.

 

[GulfCharlie]

At the end of the day, a ton of people will always get the biggest sense of purpose and satisfaction from turning the chaos of a shit-sandwich into a perfect sequence.

I like being that person, love the job, but like you said at the end of the day there are more important things.

 

[PooseMaGoose]

I've never met a more out of touch group of people

Why?

 

[ClearanceClarence]

Why?

It’s the old boomer-inspired “tHiS iS tHe GrEaTeSt JoB iN tHe WoRlD” toxic mindset that because other people in other walks of life may be worse off than you, you don’t have any right to be unhappy about the bullshit you have to deal with in your career.