FSS jobs in Alaska

[HighFrequency]

I washed out of the academy last year for en route on the last day. I applied for the Alaska FSS bid, but I see in the bid that prior academy failures could deem you ineligible. Anyone have any additional insight into this and how it works?

Would be interested to know if anyone can clear this up. I resigned at the end of Initial Tower in 2017, which I believe counts as a training failure in the eyes of OKC's QA folks (though it's not a termination, nor a resignation-in-lieu-of-termination). I'd be interested in FSS, it's just sort of vague if OKC Academy washouts/resignations have a chance at being accepted into FSS Academy.

HR in Anchorage encouraged me to apply for the next anticipated FSS hiring in 2020, but I'm not going to take that as a guarantee of eligibility.

 

[Stewie]

Would be interested to know if anyone can clear this up. I resigned at the end of Initial Tower in 2017, which I believe counts as a training failure in the eyes of OKC's QA folks (though it's not a termination, nor a resignation-in-lieu-of-termination). I'd be interested in FSS, it's just sort of vague if OKC Academy washouts/resignations have a chance at being accepted into FSS Academy.

HR in Anchorage encouraged me to apply for the next anticipated FSS hiring in 2020, but I'm not going to take that as a guarantee of eligibility.

I'm in the same boat as you. Its a long story, but I resigned from Initial Enroute in 2015. I was told at the time that resigning would not make me ineligible to reapply, and I did reapply on the following two bids. Both times I was referred, but not hired. Maybe a resignation doesn't result in automatic disqualification, but it does seem to put a black mark on your name. I'm thinking as long as there's enough qualified candidates, they'll pass over anyone who's been to the academy already. I've since aged out and have been considering FSS. I think your chances might be better since there's much less competition. I applied on the recent bid and have a "Referred" status, so if I get a TOL I'll let you know.

 

[HighFrequency]

I applied on the recent bid and have a "Referred" status, so if I get a TOL I'll let you know.

Thats great to hear!

 

[Vilius]

2 years ago I didn’t pass Enroute class. Applied for FSS (exists only in Alaska) last bid and today I got a call and will be receiving TOL. She said failures don’t matter from OKC academy when I asked her.

 

[KiloZulu]

2 years ago I didn’t pass Enroute class. Applied for FSS (exists only in Alaska) last bid and today I got a call and will be receiving TOL. She said failures don’t matter from OKC academy when I asked her.

Were you told when you'd receive the e-mail?

 

[Vilius]

Were you told when you'd receive the e-mail?

Was told in the next few days.

Also the next class day is in May 2020

 

[KiloZulu]

Also the next class day is in May 2020

Someone also commented earlier that TOLs will have your facility assignment on them. Did she say anything about that?

 

[Vilius]

Someone also commented earlier that TOLs will have your facility assignment on them. Did she say anything about that?

They took my first option and it was Juneau. I knew nothing about Alaska before I made my list ??‍♂️

 

[KiloZulu]

They took my first option and it was Juneau. I knew nothing about Alaska before I made my list ??‍♂️

Well for an Alaska rookie, that's not a terrible choice. Decent sized city by Alaska standards and it's got a coastal climate not much different from Washington state. Kinda isolated though, what with no roads in and out of the city so COL can be pretty expensive.

 

[Chickadee1514]

Housing in Juneau is crazy expensive but it's actually a great place to live. You don't have to worry about sub zero temps, the people are great, lots of fishing and outdoor activities, and you never have to worry about sunburn.

 

[Stewie]

They took my first option and it was Juneau. I knew nothing about Alaska before I made my list ??‍♂️

Same here. I actually wish I would have put Juneau as my first option. I put Ketchikan, which doesn't seem like a terrible choice, but I think I'd prefer Juneau and I put that as my #7. Doh. Glad to hear TOLs are going out soon.

 

[KiloZulu]

Same here. I actually wish I would have put Juneau as my first option. I put Ketchikan, which doesn't seem like a terrible choice, but I think I'd prefer Juneau and I put that as my #7. Doh. Glad to hear TOLs are going out soon.

Maybe the TOLs won't have location assignment. I ended up putting Fairbanks 3rd, which I'm really regretting too.

 

[32andBelow]

Same here. I actually wish I would have put Juneau as my first option. I put Ketchikan, which doesn't seem like a terrible choice, but I think I'd prefer Juneau and I put that as my #7. Doh. Glad to hear TOLs are going out soon.

KTN is def one of the best FSS and you won’t have to work mids. Busier than JNU cus it doesn’t have a tower.

 

[Stewie]

KTN is def one of the best FSS and you won’t have to work mids. Busier than JNU cus it doesn’t have a tower.

Good to know!

 

[PRCCRP]

Would it be difficult to request a change of location or just deal with the place you were assigned?

 

[Chickadee1514]

Well, if I was HR trying to staff places that may be considered less desirable then I would probably call first the people who put those locations as their first choice. At least, that's what I think is happening based on people getting TOLs for their first choice which just so happen to not be on the road system. I haven't seen anyone get a TOL yet for locations on the road system which, I would think, would be much easier to staff.

Still, nothing ventured nothing gained, it probably wouldn't hurt to call, but don't be surprised if they're firm on your assignment.

 

[PRCCRP]

Well, if I was HR trying to staff places that may be considered less desirable then I would probably call first the people who put those locations as their first choice. At least, that's what I think is happening based on people getting TOLs for their first choice which just so happen to not be on the road system. I haven't seen anyone get a TOL yet for locations on the road system which, I would think, would be much easier to staff.

Still, nothing ventured nothing gained, it probably wouldn't hurt to call, but don't be surprised if they're firm on your assignment.

True. I based my choices on recommendations from people that lived there but after further researching housing there are places that would be a better choice than my top choice.

 

[Vilius]

I was told when you qualify or CPC you can request different location.

 

[Chickadee1514]

I was told when you qualify or CPC you can request different location.

Isn't that what they tell people in lower 48 ATC too? I suspect ERRing isn't easy anywhere.

 

[KiloZulu]

Has anyone actually gotten a TOL yet, or just a few phone calls?