FSS jobs in Alaska

[bewise247]

I received a TOL for Kenai, Wendy said that she's trying to fill the July class. However, I won't get per diem while there because I'm assigned Kenai and finding housing during fishing season sounds pricey.

I'm also in the July class and have been assigned Kenai. I am having a lot of trouble trying to find housing so far because I do have two dogs. Has far has advancment goes, I did talk on the phone with Wendy who did say after a few years checked out in the tower we can put in for supervisor/manager roles so that maybe an option if you want to go through with FSS.

 

[adub]

Ahhhh gotcha! So, I will say that there are other things you can do, however the FAA words certain supervisor/training specialist bids to sort of exclude FSS people from applying to them. “...must have at least 52 weeks of experience in an ATO facility,” which flight service is not. Some people have gone to different regional ops centers around the country, a few to other facilities as support specialists, but yeah if you wanna stay on the ops floor, it’s Alaska only.
It’s unfortunately in a grey zone of rules. There’s no official staffing but even if there was, my guess/opinion is that NATCA/FAA would still find a way to exclude FSS from ERRing, even though you’d not be getting the same options other union members are. You CAN however on occasion move between different flight service stations, like between the 3 hubs, if you wanted to. There’s rules, but as a former colleague said, “rules are rules...until they become inconvenient.”

Slight correction.. the bids will say "ATS facility" which FSS is not, or they'll say "ATO enroute/terminal facility" which FSS is not. FSS is an ATO facility, but is part of SysOps under ATO instead of ATS. I fought 3 years to get FSS into NCEPT, and after fighting all the way up to Senator Sullivan's office, I learned that neither NATCA, nor the FAA cared about following the NCEPT MOU or contract. While I've heard rumors from those who still work in FSS that numbers are "in the next panel"... I doubt FSS will be considered for anything.

 

[Chris93C]

Just wondering if anyone here has class dates yet. I’m supposed to be going to OKC on 3/26 and Kenai date is estimated to be 5/12. It would be nice to get in contact with the few people I’ll be in class with.

 

[bewise247]

Just wondering if anyone here has class dates yet. I’m supposed to be going to OKC on 3/26 and Kenai date is estimated to be 5/12. It would be nice to get in contact with the few people I’ll be in class with.

Did they push your class dates back yet? I'm supposed to be in the July FSS class, I'm wondering how far that will be pushed back.

 

[Chickadee1514]

Forgot to update you guys, I decided to decline the FSS position. I just finished probation at my current job and even though it's a boring office job I get massive amounts of PTO and my supervisor has never denied a time off request. Ever. FSS would of been a pay bump, but after some soul searching, I've realized that the work/life balance is way more important to me. This means I'll probably pull out of the ATC bids I put into too.

Good luck everybody, it's been a fun process.

 

[hmmmnomaybe]

As someone who didn't get a TOL this past bid but still has a couple years before I turn 31, does it seem worth it to apply? I love Alaska but seems like the pay is low with high cost of living.

Definitely apply, FSS in Alaska is still a 2152 series job same as air traffic control. Word I've been hearing is eventually FSS will be included in the NCEPT process so you should be able to ERR out. FAI FSS makes pretty close to what controllers at FAI ATCT make.

 

[Victor_Alpha]

Definitely apply, FSS in Alaska is still a 2152 series job same as air traffic control. Word I've been hearing is eventually FSS will be included in the NCEPT process so you should be able to ERR out. FAI FSS makes pretty close to what controllers at FAI ATCT make.

Before adub jumps in to this, definitely consider the source that is telling you that info. I worked up there for close to two years and NATCA and the FAA were perpetually “almost there and working on it.” There are some barriers with the staffing issue for FSS that is preventing it from being included in NCEPT. As someone who eventually wanted to move to a tower and out of AK, I personally wasn’t going to wait for them to get it together. If you want to stay in the state, it’s a great federal job!

 

[Johnny W]

Greetings,

Just want to let you guys know that they are currently sending out offer letters. I washed out of the Tower portion of the FAA academy and applied for the FSS as a way to get back into the FAA. However after reading the comments stating how hard it is to transfer, on top of me recently getting a good job with CBP back home, I decided to decline. Hopefully my spot goes to someone who really loves the job! FAA is a pretty good opportunity, wish I could have gone back.

 

[FightingIrish2012]

Greetings,

Just want to let you guys know that they are currently sending out offer letters. I washed out of the Tower portion of the FAA academy and applied for the FSS as a way to get back into the FAA. However after reading the comments stating how hard it is to transfer, on top of me recently getting a good job with CBP back home, I decided to decline. Hopefully my spot goes to someone who really loves the job! FAA is a pretty good opportunity, wish I could have gone back.

Don’t sweat it man you will almost for sure be better off the way things played out.

 

[HighFrequency]

Greetings,

Just want to let you guys know that they are currently sending out offer letters. I washed out of the Tower portion of the FAA academy and applied for the FSS as a way to get back into the FAA. However after reading the comments stating how hard it is to transfer, on top of me recently getting a good job with CBP back home, I decided to decline. Hopefully my spot goes to someone who really loves the job! FAA is a pretty good opportunity, wish I could have gone back.

I've been sold the "second shot at Terminal" tale before too, but I'll believe it when I see it. That being said, I'd love to take your offer if I could skip the AT-SA right now haha. I'm interested in FSS alone at this point, but the path back to tower is a nice little pipe dream I keep in the back of my head.

Out of curiosity, what were the wait times like between the hiring steps? I'm sure it's going to be all screwed up because of the virus, for people like me who applied at the beginning of March anyway.

CBP seems decent enough. If I could have a solid shot of staying in the Northeast I'd go for it too. For now I'm still leaning towards the exile in Alaska.

 

[Chris93C]

Did they push your class dates back yet? I'm supposed to be in the July FSS class, I'm wondering how far that will be pushed back.

As of a week ago when I last spoke to someone in Alaska my May class was not postponed. However my OKC class is postponed indefinitely. I was given the option of skipping the OKC class (as was always an option because I was a military controller) but I decided I still want to go to OKC because you never know what might happen. I could have rushed to Kenai just for that to be canceled and I'd rather be home during the uncertainty where I have food, supplies, firearms, cars and lots of toilet paper. In Kenai I'd be in a hotel living off of an uncertain economy.

 

[bewise247]

So I'm wondering since the Basics classed was postponed indefinitely and since other students going to the FSS class in May need to take basics, I wonder if they are going to either push the May class back and push the July class back or will the July class go on has scheduled and the May class get pushed back after the July class. Obviously it may be to early to tell until the academy reopens.

 

[32andBelow]

As of a week ago when I last spoke to someone in Alaska my May class was not postponed. However my OKC class is postponed indefinitely. I was given the option of skipping the OKC class (as was always an option because I was a military controller) but I decided I still want to go to OKC because you never know what might happen. I could have rushed to Kenai just for that to be canceled and I'd rather be home during the uncertainty where I have food, supplies, firearms, cars and lots of toilet paper. In Kenai I'd be in a hotel living off of an uncertain economy.

I’d skip basics if I was in your shoes.

 

[PRCCRP]

Question, I got a TOL for Juneau and prior I had not done enough research but before calling and asking do you think you could request to be placed somewhere a tad more affordable like Palmer or is that asking too much?

 

[32andBelow]

Question, I got a TOL for Juneau and prior I had not done enough research but before calling and asking do you think you could request to be placed somewhere a tad more affordable like Palmer or is that asking too much?

You can try. Palmer is basically anchorage so it might be tough. Maybe you could get kenai

 

[PRCCRP]

You can try. Palmer is basically anchorage so it might be tough. Maybe you could get kenai

I don’t want to be rejected. I haven’t signed my offer letter yet but I’m not sure how I would ask without sounding ungrateful lol. I just got it today.

Is that even possible since I have the offer letter?

 

[32andBelow]

I don’t want to be rejected. I haven’t signed my offer letter yet but I’m not sure how I would ask without sounding ungrateful lol. I just got it today.

Is that even possible since I have the offer letter?

Just ask. At least they tell you guys where you going when you get hired lol. Juneau is awesome btw and you can probably get TDYs with per diem

 

[PRCCRP]

Just ask. At least they tell you guys where you going when you get hired lol. Juneau is awesome btw and you can probably get TDYs with per diem

Ya I asked it’s a no lol but I was just worried about the cost of living but after I certify then it won’t be an issue. She literally said they have a 100 percent passing and they don’t fail anyone. Not necessarily in those words. I’m assuming it may be 6 plus months before getting into basics the way things are going soooo I have time to get my house situated to rent it out and save money to bring my family over with me.

 

[32andBelow]

Ya I asked it’s a no lol but I was just worried about the cost of living but after I certify then it won’t be an issue. She literally said they have a 100 percent passing and they don’t fail anyone. Not necessarily in those words. I’m assuming it may be 6 plus months before getting into basics the way things are going soooo I have time to get my house situated to rent it out and save money to bring my family over with me.

This would actually be a great year to go to Juneau. They are going to be hurting with the cancellation of cruise season. There may be some cheaper housing.

 

[PRCCRP]

This would actually be a great year to go to Juneau. They are going to be hurting with the cancellation of cruise season. There may be some cheaper housing.

That’s true! I’ve got kids and dogs so I need time to plan all this out too.