Training hold

[Phillytroll69]

Traffic? You call this traffic? We had to move shrimp boats and keep the vor fires burning in my day.

 

[StealthChain]

Then why is everyone still waiting?

My understanding is that training in the building hasn't been approved yet (guessing that means FAA). eLearning is starting up though so there's that. That doesn't mean anything for those that don't have any eLearning they can do, but for those of us on AG pay it's a good thing. At least I can get through all the lessons needed and hope we can go in for sims by the time I'm all caught up.

 

[32andBelow]

My understanding is that training in the building hasn't been approved yet (guessing that means FAA). eLearning is starting up though so there's that. That doesn't mean anything for those that don't have any eLearning they can do, but for those of us on AG pay it's a good thing. At least I can get through all the lessons needed and hope we can go in for sims by the time I'm all caught up.

Are you on the east coast? Did you start e learning?

 

[RunTheBall_Pete]

Then why is everyone still waiting?

I believe it has more to do with the budget than covid-19. The agency isn't making as much money with this level of traffic, so by not training and running 5/10 - 5/5 schedule:

1. No OT pay
2. No OJT pay
3. No Hazard pay (I believe the 5/10 - 5/5 schedule is the alternative to this)
4. No differential pay for trainees, fewer CPC receive it per day
5. No holiday pay for trainees, fewer CPC receive if for that day
6. No one certifies, so no pay raises
7. Don't have to pay contractors

The alternative to this is ROF, furloughs, etc... because there's no justification as to why we're running normal schedules for a full staff while the agency is going into a huge deficit. The agency might have a higher budget next fiscal year to compensate, that's probably when we'll return to normal working schedules.

 

[AnyTrafficPleaseAdvise]

I believe it has more to do with the budget than covid-19. The agency isn't making as much money with this level of traffic, so by not training and running 5/10 - 5/5 schedule:

1. No OT pay
2. No OJT pay
3. No Hazard pay (I believe the 5/10 - 5/5 schedule is the alternative to this)
4. No differential pay for trainees, fewer CPC receive it per day
5. No holiday pay for trainees, fewer CPC receive if for that day
6. No one certifies, so no pay raises
7. Don't have to pay contractors

The alternative to this is ROF, furloughs, etc... because there's no justification as to why we're running normal schedules for a full staff while the agency is going into a huge deficit. The agency might have a higher budget next fiscal year to compensate, that's probably when we'll return to normal working schedules.

Since when has a federal agency given a damn about budgets? The government has been operating at a massive deficit for years and this year might be the biggest in our nations history.

 

[GulfBravoPapa]

I believe it has more to do with the budget than covid-19. The agency isn't making as much money with this level of traffic, so by not training and running 5/10 - 5/5 schedule:

1. No OT pay
2. No OJT pay
3. No Hazard pay (I believe the 5/10 - 5/5 schedule is the alternative to this)
4. No differential pay for trainees, fewer CPC receive it per day
5. No holiday pay for trainees, fewer CPC receive if for that day
6. No one certifies, so no pay raises
7. Don't have to pay contractors

The alternative to this is ROF, furloughs, etc... because there's no justification as to why we're running normal schedules for a full staff while the agency is going into a huge deficit. The agency might have a higher budget next fiscal year to compensate, that's probably when we'll return to normal working schedules.

This is literally not even a consideration.

We are not training and keeping non-essential employees at home so that we can maintain social distancing. Right now most facilities don't behave to make the decision between being able to socially distance or being able to efficiently work their traffic so it isn't an issue. Eventually traffic will pick back up and more staffing will be required. It remains to be seen whether traffic will increase first or if relaxed social distancing will occur first. Until one of those occurs non-essentials will stay home.

 

[Soss]

Since when has a federal agency given a damn about budgets?

Money printer go BRRR

Print it, baby!

brrr.money

 

[RunTheBall_Pete]

Since when has a federal agency given a damn about budgets? The government has been operating at a massive deficit for years and this year might be the biggest in our nations history.

They cared enough to shut it down last year over the budget. The FAA cannot spend beyond what they're approved to spend by Congress, that's why I said next fiscal year.

 

[ClearanceClarence]

Maintaining an across the board, nation-wide ban on all training because of “social distancing” makes absolutely no sense at this point. Every state in the country has reopened, many basically back to normal. People are protesting in the tens of thousands with no social distancing, and POTUS is holding a rally in an arena this weeks. It’s become clear that COVID is probably not going away, even after a vaccine is released. So the world has decided it’s time to move on. Why exactly is it ok for a trainee to be brought in to work a D side, but that same trainee is not allowed to train? The more you look at this whole situation, the less it makes sense.

 

[Winter77]

Just got a call from my training manager. We're doing zoom meetings starting tomorrow. 8 hours a day, 4 days a week. Guess we're doing the classroom stuff virtually (I'm Center D-cert waiting on R side class). And I just factory reset my work iPad last week on accident 😀

 

[32andBelow]

They cared enough to shut it down last year over the budget. The FAA cannot spend beyond what they're approved to spend by Congress, that's why I said next fiscal year.

Yah that’s not it. Congress isn’t going to cut a bunch of agencies 2 months before an election.

since D sides are being recalled social distancing is already going out the window. Let us train. The instructor dan be a laptop behind us in the sim Via zoom.

Just got a call from my training manager. We're doing zoom meetings starting tomorrow. 8 hours a day, 4 days a week. Guess we're doing the classroom stuff virtually (I'm Center D-cert waiting on R side class). And I just factory reset my work iPad last week on accident 😀

Wow it gave you permission to do that.

 

[StealthChain]

Are you on the east coast? Did you start e learning?

Was told this morning that we will likely start next Monday barring any issues. I am east coastish.

 

[ClearanceClarence]

Just got a call from my training manager. We're doing zoom meetings starting tomorrow. 8 hours a day, 4 days a week. Guess we're doing the classroom stuff virtually (I'm Center D-cert waiting on R side class). And I just factory reset my work iPad last week on accident 😀

8 hours a day? We were told the guidance called for no more than 4 hours of “virtual training” per day. Might wanna check with someone on that.

 

[Atc1234]

PCT will be starting classroom training virtually next week using Zoom on the agency issued iPads.

 

[Gusher]

8 hours a day? We were told the guidance called for no more than 4 hours of “virtual training” per day. Might wanna check with someone on that.

Maybe it’s be available for 8 hours? Do virtual learning within that block equaling 4 hours. And only 4 days?

 

[ClearanceClarence]

Maybe it’s be available for 8 hours? Do virtual learning within that block equaling 4 hours. And only 4 days?

Hmm not sure. The way it was explained to us was that NATCA and the agency agreed upon 4 hours per day, 4 days per week for virtual training. If a training manager is trying to tell you you’ve gotta sit on a Zoom call for double that, I’d definitely call your facrep ASAP.

 

[RunTheBall_Pete]

Yah that’s not it. Congress isn’t going to cut a bunch of agencies 2 months before an election.

since D sides are being recalled social distancing is already going out the window. Let us train. The instructor dan be a laptop behind us in the sim Via zoom.

I never said Congress was going to cut a bunch of agencies... I said they'd increase our budget next fiscal year to compensate. But there was a reduction of pay. D-sides are being recalled, but is it to train or work positions they already certified on? The fact they're doing zoom shows they have no intention of returning trainees anytime soon.

 

[Mike Kilo]

Hmm not sure. The way it was explained to us was that NATCA and the agency agreed upon 4 hours per day, 4 days per week for virtual training. If a training manager is trying to tell you you’ve gotta sit on a Zoom call for double that, I’d definitely call your facrep ASAP.

On the telcon discussing this, NATCA even suggested the fifth day isn’t wasted and things can be assigned such as elms or self study.
From the agreement:


1a) Trainees currently in classroom training or ready to begin classroom training will participate in training 4 hours per day, 4 days per work week, to include appropriate breaks. The remaining duty hours per day will be used for self-study of LOAs, maps, practice applications, etc.

1b) When not participating in classroom training, trainees may be assigned eLMS training, including but not limited to web-based recurrent training, other computer- based training, ASH /SAVI, etc.

 

[ATCJoe85]

Can't speak for high levels, but mid levels and below... exactly what are they going to virtually train for several days a week until we all can go back? Across all positions at my mid level facility, I had ~10 total days of classroom. And in terms of actually being taught classroom as opposed to being handed material to study/test on, it was probably closer to 6 days. So 20 days max if people are doing 4 hours a day. I suppose that could take us into the end of July at 4 days a week. Seems like a stretch.

 

[ClearanceClarence]

Can't speak for high levels, but mid levels and below... exactly what are they going to virtually train for several days a week until we all can go back? Across all positions at my mid level facility, I had ~10 total days of classroom. And in terms of actually being taught classroom as opposed to being handed material to study/test on, it was probably closer to 6 days. So 20 days max if people are doing 4 hours a day. I suppose that could take us into the end of July at 4 days a week. Seems like a stretch.

I don’t think anyone really knows how it’s all supposed to work. It sounds like the guidance came down from national without any real details, so now all the facilities are scrambling trying to figure out how to actually implement it.