Quote:
Originally Posted by Tasha360
Hi guys
There's not very much information on the AC rate in the forums but maybe I haven't searched enough. I'm wondering what A-School in Pensacola is like for Air Traffic Controllers? The official rating documents say that the A-school is one to two years!! This seems intense for a rating that is not mentioned much.
Anybody in Correy Station who are familiar with what they do and what their typical daily life is like once at a duty station willing to share?  |
I attended ATC A School in 1980 and was told I was the youngest at the time to have ever graduated I was 17 at the time of my graduation.
Not much equipment wise has changed since I have been out. The A school use to be in Millington Tenn. I was in a ATC control tower a few years ago and everything looked the same except they have updated the flight data strip printer. I could have stepped in and remembered most of what I use to do.
We started with 75 students in my class. There were so many they split our class into two classes. Half way through they merged us back together into one class. In the end only 5 of us graduated. People failed in every module and segment of training. I personally did not think any of the program was easy and those that did or who thought they were to smart to study were gone. I kept my nose down, found a good study partner and did not party or go out once school started. I studied from 6am before breakfast until late at night for the entire time.
When I attended school anyone that failed a test, radar, or any other module was gone. I did not see anyone get a second chance. It sounds like maybe today they do but I am not sure based on what people are saying above.
When I attended there was a room with a sign on the door that read Academic Review Board. Anyone that failed 1 exam or lab or module was sent there the next day. I never saw anyone again that went into that room. By the time we got back to barracks at the end of day they were gone.
AC's had their own barrack's and it sounds like they still do. On a Carrier AC's had their own bunk area and did not bunk with the general crew.
After you graduate you are not an air traffic controller you have proven that you are trainable. You will be sent to your first duty station where you will spend 1.5 to 2 years getting certified on all positions at the facility. There you will memorize lots of maps, altitudes, radio frequencies, policies etc. (This profession means you study a lot).
After A School I was sent to Jacksonville for my first duty station. Shortly there after Ronald Reagan fired most of the nations Civil air controllers for going on strike and the military was sent in to replace them. I was sent to Jacksonville International Airport for 4 years. I then served 4 more years as a Navy ATC after reenlisting. I then left the military and today I run my own business.
I never went to work for the FAA because I was not interested in it after 8 years. I had been doing it since I was 17 and was ready to try other things. The job is fun but I hated the shift work, the midnight shifts and everyone fighting over holidays off. ATC is 365 days a year 7 days a week 24 hours. So just remember on holidays you may be working because not everyone can have the day off. Every time you go to another airport you will start out at the bottom and have to certify on every position all over again. I did see one person in my 8 years that graduated A school but could not certify at their first duty station. They basically spent their time cleaning bathrooms and mopping floors and working in flight ops filing flight plans and updating the weather.
Do not take any part of school as a joke, take notes in class and do not ignore your studies or you will not graduate I can promise you that. Most of the stuff you will learn you will never have heard of before and most of it will be new unless you were a pilot before hand. Practice your labs and study with your study partner or group that's all you need to know the entire time you are in school.
I took a lot of guff because I would not go out with the class and party but I was one of the 5 that finished none of the partiers finished. I never saw any of the people I attended school with during my entire 8 years, so if you need a friend find a dog, your there to study, pass and leave.
They will gig you on your uniform so keep everything looking sharp or they will be on you. When I attended, Marines and Navy went to the same schools and some of the teachers were marine sergeants etc. Do not get on the bad side of any instructor remember they will be scoring your live labs and they hold your career in their hands as they score you. Hope this helps..