Making a Jump
12-28-2017, 10:47 AM
#1
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Joined APC: Jul 2013
Posts: 176
Making a Jump
Regional FO with about a year and half in . Received an offer for enroute as an Air traffic controller . Deciding if it's worth trying or not . Worst case scenario I come back to another regional and start over .
12-28-2017, 10:55 AM
#2
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Joined APC: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,205
How much do you dig flying and the lifestyle of the airline side? And more importantly, the future side of airline flying beyond the regionals, i.e. more than 1/2 the month off and much better pay.
12-28-2017, 11:12 AM
#3
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Joined APC: Jul 2013
Posts: 176
Well of course anything beyond the Regionals is a no brainer. Just getting to that point is a long road . Also being a senior captain at a regional isn't bad either . Question is will my Regional be around for me to retire with if that's the worst case scenario . That's the question .
12-28-2017, 11:13 AM
#4
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Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 121
I'm not a regional pilot, but I'm a controller at an ARTCC.
I think it's worth giving the ATC route a try. Worst case scenario, like you said, is you fail out and apply to a regional again. Although that may cost you a couple years of seniority.
The worst part about the ATC career is the initial training. Which will probably take around three years, until you are fully certified. However, once you're certified it's a good gig. Home every night, and you can still fly for fun, like I do.
Also, your success in training depends heavily on what facility you go to. Some centers have good training programs and higher success rates. Whereas other centers don't, and have high washout rates.
I think it's worth giving the ATC route a try. Worst case scenario, like you said, is you fail out and apply to a regional again. Although that may cost you a couple years of seniority.
The worst part about the ATC career is the initial training. Which will probably take around three years, until you are fully certified. However, once you're certified it's a good gig. Home every night, and you can still fly for fun, like I do.
Also, your success in training depends heavily on what facility you go to. Some centers have good training programs and higher success rates. Whereas other centers don't, and have high washout rates.
12-28-2017, 01:34 PM
#5
New Hire
Joined APC: Mar 2016
Posts: 5
I'm not a regional pilot, but I'm a controller at an ARTCC.
I think it's worth giving the ATC route a try. Worst case scenario, like you said, is you fail out and apply to a regional again. Although that may cost you a couple years of seniority.
The worst part about the ATC career is the initial training. Which will probably take around three years, until you are fully certified. However, once you're certified it's a good gig. Home every night, and you can still fly for fun, like I do.
Also, your success in training depends heavily on what facility you go to. Some centers have good training programs and higher success rates. Whereas other centers don't, and have high washout rates.
I think it's worth giving the ATC route a try. Worst case scenario, like you said, is you fail out and apply to a regional again. Although that may cost you a couple years of seniority.
The worst part about the ATC career is the initial training. Which will probably take around three years, until you are fully certified. However, once you're certified it's a good gig. Home every night, and you can still fly for fun, like I do.
Also, your success in training depends heavily on what facility you go to. Some centers have good training programs and higher success rates. Whereas other centers don't, and have high washout rates.
12-28-2017, 03:21 PM
#7
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Joined APC: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,205
Well of course anything beyond the Regionals is a no brainer. Just getting to that point is a long road . Also being a senior captain at a regional isn't bad either . Question is will my Regional be around for me to retire with if that's the worst case scenario . That's the question .
If you prefer to be home everyday and have a routine with the family the ATC route might be better in that regard.
It's a loaded question that only you can answer, as none of us know 'you' aside from this post. My wife and I use the non-rev benefits quite a bit and love the weekdays off gig so this works for us. Doesn't hurt that after the 'lost decade' the money is finally getting good. YMMV but I wouldn't trade this job for about anything.
12-31-2017, 04:15 AM
#8
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,090
This is not a good time to trade 121 for ATC.
ATC pay is down.
121 pay is trending up (way up at the bigs), and career opportunities abound.
You could have had a debate about this ten years, today it's a no-brainer. Unless you hate jets and really want to be home every night.
ATC pay is down.
121 pay is trending up (way up at the bigs), and career opportunities abound.
You could have had a debate about this ten years, today it's a no-brainer. Unless you hate jets and really want to be home every night.
12-31-2017, 04:29 AM
#9
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Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 121
Depending on what facility you get selected for, and assuming you make it through training and fully certify, you can make upwards of 200k in ATC. This would take about 3 years to get to from your hire date.
You won't make that at a regional. How long would it take to get to that pay from right now (assuming you eventually get hired by a major)? maybe 6 years from now you could be at 200k with a major? Don't know.
The ATC route is not guaranteed, enroute has a high washout rate, much more than terminal. If you quit your regional and go the ATC route, you're taking a paycut and giving up 1 1/2 years of seniority. If you're at a WO with a guaranteed flow, then the choice to me would be obvious.
Good luck
You won't make that at a regional. How long would it take to get to that pay from right now (assuming you eventually get hired by a major)? maybe 6 years from now you could be at 200k with a major? Don't know.
The ATC route is not guaranteed, enroute has a high washout rate, much more than terminal. If you quit your regional and go the ATC route, you're taking a paycut and giving up 1 1/2 years of seniority. If you're at a WO with a guaranteed flow, then the choice to me would be obvious.
Good luck
12-31-2017, 08:17 AM
#10
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Joined APC: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,091
Depending on what facility you get selected for, and assuming you make it through training and fully certify, you can make upwards of 200k in ATC. This would take about 3 years to get to from your hire date.
You won't make that at a regional. How long would it take to get to that pay from right now (assuming you eventually get hired by a major)? maybe 6 years from now you could be at 200k with a major? Don't know.
The ATC route is not guaranteed, enroute has a high washout rate, much more than terminal. If you quit your regional and go the ATC route, you're taking a paycut and giving up 1 1/2 years of seniority. If you're at a WO with a guaranteed flow, then the choice to me would be obvious.
Good luck
You won't make that at a regional. How long would it take to get to that pay from right now (assuming you eventually get hired by a major)? maybe 6 years from now you could be at 200k with a major? Don't know.
The ATC route is not guaranteed, enroute has a high washout rate, much more than terminal. If you quit your regional and go the ATC route, you're taking a paycut and giving up 1 1/2 years of seniority. If you're at a WO with a guaranteed flow, then the choice to me would be obvious.
Good luck
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