Looking for teenagers to be Air Traffic Controllers on MySpace?

[Freebird]

I just heard this on the radio today, some pilots are concerned that the FAA plans to use teenagers as controllers, and even using "MySpace" to find them.

Also some veteran controllers are peeved that there isn't enough money to give them a raise, but the teenager newbie's will get up to $100,000 as a sign-on bonus.

FAA Turns To Teens For Traffic Controllers - Las Vegas News Story - KVVU Las Vegas

Did anyone else hear about this?

 

[<simon>]

Haha! Sounds good!

Pity i'm going for pilot and not ATC!

Haven't heard anything about it though

 

[comiso90]

PBFoot? speak up!

.

 

[Freebird]

Whoa! Dude! You're cleared to land on that runway thingy over there!


This is so excellent to work at an airport! Why does that phone keep ringing? What's that buzzing sound?


Gnarly!!!

 

[wilbur1]

Hey ive played that game before its like old school asteroids right?

 

[Freebird]

Hey ive played that game before its like old school asteroids right?

No man, it's more like this!


Gnarly Dude!

 

[Catch22]

I resent those comments .

I wouldn't be so concerned about this if there wasn't the $100 000 signing bonus. Only people who were interested and actually serious about the job would take it, but with the bonus, they can get anybody. It COULD be a problem, but I doubt the FAA would allow people who would put pilots and passengers at risk work as a controller.

 

[pbfoot]

Why not they'll soon sort out if the person can think on their feet with result to spatial orientation and whether they know their left from the right which is a fairly common problem
think your good try this
ATC-SIM -- a web-based air traffic control simulator

 

[Freebird]

I resent those comments .

I wouldn't be so concerned about this if there wasn't the $100 000 signing bonus.

That's what seemed strange, why not just bump the pay for veteran controllers, that's a good way to keep them happy.

 

[Matt308]

FAA is hurting for new controllers with the imminent retirement of the vast majority of their work force. However, being a controller is no easy gig. Last I heard it was 3months (or maybe 6 can't recall) in Oklahoma City for initial training. Recurrent training is intense, lots of overtime, and the job stress can be phenomenal depending upon your tower, tracon or center. But then again the bennies are good. Some senior controllers make around $200k a year, though that is not the norm. 26 vacation days, 13 holidays, and 13 sick days a year. Not bad.