Anyone in Montreal has received an FSS formation invitation?

[hip]

Hi guys

I just received an invite for the FSS formation starting in December. Anybody else have received it?

I'm a little bit disappointed for not being selected for VFR, but I think I'm going to accept it. Any FSS who could convince me that FSS is a great career even if you are posted in the North?

[delta8]

Have you applied with the usual method (internet on the site nav) or with the employee referral program?

When did you get your assessment?

[navcanhopeful]

Hi guys

I just received an invite for the FSS formation starting in December. Anybody else have received it?

I'm a little bit disappointed for not being selected for VFR, but I think I'm going to accept it. Any FSS who could convince me that FSS is a great career even if you are posted in the North?

Personally I think you'd be insane to turn it down. You'll train in the ACC, and the yes where you go will be a crap shoot but you'll make 80k a year the second you start. Very few jobs offer that. Nav loves promoting from with in and if they believe in you in ~5 years you can apply to do Vfr. If they allow you and you can't complete training. your old job is still there. Cuts out the risk.

I'm not saying it's easy to do. But it's by far the easiest of the 3 and classroom is only like 6 months.

[hip]

Have you applied with the usual method (internet on the site nav) or with the employee referral program?

When did you get your assessment?

I've applied with the usual method. I had received an offer last year but the timing was not good for me, so I had to turn it down... This year the timing is great. I got my assessment in Montreal.

[hip]

Hi guys

I just received an invite for the FSS formation starting in December. Anybody else have received it?

I'm a little bit disappointed for not being selected for VFR, but I think I'm going to accept it. Any FSS who could convince me that FSS is a great career even if you are posted in the North?

Personally I think you'd be insane to turn it down. You'll train in the ACC, and the yes where you go will be a crap shoot but you'll make 80k a year the second you start. Very few jobs offer that. Nav loves promoting from with in and if they believe in you in ~5 years you can apply to do Vfr. If they allow you and you can't complete training. your old job is still there. Cuts out the risk.

I'm not saying it's easy to do. But it's by far the easiest of the 3 and classroom is only like 6 months.

Thanks for the answer. I don't understand though why you're saying I'll be making 80k when the salary range is 56k-89k?

[Braun]

Hi guys

I just received an invite for the FSS formation starting in December. Anybody else have received it?

I'm a little bit disappointed for not being selected for VFR, but I think I'm going to accept it. Any FSS who could convince me that FSS is a great career even if you are posted in the North?

Personally I think you'd be insane to turn it down. You'll train in the ACC, and the yes where you go will be a crap shoot but you'll make 80k a year the second you start. Very few jobs offer that. Nav loves promoting from with in and if they believe in you in ~5 years you can apply to do Vfr. If they allow you and you can't complete training. your old job is still there. Cuts out the risk.

I'm not saying it's easy to do. But it's by far the easiest of the 3 and classroom is only like 6 months.

Thanks for the answer. I don't understand though why you're saying I'll be making 80k when the salary range is 56k-89k?

Those are all base salaries. They don't include a lot of stuff. For example they say an IFR controller will make from 98kto 140k when in reality after 5-6 years an IFR controller can make more than 220k/year with OT.

[hip]

Personally I think you'd be insane to turn it down. You'll train in the ACC, and the yes where you go will be a crap shoot but you'll make 80k a year the second you start. Very few jobs offer that. Nav loves promoting from with in and if they believe in you in ~5 years you can apply to do Vfr. If they allow you and you can't complete training. your old job is still there. Cuts out the risk.

I'm not saying it's easy to do. But it's by far the easiest of the 3 and classroom is only like 6 months.

Thanks for the answer. I don't understand though why you're saying I'll be making 80k when the salary range is 56k-89k?

Those are all base salaries. They don't include a lot of stuff. For example they say an IFR controller will make from 98kto 140k when in reality after 5-6 years an IFR controller can make more than 220k/year with OT.

And with all the OT, the shift hours, can you manage to have a life outside work? That is also one of my concern

[Braun]

Thanks for the answer. I don't understand though why you're saying I'll be making 80k when the salary range is 56k-89k?

Those are all base salaries. They don't include a lot of stuff. For example they say an IFR controller will make from 98kto 140k when in reality after 5-6 years an IFR controller can make more than 220k/year with OT.

And with all the OT, the shift hours, can you manage to have a life outside work? That is also one of my concern

Can't speak for FSS but as an ATC I rather enjoy my schedule and have a life outside work. To each his own though, some people may find out lifestyle...hard or different.

[Jonathan]

I was like you when I started with Nav. I wanted to go VFR but I accepted a FSS offer instead. I don't regret it today. It's a different job but there are similarities and a lot of things that you wouldn't see otherwise. There is a strong need for staffing in the Montreal FIR for FSS, you will be welcomed As for the salary, others say the truth. It's easy to exceed 100k. Good luck.

[hip]

I was like you when I started with Nav. I wanted to go VFR but I accepted a FSS offer instead. I don't regret it today. It's a different job but there are similarities and a lot of things that you wouldn't see otherwise. There is a strong need for staffing in the Montreal FIR for FSS, you will be welcomed As for the salary, others say the truth. It's easy to exceed 100k. Good luck.

Thanks a lot for your answer, it really helps!

I currently have a job that I dislike, but the money is not too bad. Is it 100% sure that if I succeed the formation, I will be posted somewhere? Is it possible that there will be too many candidates and even if I succeed I could not be selected?

[Braun]

I was like you when I started with Nav. I wanted to go VFR but I accepted a FSS offer instead. I don't regret it today. It's a different job but there are similarities and a lot of things that you wouldn't see otherwise. There is a strong need for staffing in the Montreal FIR for FSS, you will be welcomed As for the salary, others say the truth. It's easy to exceed 100k. Good luck.

Thanks a lot for your answer, it really helps!

I currently have a job that I dislike, but the money is not too bad. Is it 100% sure that if I succeed the formation, I will be posted somewhere? Is it possible that there will be too many candidates and even if I succeed I could not be selected?

Everyone who gets an offer AND passes the training program is guaranteed a posting. We do not overbook courses. It would cost way to much $$$ to do that and also a lot of people wouldn't apply without knowing they were guaranteed a job after the lengthy training process. You get an offer and then it is up to you to pass the training but you are guaranteed a spot somewhere.

[TGSky]

Not my thread but could anyone let me know realisticly how long you should expect to wait before getting to move back south from a northern FSS posting?

[Jonathan]

Not my thread but could anyone let me know realisticly how long you should expect to wait before getting to move back south from a northern FSS posting?

It used to be 2-3 years, then it increased due to the lack of training. It took me 8 years to get to somewhere south after a few postings in the Toronto and Montreal FIRs. Even though I liked working on rotations at first, after a few years I wanted to get back on a "normal" work schedule. It took about 2 years after I raised my hand. Thing is - there is not many sites in the south and they are seniority bids. Anyway, company is trying to do more training and give more career opportunities to employees which should help.

[TGSky]

Not my thread but could anyone let me know realisticly how long you should expect to wait before getting to move back south from a northern FSS posting?

It used to be 2-3 years, then it increased due to the lack of training. It took me 8 years to get to somewhere south after a few postings in the Toronto and Montreal FIRs. Even though I liked working on rotations at first, after a few years I wanted to get back on a "normal" work schedule. It took about 2 years after I raised my hand. Thing is - there is not many sites in the south and they are seniority bids. Anyway, company is trying to do more training and give more career opportunities to employees which should help.

Wow. That is good to know, thank you very much.

[hip]

Hey guys

What did you do before becoming a FSS (or an ATC)? Have you been to university? How is the training for ATC compared with university?

[Jonathan]

Hey guys

What did you do before becoming a FSS (or an ATC)? Have you been to university? How is the training for ATC compared with university?

FSS was my first real job. I was still in cegep when I got accepted. I completed some university studies at home in the last years "just in case". ATC/FSS training is probably more difficult than university (of course - it depends on your field of study) due to the fact the it goes very fast and you are not allowed to fail. Success rate is often less than 50%. One of my collegue has a university master in business and he told me that his FSS training was more difficult. Expect higher, or I should say different type of difficulty for ATC training. But if you study a lot and do everything you can to succeed, you will be helped and your chances are better. The course is perfectly doable. It's not in the company's interest to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on your training if you're going to fail. PM me if you have more specific questions about FSS.

[flymaltaise]

Hey anyone got an inperson interview for the MTL FIR?

[flymaltaise]

Hey anyone has received invitation for the inperson interview for the Montreal FIR?

Please share your timeline if possible.

may application started
june exam done
july phone interview
august language assesment.

nothing until now.

[hip]

Hey guys

What did you do before becoming a FSS (or an ATC)? Have you been to university? How is the training for ATC compared with university?

FSS was my first real job. I was still in cegep when I got accepted. I completed some university studies at home in the last years "just in case". ATC/FSS training is probably more difficult than university (of course - it depends on your field of study) due to the fact the it goes very fast and you are not allowed to fail. Success rate is often less than 50%. One of my collegue has a university master in business and he told me that his FSS training was more difficult. Expect higher, or I should say different type of difficulty for ATC training. But if you study a lot and do everything you can to succeed, you will be helped and your chances are better. The course is perfectly doable. It's not in the company's interest to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on your training if you're going to fail. PM me if you have more specific questions about FSS.

Thanks, I just sent you a PM