Hello to all of you who keep us so safe in the sky's. I am considering making the switch from pilot to ACC. Any of you done this already? Looking for advice, pay information...I know it's good to start but how much $ do you top out at? Any regrets? Miss flying? Bored of staring at a screen all day? Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers!
thinking of making the switch!
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The Velvet Fog
- Rank 2
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- Joined: Thu Jun 01, 2006 7:31 pm
- Location: YYZ
"Bored of staring at a screen all day? "
While their can be no debate about the merits of the scenery, I would have thought this question applies just as well to todays pilots, except that our screens are constantly changing. When I got out of flying, the FMS was just coming into being and few of todays aircraft are capable of doing the things the old 737's and DC9's could do. From what I've observed, while many crews love it, FMS has taken a lot of the fun and creativity out of flying.
ATC is different every day with variable challenges popping upon a regular basis keeping it fresh; it's most redeeming quality besides job security.
Regards,
Mel
While their can be no debate about the merits of the scenery, I would have thought this question applies just as well to todays pilots, except that our screens are constantly changing. When I got out of flying, the FMS was just coming into being and few of todays aircraft are capable of doing the things the old 737's and DC9's could do. From what I've observed, while many crews love it, FMS has taken a lot of the fun and creativity out of flying.
ATC is different every day with variable challenges popping upon a regular basis keeping it fresh; it's most redeeming quality besides job security.
Regards,
Mel
I've been a Tower Controller for six years. Before that I accumulated almost 7000 hrs of Commercial flying.
No regrets at all. I wish I would have switched sooner. I love this job. I loved flying too, but as I got older other things became more important. Such as...everthing else but flying. I sleep in my own bed every night, I get to see my family every day, get lots of vacation, pension, benefits, and the best thing - job security. With the cyclical nature of the flying biz, it doesn't matter how much seniority you have your airline could still go bankrupt. NavCanada will be around until after I'm dead.
And the job itself? It kicks ass. When it's busy, it's a rush. When it isn't, I get paid to take a break. And it's way more challenging than flying. If you are interested in trying, don't wait like I did.
No regrets at all. I wish I would have switched sooner. I love this job. I loved flying too, but as I got older other things became more important. Such as...everthing else but flying. I sleep in my own bed every night, I get to see my family every day, get lots of vacation, pension, benefits, and the best thing - job security. With the cyclical nature of the flying biz, it doesn't matter how much seniority you have your airline could still go bankrupt. NavCanada will be around until after I'm dead.
And the job itself? It kicks ass. When it's busy, it's a rush. When it isn't, I get paid to take a break. And it's way more challenging than flying. If you are interested in trying, don't wait like I did.
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wordstwice
- Rank 4
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- Joined: Wed May 09, 2007 2:48 pm
- Location: pointy end
!
Last edited by wordstwice on Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
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invertedattitude
- Rank 10
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- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 1:12 pm
ATC is a fantastic job, I'm a radar en-route controller... the training is tough, very tough, and just getting accepted is even more challenging.
Once you make it, I can tell you at this stage in my life I couldn't be happier that I left flying behind. (Hunting for a flying job anyway, I still love to fly on my own during my generous amounts of time-off!)
Once you make it, I can tell you at this stage in my life I couldn't be happier that I left flying behind. (Hunting for a flying job anyway, I still love to fly on my own during my generous amounts of time-off!)
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jetboy1975
- Rank 2
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:05 am
If you don't want to stare at a screen all day... go VFR! I became a pilot because I didn't want an office job but then got laid off in the downturn. Decided to try ATC (VFR so I don't feel like I'm in an office) and haven't looked back since. I do miss the flying but you can't beat a schedule, good pay, benefits, tonnes of time off and job security. I still fly contract jobs on the side for fun and to keep my feet in it. The best of both worlds.
