Expert: Dacus T. Grant - 7/13/2005

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Followup To
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Also, how are the working conditions at a center? I know that a particular center has many sectors, but what do you start off doing after you get hired?
Answer -
Hi William,
  After you get to the center you are in the training department approximately 3-4 months.  You draw the center map and then you are assigned to an area of speciality.  This is where you get area rated.  You learn the approaches, letters of agreement, individual sector boundaries, frequencies, etc.  After you finish in the training department you are assigned to the floor.  At this time you are on the A side waiting for D side training.  On the A side you basically are a flight data specialist and you pull strips.  Especially at facilities that still use strips, many centers have URET which is basically electronic strips.  After you go to  D side training  you go back to the floor to get certified on your D sides with live traffic.  Once certified you are then sent to R side school.  After that you are returned to the floor for R side training with live traffic.  Once you are certified on all of your R sides you are a CPC certified Professional controller.  Piece of cake.

Good Luck
Dacus
dacus@iwon.com

How long did it take for you to get area rated and finish your R side certs?  Also, were you previously military or did you just apply and go to the Academy?

Answer -
Hi William,
    It took me approximatly 2 and 1/2 years to get fully certified.  I would estimate 2.5 to 3 years after you get in the building.  It depends on a lot of things.  I had no previous ATC experience.  I was a telephone repairman at Ft. Benning, GA.  I took the ATC test and was accepted.  They say that it is a little harder for former military controllers because they have to unlearn a number of things.  I think that  it depends on the individual.  

Good Luck
Dacus
dacus@iwon.com

The thing is that I learned basic Air traffic in tech school and a year and a half of working Columbus RAPCON.  I would think that I would have a leg up on anyone else for the simple reason is that I wouldn't have to unlearn anything.  I basically went through a 2 year training program at a very busy and complex facility.  Would you think that it would be a little harder for me at the Academy with this in mind.


Answer
Hi William,
   Yes, you have worked in a facility with live traffic and you know the ATC rules.   The academy is NOT air traffic control as you know it.  It is a situtation set up to see if you can follow a set of rules.  These rules often contradict real air traffic and with you having atc experience you would tend to rely on that on not on the guidelines set down by the academy.  Also, terminal experience is much different that center experience.  They are both atc however they are a world apart.

Dacus