Awesome job i found :)?

Question

I found this kick *** job.. what are your thoughts on and Air Traffic Controller (you know for like air planes, where they check the radar in that tower ect...) It pays so good and i think i have the brains and memory to do it.

If you have any comments as to, if the schooling is hard.

please share ideas (mature)

thanks for reading!! (plus good job outlook when i get there =P)

Answer 1

It's a really exciting job, but a lot of responsibility.

You have to be 29 or younger when you start, because it requires mental acuity, speedy reflexes, etc.

You will have to absolutely master what you're learning. You can't just try to cruise through it, but if you're willing to apply yourself, you'll do it.  

Answer 2

Air Traffic Controllers earn excellent pay and benefits, and you're right -- the job prospects are awesome! So are the retirement benefits! It does require some training.

The one thing you might not have considered is that this job involves a LOT of stress. That's because there's a good chance that if you make a mistake, people will die. And, you will often be juggling a lot of planes on the screen all at the same time, so the pressure can be pretty intense.

But if you are a calm person who handles stress well, go for it!!

Answer 3

High pressure job.  Just the responsibility of keeping planes moving around and not into each other contributes to early burnout.

They're required to retire at age 56, unless in some highly specialized circumstances.

Answer 4

Personally I love it and figured I'd share some thoughts.  The pay is directly determined by how busy your facility is.  If you go to a small facility and get fully certified you might not crack the 40K a year level.  

The schooling is memorization to the extreme and yes very difficult.  Not so much during training at the FAA academy, although there is serious pressure as if you fail your PV (performance verification, basically a final simulator test) you're fired right there on the spot. When you actually get to your duty location the heat really gets turned up.  The maps you'll have to memorize will frighten friends and family and you'll spend day after day memorizing pages of identifiers and frequencies.  The training at your duty location will last from 6 months to up to 3 or even 4 years depending on the facility.  

When you apply, expect at least a year before they hire you if they hire you.  Endless documents, clearances, forms, red tape and other government stuff.  

If none of that deters you, go for it, its the best job in the world.