Category Archives: Air Traffic Controller

ACP420 10 Reasons You Should NOT Become An Air Traffic Controller

In our last episode, we discussed the 10 reasons you should become an air traffic controller. Joining me again today is George Harper, an air traffic control manager, to discuss 10 reasons you may not want to become an air traffic controller.

Send us your accomplishments and a photo if you want us to share in the podcast on YouTube to feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com

Ten Reasons You Should Not Become An Air Traffic Controller:

Afraid of heights.
Don’t like high-stress environments.
Don’t like being responsible for people’s lives.
The opposite of intellectually stimulating can be intellectually exhausting
Rarely 9-5 Mon-Fri (schedule)
Cannot make mistakes (at all)
Never routine, always changing
Ongoing training and refresher training are required monthly
May have to move for career
It’s a difficult field to get into.

Links:

https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/acp285-life-of-an-air-traffic-control-tower-manager-with-george-harper/

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/air-traffic-controllers.htm#tab-1
Scholarships:
ATC Scholarship in our guide at https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/scholarships/

Monthly Group Coaching:

https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/group-career-coaching
Use coupon code “CoachItForward” for the first month free.

One On One Coaching:
https://valeri-aviation.thinkific.com/courses/career-coaching
Questions:

feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com or
Visit us: https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/contact/

ACP382 Air Traffic Controller and Life Coach Dawn Whyte

Have you ever wondered what being an air traffic controller is like? Today I have Dawn Whyte, an air traffic controller with over 30 years of experience who inspires others through her career coaching.

Questions, comments, or inspirational stories; please write us at feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com or visit https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/contact/

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Free Scholarships Guide:

https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/pay-it-forward/

Talking Points:

  1. How I became a controller – what I thought the job was going to be like, as compared to what the job does entail
  2. What is air traffic control and what makes it such a great career? – what are the pros? What are some of the challenges of the occupation? Things to consider are work/life balance, shift work, fatigue, and how stress in personal life can affect work.
  3. Career pivot – how it came about, how did resilience fit into the situation. Why did I choose to coach?
  4. Building resilience – what is resilience for starters? Why would you want to be resilient? How do we learn to be resilient in life? Why do we need it in aviation?
  5. What holds us back from being resilient? What are normal reactions to challenges or change? Awareness is such an important part of a resilience journey. Intentional thoughts and actions rather than reacting to situations.
  6. How do we become more resilient – there is no one way to become resilient. However, there are proven actions, thoughts, and behaviors that we can practice to become more resilient.

Visit Us At Sun N Fun Hangar A Booth 41.
https://flysnf.org/

Link’s Mentioned In the Podcast:
https://dawnwhyte.ca
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-whyte-4217851a2/
https://www.instagram.com/dawnwhyte2/

https://www.facebook.com/dawnwhytecoaching

ACP285 Life Of An Air Traffic Control Tower Manager with George Harper

Air Traffic Control Manager

Welcome to the inspirational, informational, and transparent aviation careers podcast. Today joining me is air traffic control tower manager George Harper to discuss what life is like working as a controller in a tower. 

Before we begin a few announcements.

Announcements:

The current online scholarships guide includes 38 new scholarships and 10 updates, a new index, and a new “Scholarships for Adults” category. To find out more visit https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/scholarships/ or click on the scholarships tab at AviationCareersPodcast.com.

Our latest video:

Pilot Interview Course Series

Talking Points:

  • George and his journey to the tower cab.
  • How he developed his passion for aviation?
  • Does everyone who operates in a control tower work for the FAA?
  • What is a contract tower?
  • What are the top reasons for becoming an Air Traffic Controller?
  • What are the challenges of being an Air Traffic Controller?
  • How to become an Air Traffic Controller.
  • Advice to those looking towards becoming a controller.
  • Pay and benefits.
  • Facility of the year 2019.

Links Mentioned in This Podcast:

ATC Example

https://www.flypgd.com/pgd-tower-rva-award/

http://www.rvainc.com/ 

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/air-traffic-controllers.htm

Usajobs.com

Faa.gov

ACP051 – Air Traffic Control, Air Force Academy, Working For The FAA, and Part Time Flight Instructing with Russ Roslewski


RussAndStearmanWant to know what it is like to work in the Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller or manager? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to design approaches? Thinking of working part time as a college professor or flight instructor? Today I have with me someone who has experience in all these fields and more.

The path towards your career goal is not straight but a journey full of variety and exciting adventures. One person who personifies this journey is Russ Roslewski. Russ has had many interesting jobs in his aviation career including The Air Force, FAA, and now working as an adjunct professor and flight instructor.

Russ has some great advice for those pursuing a career in aviation and is someone we should all admire for his ability to consistently move forward in his career AND have fun along the way. I know you will find his story fascinating and helpful in pursuing your career goal.

We Discuss:

  • How Russ developed his passion for aviation.
  • His years at the U.S. Air Force Academy and serving as a “U.S. Air Force Academy Liaison Officer”.
  • Advice for those applying and interviewing for the Air Force Academy.
  • What an “Airfield Operations Officer” is and how this prepared him for a civilian job.
  • Air Traffic Control and Airfield Management jobs in the Air Force.
  • Working as as a liaison to the foreign national leadership.
  • His involved in several mishap investigations from an ATC standpoint.
  • How he worked his way into a TERPS (Terminal Procedures) job with the FAA.
  • Advice for those interested in an job working with Terminal Procedures.
  • The benefits and challenges of working part-time as a flight instructor.
  • Working as an adjunct professor the rewards and challenges.
  • General career advice for those who are thinking of taking the leap into a new career direction.

AtcBlsJobOutlook
AtcWagesBls2012

Links:

FAA Aviation Careers

Occupational Outlook Handbook : Air Traffic Controllers

FAA Salaries from Glassdoor.com

SMAC066 – How To Build An Instrument Approach With Russ Roslewski

Russ Roslewski Blog


ACP045 – Airline Pilot – Stressful, Dangerous, and Boring?


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We Discuss:

  • ATC Contract Towers.
  • Why airline pilot is listed as the most stressful and most dangerous job.
  • Is Being an Airline Pilot Boring?

Listener Mail:

  • A listener who wants to become an astronaut asks:  Should I join the Air Force and gain flight experience and then apply to test pilot school?  Is it possible to pursue a graduate degree while learning how to fly a MWS aircraft? 
  • What would you recommend is the best place to network regarding corporate aviation & Jobs?
  • I live in Chicago, any recommendations, or any clubs I could join?
  • Would a check ride failure impact my corporate flying careers?
  • Will employers still consider me for employment with multiple failures?  
  • A 20 year old Bahamian pilot would like more information on aerial photography.  
  • A 38 year old flight attendant with a charter airline wants to be a commercial  pilot. Given the time and expense involved, am I too old to enter this profession? How long would it take me to complete my training? Once training is completed, how many years would I have in the profession before I have to retire   
  • A Canadian pilot wants to know if there are scholarships available for aviation in Canada?
  • Does the excitement of aviation continue once you actually ‘make it’?
  • Are you still as passionate about aviation as you were when you blew your tires driving off the road pointing out the 747?  

Links Mentioned In This Podcast:

SimpleFlight.net – Live Aviation Radio Show in broadcast over the internet.

Jet Upset Training Adds Big Value To Your Aviation Ventures – Pilot Jet Podcast Episode 18

Pilot Records  Information Act

Forbes Most Deadliest Jobs

Most Stressful Jobs from Salary.com

CBAA – Chicago Business Aviation Association

Linked In Chicago Business Aviation Network

Linked In Chicago Area Business Aviation Association

Linked In Business Aviation Network


ACP032 – Listener Mail with Tom Wachowski

FlightDeck737Welcome to Episode 32. I hope you enjoyed the last two episodes full of interviews from  the 2013 Sun N Fun Fly-In and Expo in Lakeland, Florida. I enjoyed interviewing these passionate people as they talked about aviation careers.  If you really want to hear some motivating interviews of some truly inspirational aviators make sure you listen to episodes 30 and 31.

In today’s episode we are going to catch up on some of the past questions.  Included in this episode is a short interview with Alan Lawless a flight test engineer who I interviewed in episode 22. He will help us answer one of our engineering questions.

 Today I have with me a frequent co-host on the show Tom Wachowski. Tom is a corporate pilot and former airline pilot who brings a unique perspective to this podcast. Before we begin lets catch up with Tom and some of the interesting flying he has done in the past few months.

Listener Mail:

From Todd:

 I am 37 and can retire from law enforcement in 5 years. I am looking at starting a career in aviation. I will be 42 when I can retire. Would it be possible for me to start now and make a career in aviation at least flying regional or cargo?

From Jesus:

 Jesus is a air traffic controller with questions about jobs in the United States compared to Europe.  Jesus also wants to know if we can recommend large flight schools and online training.

From Brian:

 Brian started flying while he passed the bar and wants to discuss options on how he can meld the two careers of flying and law.

From John:

 Would a flight school look askance at someone who took such a long time to learn how to fly? How about “real flying” jobs? Are they looking for pilots who completed their primary training as close to FAA minimums as possible? 

From Tim:

What would you recommend in terms of getting my pilot training and a college degree. Should I do one or the other first or both at the same time?

Tim also would like us to compare and contrast the training experience from a big flight academy to the training received from an individual instructor at a smaller school.

Question From Junior:

 In Episode 27 we had a question from Junior concerning changing careers from a Designer to Engineering .

 From Jonathan:

Am I too old to become a professional pilot?

What pilot ratings would I need to become a UAV pilot?

How would you suggest I go about my career?

From Carlos:

I am currently a student pilot, but I am within days of taking my check ride.

Would it be possible to do some charters part time?

If so what are some things that I should start looking into?

Thanks for listening to Aviation Careers Podcast. Your questions are important to us and if you have any questions comments or suggestions there are many ways to contact us. You can simply click on the Contact page on our website – AviationCareersPodcast.com or submit a questions via facebook or twitter.  You can also leave us a voicemail at 347-MY-WINGS, 347-699-4647.

 If you found this information useful please rate us on iTunes so others can find us.  Remember to always keep focused on your career goal but be ready for many challenges because those challenges will define who you are in the future. The challenges are the process through which our resolve is hardened like steel.  Keep focused on your goal because I have faith you will achieve it.

Talk to you next episode and Safe Flying!

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Airplane Geeks Podcast

Taking Advantage Of The Pending Pilot Shortages

Sun N Fun 2012 Interviews Look for the interview Restored Champ to hear the interview with an aviation attorney.

Your Money House


ACP028 – Federal Government Careers With NTSB Accident Investigator Bill English.


Most of our discussion is of careers in commercial aviation but there are numerous jobs with the Federal Government. One of the more fascinating jobs is investigating accidents. Today I have with me someone from the National Transportation Safety Board to discuss the job of accident investigator and the various federal jobs relating to aviation.

Bill English is a National Transportation Safety Board Investigator in Charge in the Major Aviation Investigations Division. Bill has a varied background and extensive knowledge in the area of instrument procedures and design which he has shared through various articles in IFR Magazine. Bill also has been an air traffic controller, corporate pilot, and flight instructor.  Bill has agreed to join us today to share with us his exciting career as an accident investigator at the NTSB.

Bill and I discuss:

  • How he developed his passion for aviation.
  • His current job as Investigator In Charge at the NTSB.
  • The various jobs at the NTSB that relate to aviation.
  • The experience and education necessary to become an investigator with the NTSB.
  • His career as an air traffic controller.
  • The many federal jobs relating to aviation.
  • Accident investigation careers outside the NTSB.
  • His advice for those interested in an aviation career with the Federal Government.


For More Information:

NTSB Careers

Air Traffic Controller Careers from Bureau Of Labor Statistics

Accident Investigator Jobs from AvJobs.com

Association For Unmanned Vehicles International

The Aviation Herald

Recommendation:

Safety Management Systems in Aviation (Ashgate Studies in Human Factors for Flight Operations)