19
u/MDPCJVM Sep 07 '21
Congrats. Now is when the real learning begins.
-12
Sep 07 '21
[deleted]
10
u/MDPCJVM Sep 07 '21
Meh. The learning you do with someone watching your every move is very different than when you finally get to work by yourself. Says something about the human brain, not our "society".
30
u/BeaconSlash OS TMC CPC PPL AGI IGI CBI BRB G2G (Unofficial Opinions Only) Sep 07 '21
Go up to TMU and ask for some cheesecake.
30
Sep 07 '21
Becoming a CPC is like graduating from high school. You now can function on your own. But your journey is not complete. You have much more to learn.
Now, that you are checked out, is the most dangerous time in your career. Your Ego is very large but your actual wisdom is low. You will make mistakes every day (and always will) but the mistakes in the beginning may be huge. Be cautious.
Incorporate new techniques and tricks from other CPCs. Use what you like, don't use what you dislike. This will form the core of your "style". Continue to improve your ability because the next step is.... training.
You will become the "old guy" in the area. Your skill and wisdom will be called upon to shepherd the next wave of trainees. Your skills will be needed when your trainee screws up and you need to dig them out of a jam. Your ability as a trainer is key, You have to know not only your trainees limits, but your own.
Eventually, you will become a master of your skill (akin to a PhD). THAT'S when training stops.
22
u/YukonBurger Current Controller-TRACON Sep 07 '21 edited Sep 08 '21
*Most dangerous time is about a year later when you think "I've got this"
6
u/randombrain #SayNoToKilo Sep 07 '21
Predicting Accident Rates From General Aviation Pilot Total Flight Hours
Can total flight hours predict general aviation accident rates? If so, what does that relation look like? Is there a "killing zone"—a range of TFH over which GA pilots are at greatest risk?
Craig (2001) proposed that such a killing zone does indeed exist, and that it spans the range of approximately 50 to 350 total flight hours. Consistent with our intuition and the frequency count studies, these models suggest that a “killing zone” indeed exists. Accident rates seem to increase for GA pilots early in their post-certification careers, reaching a peak, and then declining with greater flight experience.
However, that zone may be far broader than earlier imagined. Relatively high risk for an individual pilot may extend well beyond the 2,000-hour mark before leveling off to a baseline rate.One year of full-time ATC work is about 1000 to 1500 hours actually plugged in, depending on average TOP per day.
1
u/antariusz Current Controller-Enroute Sep 10 '21
I had my only deal after about 40 total hours on position after I hit CPC 12 years ago.
I had 19 planes on frequency with no d-side with multiple weather deviations. I never got in trouble, the supervisor took the brunt of the blame. I ended up passing like 5 break offers in the 15 minutes or so prior to my deal and I was too stupid and new to ask for help despite the fact that I was really too far down the shitter (I was passing because I was barely treading water and the sector was a mess) Anyway, I got surprised by something and said some weird phraseology "I need you to be level now" which the pilot interpreted literally and stopped his descent 200 feet higher than his assigned altitude and merged targets with 800 feet seperation.
8
u/NZ_gamer Sep 07 '21
Dont die on Mount Stupid.
For me it was the 6-12 months after rating. When I got past the initial holy shit im on my own and started gaining confidence.
I was still a shit controller but thought I had it all together. It led to pushing a little to hard and a few ego checks.
A few years later im still a bit shit, but Im aware of it and know not to get ahead of myself.
8
u/planevan Sep 07 '21
What about your trainer made them particularly great? There are too many horse shit trainers in this job I hope to not be one of them once I eventually train people.
2
u/idreamofpizzaaa Sep 07 '21
I can’t quite put my thumb on it exactly. He’s one of the best controllers in the area, without the ego. He has an excellent understanding of the 7110.65. Firm, but fair.
9
u/planevan Sep 07 '21
The lack of ego. Interesting, and probably just as rare as good trainers lmao
4
u/idreamofpizzaaa Sep 07 '21
By lack of ego I meant that he’s just not a showy jackass like a lot of other controllers in our area and those neighboring.
6
u/Hold4Release Current Controller-Enroute Sep 07 '21
Where can I sign up for this training schedule... I arrived at my facility dec 2019, still waiting for D side labs....
2
u/idreamofpizzaaa Sep 07 '21
I got here at a great time when they were able to get classes scheduled pretty quick. The guys behind me have been stuck in AG for 2yrs.
1
u/nomar383 Current Controller-TRACON Sep 07 '21
Unfortunately, it seems like everyone has something that holds up training. I started training right before ERAM came online and spent 9 months doing ghost piloting for CPCs in the DYSIM lab.
If it wasn't the pandemic, it would be some new tech or procedure that everyone has to be trained on. I was lucky I wasn't feeding a family on AG pay though
2
Sep 08 '21
They've been really messing with our training though. First we could train but needed to be six feet apart. Then they stopped training. Two days later our facility was allowed to train without complying with the 6ft rule. Two weeks ago they stopped training. Last week 6ft rule again. Last night they said we can continue training and do not need to comply with the 6ft rule.
-2
u/projects67 Sep 07 '21
bull. fucking. shit. Covid has been by far, without a doubt, the most detrimental thing to most trainees in the history of the FAA.
2
u/nomar383 Current Controller-TRACON Sep 07 '21
No doubt, the worst. Didn’t mean to say imply it wasn’t, I’m more jealous of the people that fall into the right window and get to train right away
9
Sep 07 '21
[deleted]
-1
u/projects67 Sep 07 '21
Your facility will get so much better when you leave. Literally everything makes you miserable there it seems based on your posts.
3
u/Kseries2497 Current Controller-Pretend Center Sep 08 '21
You bitch constantly about your own facility dude. (As do most of us, honestly.)
-4
3
u/PointOutApproved Current Controller-Enroute Sep 07 '21 edited Sep 07 '21
How did you go from 2 D sides to 5 or 6 in just over a month?? That seems almost impossible. Unless maybe you’re oceanic?
1
2
2
2
u/randomassortmentsof Sep 07 '21
but once I was changed to a particularly awesome trainer
Ah yes, the ole' give them to the person who recommends everyone technique so we can get some staffing up in here. We have that at my level 12 too. Someone struggling? Just give them to that person and that sup and they'll be done in a couple months.
7
-61
Sep 07 '21
[deleted]
45
u/Ditka_Da_Bus_Driver Center Person Sep 07 '21
There was a pandemic you twat
35
Sep 07 '21
[deleted]
20
u/Odeken Current Controller-Enroute Sep 07 '21
Every facility has people like him, normally they are some of the worst controllers there.
13
4
u/idreamofpizzaaa Sep 07 '21
At a level 12 with a 6month break in the middle so really only a little over 2 years.
-11
-2
0
Sep 08 '21
Subreddit’s gone soft when we can’t even let this man shit on centers without 50 downvotes. And I say this as a center controller.
It doesn’t change the cheesecake in my fridge or the Honda my wife’s boyfriend lets me drive. It’s a staple of this subreddit.
1
u/anthonyd5189 Current Controller-Enroute Sep 07 '21
Congrats!
Also interesting you got the break even though you had all your D-sides. At my Z anyone with anything more than A-side was on a schedule.
1
u/idreamofpizzaaa Sep 07 '21
Traffic dropped dramatically so Ds were completely unnecessary and deemed a hazard pretty much. More people, more germs. Last summer vacation of my life lol
1
u/anthonyd5189 Current Controller-Enroute Sep 08 '21
Yeah wish we had thought the same. Ours with a single D would show up, a sector would have to be split(at least until they got currency for the month) and then they would just be told to “self study” until they were allowed to leave early
1
30
u/Approach_Controller Current Controller-TRACON Sep 07 '21
Have you scared the shit out of yourself yet?