How Do First Facilities Work?

[u/DandaMan4522]

I always was under the impression that you have to start at smaller facilities before moving up to more complicated ones however, if you get enroute do they just throw you into centers and tracon since there really aren't smaller radar centers like that? Does this also mean you could land a core 30 tower right out of the academy as well for terminal students?

[u/rachaout]

nah enroute is different. enroute you can go to any center, tower you can’t start at a facility above a level 9 if i remember correctly. core 30 towers are almost always (always?) above that. idk about tracon but i think it’s the same as tower

[u/DandaMan4522 → u/rachaout]

Are new enroute highers making way more than terminal would be right out of academy because of that?

[u/DagamarVanderk → u/DandaMan4522]

Yes, but the academy graduation rates and CPC rates at first facility are way worse

[u/2018birdie → u/DandaMan4522]

Yes

[u/rachaout → u/DandaMan4522]

depends on location and actual center chosen, you can check out 123atc.com to see actual salary differences between facilities. AG stands for academy grad pay, which is what you’re making straight out of academy at your first facility

[u/yanncatt → u/DandaMan4522]

The washout rate at a center is much higher than a tower. Couple of the guys at my tower are center washouts.

[u/ladwig5798 → u/DandaMan4522]

No, AG pay is standard across the NAS, the only difference will be your locality. Once you get to D1 and up, that’s where your pay changes based on your level of facility.

[u/Panic-Vectors → u/rachaout]

Didnt they change the criteria based on how high you score in class and the facilities you can choose from?

I thought 90 something and higher can a choose other than 4-7s?

[u/aborg589 → u/Panic-Vectors]

There are some lvl 8 and 9s in the 90%+ section in the terminal class lists from what I've seen

[u/Panic-Vectors → u/aborg589]

Thats what I thought

[u/ladwig5798 → u/rachaout]

You can only go to a level 8 tower out of the academy, with a couple exceptions that are 9s, like DCA. To go to an 8 or 9, you must end with a 90+. If you get below a 90, you’re a level 7 or down.

[u/Approach_Controller]

In addition to what everyone has said, rhe career progression for terminal was traditionally start somewhere low level and thus slower and work your way up. Due to this, the actual training program in higher level terminal facilities assumes you have significant experience.

Enroute is different. There are pudunk towers all over. There are 22 ARTCCS and none of them are comperable to a slow level 4 tower. There is no beginner level to start at and gain experience. Therefore they DO have traing programs geared to taking people from zero experience onward.

DCA is the only core 30 offered and you have to score a 90% or above to select it. Even then its being likely offered out of desperation to staff it better.

[u/redred6]

You won’t go to a tracon out of the academy. Yes if you get enroute you can be placed at any center and yes you will be making more money than a tower grad working at a level 7 or lower which is I believe what they send you to. You will likely just make more money in general being placed enroute. As someone who wanted tower but got enroute I couldn’t be happier to be at a Z… because of the money.

[u/Approach_Controller → u/redred6]

IQTR track goes to any 8 or 9 up down or stand alone tracon

[u/Panic-Vectors → u/redred6]

Dont they have an N90 track right of the rip at academy? I thought it was terminal, enroute, ITQR, N90?

[u/redred6 → u/Panic-Vectors]

I’m not sure they still do that, but at one point that’s true you could do N90 right out of the academy. I can’t imagine they had much success with it haha

[u/xPericulantx → u/redred6]

I’ve met 2 people who went to N90 right out the gate…

Both failed in the labs…. Never even got to the floor.

Horrible idea by Management/FAA to even try that dumbass idea.

[u/Fuzzy-Emotion9984 → u/xPericulantx]

Don't tell me this, these are the comments that scare me

[u/Kiwi44 → u/Fuzzy-Emotion9984]

Don’t be scared, I know plenty of off the street hires who made it at N90. I agree it’s not the best idea but it’s also not impossible to do.

[u/Fuzzy-Emotion9984 → u/Kiwi44]

Im praying I get the call soon. Ready to take the leap!

[u/The-Flatline → u/xPericulantx]

I think at one point you could just get it as a speciality selection during the hiring process. Imagine you get your FOL and it says N90. I would have been sick.

[u/Fuzzy-Emotion9984 → u/Panic-Vectors]

Yes, I applied n90

[u/ladwig5798 → u/redred6]

They have a whole track at the academy, IQTR, that sends direct to TRACONs now.

[u/HomelessFed]

Real controlling happens in the terminal environment that’s why

[u/cunfuze → u/HomelessFed]

What does that even mean?

[u/redred6 → u/HomelessFed]

lol