Possible to be an Air Traffic Controller after 31yrs old with only some military experience?

Question

Possible to be an Air Traffic Controller after 31yrs old with only some military experience?

Answer 1

Air Traffic Controller Age Limit

Answer 2

I think you have it right. Military trained controllers can be hired for FAA positions prior to reaching the 31st birthday or if they are retired military. My understanding is that the former Patco union was instrumental in implementing this hiring restriction shortly after it was founded in 1968, to limit competition from highly trained former military controllers.

http://www.faa.gov/jobs/job_opportunities/airtraffic_controllers/openings/

Since most controllers were hired in the 1980's, and given the mandatory retirement age of 56, there are going to be many openings for civilian controllers in the next decade.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Air_Traffic_Controllers_Organization_%281968%29

Good Luck!

Answer 3

I believe the FAA will waive the age requirement because of past military experience.



Also note that being an ATC is STRESSFUL and very difficult. You are responsible for multiple aircraft landing and takeoffs...and a lot of times, you will be low manned since the job is very hard and not many people can hack it.



Two friends of mine when I was in the AF were ATCs...both graduated ATC school and were permanent party at Sheppard AFB. One lost his job because he couldn't hack it anymore (Sheppard is the busiest air space in all of the US because of all the pilot training they do).



I believe you get tested twice a year every year and if you fail, you get kicked out.

Answer 4

Your recruiter WILL lie to you - that's what they do. Do NOT trust anything a recruiter tells you, get everything in writing and have an attorney with military experience look it over before you sign.



To get the straight scoop on ATC hiring practices, contact the FAA (www.faa.gov).

Answer 5

Thee FAA will not hire past age 31 except the few possible exceptions. Rarely a Phoenix 20 opening occurs for retired (and I mean after 20 years of service) military controllers. The other option is the Department of Defence hires controllers. Their cutoff is I believe 34 years old. They are federal employees classified as 2152's (the federal job code for ATC) and as such can swap back and forth as civilians in the 2152 code from FAA to DOD and back. DOD jobs are hard to get however and few and far between. If you really want the job though, you can still get hired by a federal contract tower (companies like Serco and Midwest) IF you have a CTO (control tower operator's certificate).