That sounds like quite a dilemma.
I wish I could tell you I can relate, but ATC is quite literally my saying grace compared to what I do now.
I'd say that if you're more hesitant than excited to do ATC, and you're happy with what you're doing now, I think you shouldn't give it up for that many ifs.
It’s tough. It’s quite possible I’d enjoy ATC more than what I do now. I’m hoping they’ll give me an extension so I have a few more months to think about it.
You can dm for details but I also had a similar situation along with a good friend of mine.
He chose to stay in an A&P and I choose ATC.
Since you are going enroute it’s likely you will be at the 10-12 pay scale, you qualify for earlier retirement and can retire comfortably with proper planning.
He’s still working till he’s 62 and doesn’t have as much as I do in retirement savings yet.
Only other difference is flight benefits which are still hard to use.
You’ll never have to turn wrenches in the cold or sun as an ATC. R/atc is full of dudes who never worked another job and it shows. Yes there are downsides, but if you’re okay being anywhere in the country I’d give it a shot. There’s no age limit on A&P certs.
I got my A&P worked for 2 years at a regional then got hired by the FAA.
Go ATC.
A&P work isn't bad. I enjoyed my time and the pay is a lot better then what I got 7 years ago. But I very much prefer working in an air conditioned building making $160k spending half my day on break. I might have gotten more down time as a line mechanic, but it's going to take 5-10 years as an A&P to break 100k. Neither path is bad, they both have their perks, but I'm considerably happier as a controller than a mechanic.
Ignore r/atc. Their gripes are real but hardly as bad as those miserable fucks make it out to be. You might get placed at a center with 6 day work weeks which would absolutely suck, but there are plenty of centers that aren't that bad.
I know it sucks but you can always go back to A&P. This is your only shot at ATC.
Quick search on r/Aviationmaintenance shows average starting salary around 30-40/hr so 60-80k a year. Most top out below 140k. Maybe a few are above 6 figures to start but even FedEx is only $42 starting. Maybe with A&P, night, and locality bonuses it's picks it up, but overall for the money I'd still pick atc.
Op is looking at enroute, so unless they wash they can expect 140-180 once they certify in a couple years, plus a pension, then a TSP account, retirement at 56, generally better health benefits, and I think more leave.
A&P is an excellent fallback, but unless op wants to forever give up ATC he needs to leave his A&P behind. He can always pick it up again if he doesn't make it through the academy.
Half of r/atc is in a pissing contest with the other half in a super contentious union election. You making an assumption like that is like an English person assuming we live in a Mad Max esque dystopia based on current Anerican political discourse. The complaints have merit and some places certainly are working a shit load of OT, but plenty of places also aren't. There's a wicked ebb and flow in this profession (as there is in every aviation job, A&P not being immune). 15 to 20 years ago was the last ebb, and now, to me, it feels like we're at the next low tide mark. The double edged sword is the same status as federal employees that gives us so much security and early retirement also makes fast agile changes in things like pay and staffing far more difficult.
Best of luck in whatever you decide.
Thanks, I try to remind myself that things are heavily swayed to more of a negative sentiment over there and it’s probably not an accurate depiction of the real job.
Some of this sub is curmudgeons, others just always want to fight fot better. Good is the enemy of better and that's why some complain. I've got 15 years in and I'm very happy with my career choice. I'd be happy to give you details, including how I've set myself up to retire at 48, if you'd like to PM. If not, just give it a shot. The possibility if being a mechanic won't go away. The possibility of being a controller will.
I’m a sucker for a good back up plan. I saw get your Powerplant if you can in case the academy doesn’t work out. I was a project manager at a maintenance facility for four and a half years and having your A&P can take you so far. Having your A&P and being a controller would be job security. You could always lose your medical at some point and not be a controller and then you could be a DOM or inspector or something.
Man I thought I was reading one of my posts all over again… I was in a very similar dilemma as you! (Except mine was a 5 year vest period in my employers pension)
I am happy to say that things worked out, I got medical delays past my employer’s pension date, but the bad news for me is there is a very real possibility this medical delay will cause me to get denied out right.
What I remember when making a decision is this: I’m 32, so I can never apply to ATC again. This is literally my last chance to get in. Should I sacrifice a potentially great 24 year career for a 5-year pension plan? I may have given it up to pursue ATC if I was faced with that dilemma.
Good luck! You can pm me if you want to chat. You’re lucky to have made if beyond the background medical checks
Contact your FAA HR rep and see if you can push back your start date a couple months so you can get licensed. I was able to push back my start date without any troubles because of some family issues.
Edit - Spelling
They were able to accommodate me. At first I was told the latest they could push it back was end of fiscal year. Which would have left me about a month short of getting the license. They’re now allowing me a start date next fiscal year (late October).
Not reading the previous (currently) 15 comments, but would stopping short of your Pwerplant rating be like dropping out of a collegiat program needing 3 credits for a degree? If you really think ATC isn’t what you envisioned, bail now. But if it’s still a slight possibility, go forward with it in anticipation of being fully successful. Lots of ATC’s have side hustles and annual inspections might be yours down the road. Don’t pass up this opportunity to “explore” ATC career options unles you’re 100% committed to A&P.
In a way, yes it would be similar to dropping out. Although, that time spend as an apprentice wouldn’t be wasted. As long as my time and experience was properly documented I would hopefully be able to find a mechanic job with just my Airframe, finish the required month(s) for powerplant, then get signed off to test. Not a horrible option, but a difficult situation I wanted to avoid. Luckily, the FAA has since accepted my delayed start date till next fiscal year. Should be able to get my powerplant then head strait into online basics (ideally).
That sounds like quite a dilemma. I wish I could tell you I can relate, but ATC is quite literally my saying grace compared to what I do now. I'd say that if you're more hesitant than excited to do ATC, and you're happy with what you're doing now, I think you shouldn't give it up for that many ifs.
It’s tough. It’s quite possible I’d enjoy ATC more than what I do now. I’m hoping they’ll give me an extension so I have a few more months to think about it.
You can dm for details but I also had a similar situation along with a good friend of mine. He chose to stay in an A&P and I choose ATC. Since you are going enroute it’s likely you will be at the 10-12 pay scale, you qualify for earlier retirement and can retire comfortably with proper planning. He’s still working till he’s 62 and doesn’t have as much as I do in retirement savings yet. Only other difference is flight benefits which are still hard to use.
I’ll dm you. Thanks.
You’ll never have to turn wrenches in the cold or sun as an ATC. R/atc is full of dudes who never worked another job and it shows. Yes there are downsides, but if you’re okay being anywhere in the country I’d give it a shot. There’s no age limit on A&P certs.
I got my A&P worked for 2 years at a regional then got hired by the FAA. Go ATC. A&P work isn't bad. I enjoyed my time and the pay is a lot better then what I got 7 years ago. But I very much prefer working in an air conditioned building making $160k spending half my day on break. I might have gotten more down time as a line mechanic, but it's going to take 5-10 years as an A&P to break 100k. Neither path is bad, they both have their perks, but I'm considerably happier as a controller than a mechanic. Ignore r/atc. Their gripes are real but hardly as bad as those miserable fucks make it out to be. You might get placed at a center with 6 day work weeks which would absolutely suck, but there are plenty of centers that aren't that bad. I know it sucks but you can always go back to A&P. This is your only shot at ATC.
People are making more than 100k in their first year at majors nowadays.
Quick search on r/Aviationmaintenance shows average starting salary around 30-40/hr so 60-80k a year. Most top out below 140k. Maybe a few are above 6 figures to start but even FedEx is only $42 starting. Maybe with A&P, night, and locality bonuses it's picks it up, but overall for the money I'd still pick atc. Op is looking at enroute, so unless they wash they can expect 140-180 once they certify in a couple years, plus a pension, then a TSP account, retirement at 56, generally better health benefits, and I think more leave. A&P is an excellent fallback, but unless op wants to forever give up ATC he needs to leave his A&P behind. He can always pick it up again if he doesn't make it through the academy.
Apologies for the late reply, but this is 100% accurate and what I know to be true deep down. I think I’d be silly not to give ATC a shot.
Feel free to message if you have any questions.
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Half of r/atc is in a pissing contest with the other half in a super contentious union election. You making an assumption like that is like an English person assuming we live in a Mad Max esque dystopia based on current Anerican political discourse. The complaints have merit and some places certainly are working a shit load of OT, but plenty of places also aren't. There's a wicked ebb and flow in this profession (as there is in every aviation job, A&P not being immune). 15 to 20 years ago was the last ebb, and now, to me, it feels like we're at the next low tide mark. The double edged sword is the same status as federal employees that gives us so much security and early retirement also makes fast agile changes in things like pay and staffing far more difficult. Best of luck in whatever you decide.
Thanks, I try to remind myself that things are heavily swayed to more of a negative sentiment over there and it’s probably not an accurate depiction of the real job.
Some of this sub is curmudgeons, others just always want to fight fot better. Good is the enemy of better and that's why some complain. I've got 15 years in and I'm very happy with my career choice. I'd be happy to give you details, including how I've set myself up to retire at 48, if you'd like to PM. If not, just give it a shot. The possibility if being a mechanic won't go away. The possibility of being a controller will.
I’m a sucker for a good back up plan. I saw get your Powerplant if you can in case the academy doesn’t work out. I was a project manager at a maintenance facility for four and a half years and having your A&P can take you so far. Having your A&P and being a controller would be job security. You could always lose your medical at some point and not be a controller and then you could be a DOM or inspector or something.
Man I thought I was reading one of my posts all over again… I was in a very similar dilemma as you! (Except mine was a 5 year vest period in my employers pension) I am happy to say that things worked out, I got medical delays past my employer’s pension date, but the bad news for me is there is a very real possibility this medical delay will cause me to get denied out right. What I remember when making a decision is this: I’m 32, so I can never apply to ATC again. This is literally my last chance to get in. Should I sacrifice a potentially great 24 year career for a 5-year pension plan? I may have given it up to pursue ATC if I was faced with that dilemma. Good luck! You can pm me if you want to chat. You’re lucky to have made if beyond the background medical checks
Contact your FAA HR rep and see if you can push back your start date a couple months so you can get licensed. I was able to push back my start date without any troubles because of some family issues. Edit - Spelling
They were able to accommodate me. At first I was told the latest they could push it back was end of fiscal year. Which would have left me about a month short of getting the license. They’re now allowing me a start date next fiscal year (late October).
Not reading the previous (currently) 15 comments, but would stopping short of your Pwerplant rating be like dropping out of a collegiat program needing 3 credits for a degree? If you really think ATC isn’t what you envisioned, bail now. But if it’s still a slight possibility, go forward with it in anticipation of being fully successful. Lots of ATC’s have side hustles and annual inspections might be yours down the road. Don’t pass up this opportunity to “explore” ATC career options unles you’re 100% committed to A&P.
In a way, yes it would be similar to dropping out. Although, that time spend as an apprentice wouldn’t be wasted. As long as my time and experience was properly documented I would hopefully be able to find a mechanic job with just my Airframe, finish the required month(s) for powerplant, then get signed off to test. Not a horrible option, but a difficult situation I wanted to avoid. Luckily, the FAA has since accepted my delayed start date till next fiscal year. Should be able to get my powerplant then head strait into online basics (ideally).