Need a job? FAA is hiring....
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Slightly old news, but worth remembering for those looking for employment or better employment...
Link here (from Associated Press, via Washington Times):
FAA on Air Traffic Controller Hiring Spree
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Aviation Administration announced a plan Tuesday to hire 12,500 air traffic controllers and let some existing workers stay on the job longer than their mandatory retirement age to offset a tidal wave of looming retirements.
The plan outlined by FAA Administrator Marion Blakey also calls for speeding up training to get controllers on the job faster and reducing the work force at airports with less air traffic.
The genesis for the moves can be traced to 1981, when President Reagan fired more than 10,000 controllers and hired replacements. Nearly three-quarters of those workers will be eligible to retire in the next 10 years.
"The retirement of controllers is coming at us in a great wave, and we're going to have to step up to bring new controllers into the system," Blakey said. "There's no question about the fact that this is something we see of fundamental importance for the FAA."
... more at linked article
Seriously, if someone is looking for work, there are far worse alternatives out there. While ATC (Air Traffic Controllers) are known to be high stress employees, persons with the proper outlook on life, able to withstand some pressure and the thought that they'd be responsible for the safety of the persons aboard the planes they'd be directing, can earn a comfortable living in such jobs.
For a goofy look at the ATC profession, you might also check out the movie (linked reference follows) Pushing Tin (with John Cusack and Billy Bob Thorton).
Link here (from Associated Press, via Washington Times):
FAA on Air Traffic Controller Hiring Spree
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Aviation Administration announced a plan Tuesday to hire 12,500 air traffic controllers and let some existing workers stay on the job longer than their mandatory retirement age to offset a tidal wave of looming retirements.
The plan outlined by FAA Administrator Marion Blakey also calls for speeding up training to get controllers on the job faster and reducing the work force at airports with less air traffic.
The genesis for the moves can be traced to 1981, when President Reagan fired more than 10,000 controllers and hired replacements. Nearly three-quarters of those workers will be eligible to retire in the next 10 years.
"The retirement of controllers is coming at us in a great wave, and we're going to have to step up to bring new controllers into the system," Blakey said. "There's no question about the fact that this is something we see of fundamental importance for the FAA."
... more at linked article
Seriously, if someone is looking for work, there are far worse alternatives out there. While ATC (Air Traffic Controllers) are known to be high stress employees, persons with the proper outlook on life, able to withstand some pressure and the thought that they'd be responsible for the safety of the persons aboard the planes they'd be directing, can earn a comfortable living in such jobs.
For a goofy look at the ATC profession, you might also check out the movie (linked reference follows) Pushing Tin (with John Cusack and Billy Bob Thorton).