DCA Air Collision Discussion
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ted Striker
@ripvw, thanks for chiming in.
Working anywhere with a high number of movements is way tougher than flirting with the FAs in the forward galley, and drinking cerveza on the layover. Massive respect.
I've known a few pilots over the years who washed out of ATC - and a few who succeeded. One is a TCA controller, and another was at a small tower (before the powers that be switched it to uncontrolled). TCA guy was constant stress for the first year. I swear it visually aged him. The tower guy called himself the Maytag Repairman. He'd say things like "damn Cessna woke me up!"
Yeah, the job can be radically different depending on the type of facility and traffic volume. Working a low volume VFR tower is almost a different job than a high density radar facility. I’ve spent my entire career in the terminal environment (towers and TRACON’s) but even for me, going to a Center would be a steep learning curve.
I have nothing but respect for the pro flight crews we work with. When I have a frequency full of competent pilots, it makes my job so much easier. The old joke in ATC is Boeing doesn’t make enough planes to put me down the shitter, but Cessna does. [emoji23]