Author Topic: AT-SAT Question  (Read 27755 times)

Offline CFD208

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 44
AT-SAT Question
« on: November 04, 2009, 12:12:45 AM »
For you controllers out there...   What happens after one receives their AT-SAT score?  Should one expect a call from the FAA? And if so, in how much time?



Offline atcman23

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 367
Re: AT-SAT Question
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2009, 08:59:47 AM »
First and foremost... you wait.

Assuming that you applied off the street, the next step is typically getting a call or (most likely) an e-mail from the FAA with a tentative offer for a facility.  If you accept it, you'll then go through the "pre-employment process."  The FAA has stopped holding the PEPCs so you're stuck with the "traditional" route of this (going to one person at a time over a span of several weeks).

As long as everything checks out there, you'll wait some more.

Eventually, you'll be handed (e-mailed) your Firm Offer Letter and given a date to attend Oklahoma City for FAA Academy.

As for an amount of time, it can vary widely, with one factor being where you want to go.  I do know that a lot of facilities in the Western US (primarily the NW US, not so much LAX, etc.) are NOT hiring until FY2011.  There are also some facilities in the Central US that are in the same situation.

Offline CFD208

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 44
Re: AT-SAT Question
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2009, 12:13:35 AM »
Off the street yes.  All NY facilities were on the application.  Wonder if they're hiring...  How long is the academy anyway?

Offline atcman23

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 367
Re: AT-SAT Question
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2009, 09:31:34 AM »
Yes when you choose your geographic preferences everything will always be on there.  Most of the Northeast US is hiring from what I've heard but at this point it's hard to say when you'll be offered a position.

At Academy, you will go through the Air Traffic Basics class, which is 5 weeks. If you end up in the terminal (tower or TRACON), initial tower cab training is approx. 37 days.  If you go to a Center (En Route) then it comes to about 62 days (both numbers are NOT including your initial 5 weeks; add another 25 days to these numbers to get your total time at Academy).

If you go direct to a TRACON (such as NY TRACON), it is approx. 32 days.

Lastly if you end up at an "up/down" facility (combined Tower/TRACON) you will go for the initial tower cab training first (after basics), then go to your facility and check out in the tower (anywhere from 1-3 years, average is around 18 months for complete check out), then go back to Academy for radar training and come back and check out in the TRACON.  Once you are fully checked out there, you basically spend half of your time in the tower and the other half in the TRACON (over the course of your career).

Offline djmwx2

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 18
Re: AT-SAT Question
« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2009, 07:24:05 PM »
I took the test last week and got my score today.  I got in the low 70's.  How long should I be waiting before I get anything else from the FAA.  From other sites I have checked it says anywhere from 12-18 months.  So I guess I should be expecting to wait a while?

I should mention I am off the street taking the test.  I have a college degree in meteorology.
« Last Edit: November 09, 2009, 10:13:13 PM by calwxman »

Offline atcman23

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 367
Re: AT-SAT Question
« Reply #5 on: November 09, 2009, 11:03:08 PM »
At this point it's hard to say as they made a lot of changes in the hiring process in October.

Offline Colleenincontrol

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 2
Re: AT-SAT Question
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2010, 08:15:53 PM »
Low 70's??

I've been told you can forget it unless you score over 85. I'm in the CTI program, taking the atsat in the spring. I'm also 30 and terrified. I'm not sure what I want to do if I get a job offer though......tower then center or straight to center.....

Offline Colleenincontrol

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 2
Re: AT-SAT Question
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2010, 08:18:00 PM »
Did you use the career prep software? I've been told the actual test is easier then the test prep

Offline jarhead0863

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 5
Re: AT-SAT Question
« Reply #8 on: March 04, 2010, 08:27:30 PM »
I took the test last week and got my score today.  I got in the low 70's.  How long should I be waiting before I get anything else from the FAA.  From other sites I have checked it says anywhere from 12-18 months.  So I guess I should be expecting to wait a while?

I should mention I am off the street taking the test.  I have a college degree in meteorology.

No offense, but an OTS scoring a qualified is not good, at all. Unless you select Alaska for your geo preference, good luck. Just telling you the truth.

Offline cessna157

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 708
    • facebook
Re: AT-SAT Question
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2010, 03:22:12 AM »
I took the test last week and got my score today.  I got in the low 70's.  How long should I be waiting before I get anything else from the FAA.  From other sites I have checked it says anywhere from 12-18 months.  So I guess I should be expecting to wait a while?


I've been told you can forget it unless you score over 85. I'm in the CTI program, taking the atsat in the spring. I'm also 30 and terrified. I'm not sure what I want to do if I get a job offer though......tower then center or straight to center.....

No offense, but an OTS scoring a qualified is not good, at all. Unless you select Alaska for your geo preference, good luck. Just telling you the truth.

From what I have seen, they have not accepted any OTS/Pubnat candidates with less than a 95 on the test.  CTI graduates have much better changes, but OTS needs an almost perfect score.  They've got a lot of people to hire from, so they can afford to choose the best candidates.

Offline evilcuban

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 66
Re: AT-SAT Question
« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2010, 05:52:05 PM »
Not sure that's the case.  I scored 100 on the AT-SAT, but didn't get selected for PUBNAT7.  It appears all the panels see is "Q" or "WQ" and it has more to do with the area you pick and their hiring needs than a specific test score.

If you're interested in where I got my information or the specifics, check out this link:

http://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/dot/fil...g%204.1.10.pdf

Offline Rosstafari

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 1
Re: AT-SAT Question
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2010, 05:06:39 PM »
Not sure that's the case.  I scored 100 on the AT-SAT, but didn't get selected for PUBNAT7.  It appears all the panels see is "Q" or "WQ" and it has more to do with the area you pick and their hiring needs than a specific test score.

That's correct. Your numerical score isn't really important beyond placing you into one of those two categories. The AT-SAT is meant to estimate controlling aptitude, and since that's such a unique and hard-to-predict skillset, splitting hairs after that isn't of any advantage. It's the same reason that things like education and past piloting experience aren't really given much weight either, since the only thing that shows an ability to control traffic is... controlling traffic.