Good day to all,

I have been in the industry as a pilot for 10+ years and currently have a "good" job with "good" pay. I am however seriously considering a career change and am mid process with NavCanada. Since it is a long gruelling selection process no decisions need to be made yet but I am pretty certain that it is time for a change for several reasons.

I am wondering if any current NavCan controllers can shed some light on their job satisfaction and even more so if there are any controllers who made the switch from flying and if you are glad you did.

Thank You Kindly,

TA/RA

I worked as an FSS for 4 years, and it was probably the most fun I'd ever had working. I left 4 years ago for reasons that had little to nothing to do with the job, and would go back in a second if I could still pass the medical.

There were certainly bad things, just as there are with nearly any job.

Union-management relations weren't exactly great. My site managers were fantastic and easy to get along with, but there was always underlying bitterness amongst some of the staff. No more so than you'd expect in most union shops though. Be prepared to be frustrated by decisions that are made from on-high, 2000 km away.

Rapidly rotating shifts suck, as you know if you've ever worked them. On the plus side you could trade them to get a long weekend pretty much whenever you wanted one.

The stress associated with FSS (I'm assuming it is similar for ATC) is the sort where if you're competent, it lasts for 5 or 10 minutes, then goes away. Someone declares an emergency, and your pulse goes up a bit, but it was nothing that went on for days, like worrying about whether you'd have a job tomorrow or not. This is talking about after you've checked out of course, training is another story.

I flew military for about ten years and then joined TC in 1992 as a controller. I don't regret my decision to give up flying although I still miss it. For me it was a lifestyle decision. I'm home every night. I have job security. Those two things alone are huge. Guys that I flew with who got out about the same time as me are all over the place. Some are with mainline carriers. Most are not. almost all have had to endure layoffs, bankrupcies, and repeated relocations. Let me tell you, working as a controller when you're busy is a blast. It can be a real adreneline rush and quite enjoyable.

A word of advice. If I was coming off the street I would elect to go VFR first. You're chances of making your first qualification in a tower are much better than in an ACC. Once you get a license then you can try IFR but having some experience first is a definite asset. As well, if you aren't successful, you still have a job.

Thanks for the great insight!

ATC, direct entry IFR for 7.5 years now.

I was a CPL rated pilot prior to that.

I wouldn't trade this career for any flying job. I love flying, but now I fly for myself on my plentiful days off, have a fantastic pension, and I love airplanes, and my family.

Home every night, the shift work is rough sometimes, but it's quite honestly the perfect job for me.

Be prepared to:

-study long hours and work hard during training
-work weekends, evenings, early dayshifts and some overnights
-work some holidays
-work on birthdays etc...
-follow certain rules/procedures regardless how ridiculous they seem

But, you will:

-be paid well
-enjoy good benefits
-have days of mid-week (good for getting things done)
-some flexibility in trading shifts (depends where you work)
-have a comfortable dry seat

Overall, I think it's a great job. If I could have all that, return home every night and be in the pointy end of the airplane still, I'd do it... but so far the job doesn't exist. You can still fly for "FUN" (remember your first solo?) on days off!

Good Luck

Thank you for all the honest responses. I just found out the other day that I was successful in the second interview and have been placed in the IFR stream and pool for consideration for future courses. I am eagerly hoping for a call and from reading the responses on this thread and from my own reflection and thought I have a strong desire to pursue this change in career paths.

Thanks again everyone!

which FIR TA/RA?