Letiole,

Since I'm most definitely unqualified to debate any specifics as to the veracity of this argument, I am including a comment from the author:

It is good to see another air traffic controller is responding to our post. It appears there are a few misconceptions that I am glad to have the chance to correct, If our own (FAA controllers) aren't fully informed, it isn't reasonable to believe the general public is either.

The option of going back to supes and controllers and getting the pay increase would be great, if that was really an option. True, we can (and are) going back, but without the pay raise in most cases. Everyone transferring back into control positions, after October 1, 1998, do not get the raise that was given to those who were there on that date.

The FAA Academy no longer trains new recruits. In terminal RTF training we have 18 now and more starting next month. This is not new. Many people falsely believe that since CTI (College Training Initiative) was put in place, all new hires report directly to a facility from college. They come here from CTI and then to the field. There is to my knowledge no waiver process in place that allows any controller to work at a terminal radar facility until they have complete Radar Training at the Academy. (New York used to train locally, but I don't believe they do anymore). Since you are referring to Minnesota, I believe you are probably a Center Controller and referring to their training. I will have to solicit assistance from some of our En Route Instructors. I don't know the percentage we train compared to MARC, but our Enroute program does have new hire programs running now, and scheduled to continue.

I hope you noticed in my article that I tried to make the point the Air Traffic Controllers deserve every penny they got. I agree that the job is high demand and should be compensated as such. The last couple of paragraphs appear to be opinion based, and you are as entitled to your opinion as I am mine.. You state how Software engineers make more than Quality Assurance people. Ms. Garvey gave the Quality Assurance staff at the local facilities the raise with the controllers, but she didn't give her Staff at the National or Regional level the raise. Should software engineers in a company's branch office make more than those at the home office?

Thanks for the response.

Mike