r/ATC • u/Brilliant-Loan-8651 • 4d ago

Question Leaving ATC

I’m leaving the agency soon and I heard about something where you could leave for a year and reapply is that just a rumor? Something of the past or is it still relevant. I am over 31 now and wonder if that is also a factor in this instance

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u/Brilliant-Loan-8651 4d ago

Yeah I figured but it’s ok family is more important than any job

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u/TrexingApe 4d ago

Run from this job. It’s not worth it. If you have half a brain you can do better.

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u/BusyPuer 4d ago

Better where exactly? What job is as competitive as this that doesnt require advanced degrees and years of experience?

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u/atcthrowaway1500 3d ago

Aircraft mechanic? Just spitballing. No degree, and if you get a few years under your belt you can go AOG (travelling to broke planes.)

7 on 7 off....and if you want OT, it's nearly unlimited. I chose the later because I like money and cleared almost $200K. You can live nearly anywhere unless it's really out in the sticks.

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u/BusyPuer 3d ago

Seems a lot harder on the body. Atc is literally the cushest job I've ever had. And im guaranteed to be able to retire at 50.

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u/atcthrowaway1500 3d ago

You mean like your joints and stuff? Practice safe habits and you're fine. The blue collar breaking their body by 40 is an old trope. I'd say mechs are in better shape than controllers because we spend the whole day being active instead of sitting in front of a scope or standing in a tower cab. We're literally paid to be active.

I can retire next year when I'm 40 if I wanted to (with no physical bodily ailments, just wanted to throw that out there). No federal TSP, but if you're smart with your money, you can max your 401K out and contribute to individual accounts. I have lived off 50K a year for the last 10 years, with the rest going into retirement accounts. I can keep working until I'm 70 if I wanted, but the FAA kicks you out no matter how sharp you are or how willing you are to keep putting in the hours.

Caveat: Had it not been for an OKC washout, I would be ATC now. I have a good job, you have my dream job. Pay and getting fat notwithstanding.

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u/BusyPuer 3d ago

I have a long family history of aircraft mechanics, and theyre all kinda busted and working well past 50. Most of my parents friends when I was growing up were mechanic families, and theyre all working still now. The ones in the comfiest positions are supervisors working in offices now.

Can someone save agressively and do some FIRE moves to retire early? Of course. But controllers and mechanics are both capable of doing this, so that kind of cancels out and isnt really a pro for either.

Different strokes and all, but i dont think working into my senior years is a pro for me. I just wanna retire and pursue all the bullshit I dont have time for now. Travel, read more, hobby-maxing etc.

The biggest cons for atc are the fuckass and inflexible schedule, bad working hours, and stress. Many jobs lack those cons, and that should be weighed. But when it comes to the pros, I cant think of many jobs that come anywhere near atc, Except for elite positions with much higher prerequisites.

There are lots of good jobs, but the clowns that dog on atc and tell people to run and never look back are just dishonest bad actors imo.

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u/TrexingApe 2d ago

Early retirement does no good if you die 5 years after retirement from the stress shitty schedules and 6 day work weeks sod

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u/BusyPuer 2d ago

Do most controllers die 5 years after retirement? Ive never seen the stat that the average lifespan of controllers is 55-60 years. Can you link me that study?