Happy Sunday to everyone.

Ok, first off let me begin by saying this. I have concluded that Oklahoma City is the black hole of technology. The internet here is almost as slow as dial-up and my flippin cell phone only works in certain parts of the city. Ugh!

Also, let me just go on record as saying that 6 weeks of basics is overkill. Some of the things we have learned have no bearing on our job whatsoever. While I agree that Air Traffic Controllers should know how an aircraft flies and the basic principles of flight I don’t believe that we need to know that the pitot tube supplies ram air to the airspeed indicator and that if the static vent becomes clogged the vertical speed indicator will not function properly. I also don’t think an Air Traffic Controller needs to know that the Heading Indicator and the Attitude Indicator use a gyroscope. Which, by the way, is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation, based on the principles of angular momentum. We spent 3 days on all of that…

Well, now that that’s out of the way… Week 4 is in the books and we move into week 5. Counting Monday I have 8 days left of the basics class. Week 4 was spent mostly on charts. This is another subject that I feel doesn’t warrant such an in depth study of. Especially for Tower/Tracon controllers. (Enroute, maybe) We studied each type of chart. Enroute High and Low Altitude, Sectionals, World Aeronautical Charts, Terminal Area Charts, VFR planning charts, approach plates, SIDS (standard instrument departures), STARS (standard terminal arrival routes) etc… We studied each and every symbol. Why there were there, what they mean, etc… Even the instructors admitted that we’ll probably never use most of these in the Tower/Tracon environment. We also had another block test. I found this test to be easier than the last 2. I think it might be because I already knew a pretty good amount about the charts before we began. I actually found this test to be easier than the aircraft recognition/performance section.

I can’t remember if I explained what Tower/Tracon and Enroute meant. The control tower is the facility that issues the aircraft their clearances to their destination, is responsible for controlling aircraft on the ground and clears them for takeoff. The TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach CONtrol) is responsible for the aircraft from the time it leaves the runway until the time it leaves the airport airspace. It also is responsible for aircraft approaching the airport and issues them vectors (headings to fly) to guide them to the airport. Of course this is the simple definition. There is a lot more involved but that’s for another issue. After the aircraft leaves the TRACON area they are handed over to the center controllers. (ARTCC – Air Route Traffic Control Center) Also called ENROUTE. The Enroute controllers are responsible for the aircraft during its cruise phase of flight. When the aircraft begins its descent into the airport they are handed back off to the Tracon and the process is reversed. I’m going through the Tower/TRACON training BTW.

Friday we began the weather portion of the course. Again, another section where I feel we are being given too much information. For 4 days we will learn the fundamentals of weather, hazardous weather, forecasts and advisories, METAR’s, TAF’s, PIREPS, etc. This section will be about as dry as charts. We have a teacher from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As you might expect, he is not very “user friendly”. You know those weather types… Too much brain, not enough people skills! (That should get a few comments from the wx folk here) He has a big problem of going off course and explaining a hell of a lot more than any person needs to know about weather.

The end of this past week marked the end of night shifts for the foreseeable future. The upcoming week and the week after are both day shift weeks. Thanks goodness. We are also off this Friday for the 4th of July weekend.

This week has been the hottest week so far in OKC. Several days this week saw over 100 degree temps. No rain has fallen in at least 2 weeks here. Apparently that’s normal. I also have a stopped up sink. Just thought I’d throw that in there.

Chris

61 days left.

Week 3

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Well, with that out of the way - Happy Sunday to everyone! Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Happy Father's Day to MY dad. This week I've learned a lot of new things. Both inside the classroom and outside. We'll go over what I've learned outside the classroom first.

First, I'm pretty sure my morning bus driver doesn't have a license. Does anyone remember the saying "drive it like you stole it"? Yeah, its a good thing I don't get motion sick from driving.

Secondly, we've already gotten to that part of the summer where the heat index never falls below 100 degrees. Which is fine because we're always in a nice air conditioned classroom but isn't fine when yours truly steps out into the oven and begins to melt. I think I've lost a few pounds just from the heat.

Third, you know you're in tornado country when a guy looks at a tornado and says "wow, check out that tornado... bitchin..."

I attended the NATCA (National Air Traffic Controllers Association) meet and greet this past Thursday. NATCA is the union that represents the Air Traffic Controllers. I found it pretty interesting to listen to what they were doing on our behalf. I was particularly interested in what they had to say about the on going union negotiations between NATCA and the FAA. Several years ago both of these agencies went back to the table to hash out a new contract since the existing one was set to expire. Neither side could agree on the terms of the new contract and in the end the FAA implemented a set of "imposed work rules" on the controllers without any negotiated contract. These work rules outlined many changes, most notably less pay for controllers. NATCA tried to get the FAA back to the table (as per federal law) however they found loop hole after loop hole and were able to side step any obligation to the union. What made matters worse was a President who had no regard of the law (any law really) and an FAA administrator who didn't much care either.

When President Obama was elected president one of the first things he did was order the FAA back to the table with NATCA. The White House has imposed a gag order on all parties involved with the negotiations however there have been hints that the negotiations are going well and that there should be word on the final result soon. This is particularly good for the newer controllers on the new pay scale because they stand to get up to a 30% pay increase because of the new contract. Enough about NATCA.

Week 3 is over and we are officially half way through the basics class. This upcoming week we move back to night shift. 3:30p to 12:00a. I can't decide weather I like the morning or evening shift better.

The first part of last week we finished up the section on aircraft recognition. I had a good time with this. I was able to help a lot of students study the aircraft and help them recognize all the different aircraft we were required to identify. I even pointed out several things on some aircraft that make it unique and able to easily identify.

Wednesday through Friday we focused on navigation charts. There are lots of different charts that pilots use to navigate from point A to point B. (Sectionals, Low Altitude Enroute, High Altitude Enroute, WAC, Terminal Area Charts, etc...) For this class we are required to understand what each chart is used for as well as understand ALL the symbols and markings. The charts section takes nearly 5 days to complete. It is, without argument, the most boring part of basics. Even the instructors know this so they make sure to give us a few extra breaks.

One benefit of the charts section is that the instructors break up the monotony scheduling a couple of "field trips" to neighboring buildings to show us what we're in for next. Friday we took a trip over to the tower simulator building. This is where we will go after we graduate from the basics class. There are 2 portions of the training in this building. Tabletops and simulators. Tabletops are the basic 3d version of the actual simulators. Very basic. Students hold airplanes in their hand and "fly" them around a table that looks like an airport. Other students stand up on a platform that resembles a tower and issue commands to the aircraft that the students are holding. Since the sims are expensive and in demand it makes sense to use these tabletop simulators to get the basics down so we don't waste time in the sims themselves.

We were allowed to go into the simulators and watch students work aircraft on the ground and in the air. These simulators are very sophisticated. The students talk into a microphone and the computer recognizes your voice and obeys the command. These simulators are an invaluable tool to get you ready for the real thing. Needless to say I can't wait to get over there and begin some hands on training!

Next week we will finish charts and begin a weather training course. This course will certify us to make weather observations from the control tower. The course spans out across 4 days. I hope it will interesting.

Saturday, I took a trip to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial. It was important to visit the site of such a terrible tragedy. I remember when this happened but I was too young to really understand the scope of such an event. I would like to visit the memorial for the 9/11 attacks as well someday.

Also, we went to Cattleman's Restaurant tonight for dinner...

Guess who I met. Ned Beatty. He played Rudy's father in the movie "Rudy". He also played along side of Bert Reynolds in the movie "Stroker Ace".

I have uploaded more photos of the simulators/tabletops/OKC memorial

to Flickr. Click here to take a look. I will update with more photo's as I take them.

68 Days

Chris

Week 2 is over and we begin week 3 tomorrow. Last week we ran the night shift - 3:30p - 12:00a. It was relatively easy for me to adjust to it since I worked almost this same shift for the 5 years I was at WSAZ.

One note before I go on. I mentioned in my last post that Oklahoma City had it's share of hills. (we'll call them hills for the sake of this post) I have discovered that Oklahoma City is in fact HIGHER in elevation than the Charleston/Huntington area. The airport here has a elevation of 1,295ft. In contrast, Yeager Airport has a field elevation of 981ft and remember it sits on top of a mountain. The airport here is at the same level as the rest of the city. Hum... go figure!

Monday and Tuesday we finished up the 1st block of lessons. There are 4 blocks which have 10-15 lessons in them. We took the block 1 test Tuesday. It was EXTREMELY nerve racking since you must score a 90% or above to pass. If you don't pass then you get 1 retake. Fail that and you're out! The tests are 30 questions so to achieve a 90% or higher you can only miss 3. I never did take tests well so it is safe to say I spent most of the night after class Monday studying. I woke up with a pounding headache. I suspect it was mostly due to nerves and the fact that my poor brain had never actually experienced the action of studying before. It's odd how you do stuff like that when your career and way of life is on the line.

I only missed 1 by the way.

Wednesday through Friday was spent on the second block of lessons. Unfortunately for me, all of these lessons contain information that ANY pilot should already know. So it should be no surprise that, to me, this entire block seems to be dragging on... One of the lessons is on aircraft recognition. Suffice to say that when the instructor asks the class what type of airplane they are looking at on the screen, its hard to keep the ole' trap shut.

The good news about it is that I won't be nearly as tense and nervous about the upcoming block test on Tuesday. That's not to say I won't study but at least I won't have to worry as much about failing this test.


The class is really beginning to band together. On Saturday a bunch of us got together and went to dinner and to a movie. (see photo) It was really nice to get out and get to know each other outside of the classroom. I can't speak of anyone who isn't very nice and easy to get a long with. This helps a lot since most of us are in the same boat - we've left family and friends behind to get out here and get this part of our new job done. Interestingly, I've found several people in my class who have left spouse and child behind. It's good to know I'm not the only one.

I mentioned in my last post about the attitude of the instructors. They seemed to have lightened up quite a bit since last week. The classes have become more enjoyable (even if they are dry) and everyone seems to be adhering to the rules.

On a side note - I'm not used to being in a class were EVERYONE actually wanted to be there. I'm used to being surrounded by several people who want to succeed and then a bunch of people who just don't care. It's very strange to see EVERYONE working hard to achieve the goal. I hope it continues this way.

Thursday we were allowed to go across the street to eat in the Stafford Building. This building is where we will go after we graduate from this basic's class. I must say that I'm really excited to get over there. The Stafford Building houses all of the simulators we will use to learn how to actually work aircraft both on the ground and in the air. They feature high tech computer systems that offer voice recognition so you can actually speak a command and the computer will follow it. In short - lots of buttons, dials and blinking lights to wow the inner geek in me!

The next 4 weeks will seem the longest. It will contain all of the dry book work that we need to form the foundation of our career. Once we're done with that it's all hands on until we graduate!

I'm really beginning to miss home. Being alone 1,000 miles away is rough. All of the fancy e-mail and video messaging I've been doing has helped quite a bit. I think it will be enough to hold me over for 2 1/2 months. Can't wait to see Maddy though... oh, and Beth too.

75 Days left.

Hi Everyone,

Week 1 is over with. I arrived in OKC Monday afternoon and spent most of Tuesday unpacking and going to the store. Oklahoma isn't nearly as flat as I thought. Apparently Kansas is the place you want to go if you want to see for 100 miles in any direction.

Wednesday was the first day of class. The bus picked me up from the apartment complex I'm staying at around 6:10a. Class starts at 7a. We were all dropped off at the front security gate for processing and photo id's. As expected all of the day was spent on discussing EEO, Civil Rights, conduct in the workplace, Sexual Harassment, etc... I never knew someone could talk for an hour and a half on Civil Rights. After awhile it seemed like each person who came in a talked said almost the same thing as the last person did.

Thursday we began the actual coursework. The course is called Air Traffic Basics. Which is exactly what it is. It teaches the history of aviation, the FAA, different types of facilities (Enroute, TRACON, Towers, and flight service), airport markings, radar basics, aircraft separation, NOTAMS (notices to airmen). It's pretty long and drawn out. Any job requires a foundation I guess.

The apartment is OK. I really didn't expect much more however with as much money as I'm throwing at them in rent per month I would have thought it would be a little nicer. I didn't drive out here. I beginning to think that was a mistake. I'm really limited as to where I can go on my off time. Simply put, I can't go anywhere except to Wal-Mart to buy food. They have rental cars but for $20/day you have to have it back by 4:30 which I think is kind of a rip off. I will have to come back here in about a year for 4 weeks to finish my training and I will seriously consider bringing a car then.

The people in my class are all great. Very nice people. We all seem to get along. My only complaint is that the teachers treat us like we're juveniles. Strict rules and threats of being "written up" if we don't adhere to a LONG list of rules. An unwelcome trait considering we are all adults training to do a very difficult and deadly serious job. I hope that this isn't what I'm in for back home. I think the attitude is due to the teachers being contractors. They sure as heck don't want to be responsible if some FAA guy walks by and sees something wrong. Oh well. I knew what I was getting into.

There are actually 2 separate classes that I will attend. This basic class, which ends July 8th and then the tower cab training class which will end August 26th. Still looking forward to getting this done and getting back home! More to follow

83 days left.

Hurray!

I start the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City on June 3rd! More info to follow.