Maverick
Spider Man | Regular
4d
What is it like being a ZHU controller and what do you live-stream?
Being a ZHU controller is probably one of the coolest things ever! Not only is the facility the “newest” in the National Airspace System (it was completed in 1965), but the specialty I control in is awesome! We only own airspace above 11,000 feet, so we don’t have to deal with uncontrolled field operations and the checkout times are relatively short.
I stream Houston Center VATSIM ATC on Twitch.
SimCaptain
Pumkinator
4d
Would you rather be a controller or pilot?
Controller all the way. That’s not to say I don’t like flying, I love it. But not as my full-time career. Besides, I get airsick in tiny airplanes. And we all know that to get to the big airplanes, you have to fly the little ones… 
What’s the old saying? “If the pilot messes up, the Pilot dies. If the controller messes up, the Pilot dies.”
Maverick
Spider Man | Regular
4d
What flight sims have you played before? How did you become interested in being controller?
I’ve used all the big ones. I started with MS2004, then FSX, P3Dv4, xPlane 11, MSFS2020.
I started out playing on the PoopGroup FSX multiplayer server just flying around. Then I started controlling at ORD on there. Then some of the friends I made said they joined VATSIM. And that’s pretty much what started my love and fascination with ATC. Since then, I’ve been apart of multiple ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Centers) on vatsim holding various staff positions, ultimately ending up as the Air Traffic Manager at the Virtual Houston.
CaptainLeo1
Moderator | Sith Lord | Rasta
4d
To become a controller did you go through the USAF or FAA? How was that process? Which would you recommend to someone interested in that career field?
There’s a lot to unpack here.
There are 2 paths to becoming an ATC. Off the Street (OTS), and Prior Experience (CTI and Military ATC). It would take me a very long time to explain this process, but there is a great website called PointSixtyFive that breaks it down easily! (FAQ | pointSixtyFive)
I went to a CTI school. A CTI (collegiate Training Initiative) school was originally an agreement with various colleges and the FAA that “allows you to qualify for pool 1 of All Source bids, which allows skipping the Biographical Assessment (BA). Additionally, you may elect to skip attending the Basics course at the academy.” (Hiring | pointSixtyFive)
But unfortunately, the FAA changed their hiring practices in 2016 which made the CTI program irrelevant. So, applying OTS is pretty much our only options, unless you did want to join the military.
The Application process takes about 1-2 years from initial application to walking into the academy in Oklahoma City. Then if you pass and go to a facility, training could last anywhere from 6 months to 3-5 years.
I would recommend applying OTS personally. If you want to go the military route, just ensure that you can get an ATC spot during your recruitment talks. Otherwise, it would be pointless.
It’s an awesome career, and if you can get it, it’s totally worth the time spent.
texasaviation
Moderator | Texolantern
4d
Raising Cane’s or Chick-Fil-A?
Definitely not a biased question
I like both. CFA is good all around, and they have variety. But Canes Crinkle cut fries are my weakness.
Cign
Staff | Imperial Trooper
4d
Multi-tasking tips and tricks? Always looking to improve my abilities both remembering and communicating as a pilot so was wondering if you could share any feedback on stuff pilots say that you dislike or find rather annoying?
This is also a big question. Multitasking is a learned skill. You just have to practice it. Unfortunately, in our day-to-day, we don’t have opportunities to. That’s why I like working at CFA, it forces me to use those skills regularly. But even playing video games, or FPS where you have to take in copious amounts of information can help! Heck, the FAA was targeting gamers for their latest round of ATC hiring bids. (FAA Recruiting Gamers For Next Generation Of Air Traffic Controllers - YouTube)
In terms of remembering things in the cockpit, utilizing checklists and writing things down goes along way. Short term memory can only remember 3-7 things at a time. So, unless you are focused you will most likely not encode that information into long term memory. I like making up little rhymes or songs to remember important things. Or if ATC is giving you instructions, focus on the numbers or pertinent information first. Dial it in, or hold a finger up to remember that you have to remember it. For example,
ATC could say, “N123, Houston Center, Areas of Moderate and extreme precipitation, 12’oclock, 15 miles, extending 30 miles along your route of flight, if you need deviations advise, Climb and maintain FL250, do not exceed 280 knots for in trail spacing.”
As the pilot, I wouldn’t even care about the weather information. The key words were, “If you need deviations advise.” The important words, and the words that I must readback, were, Climb to FL250 and maintain 280 kts. So even though it was a long ATC interaction, you can boil it down into 2 control instructions. And as you get more confident and comfortable with understanding and deciphering ATC clearances, it gets easier.
You get a wide variety of pilots in the Realworld and on VATSIM. Most of them know what they’re doing. But you do get the guys who will just parrot what you say, but don’t understand what we’re asking them to do. That’s BAD! If you don’t understand, ask for clarification!! Don’t assume.
I think my biggest petpeve is when pilots change to a new freq and don’t take 10 or 15 seconds to just listen. They just change and immediately check on and step on the readback or a check on of another pilot. It just takes up time and is completely unneeded. Instead, change freq’s and just wait. Listen. Get a feel for what the ATC is doing. Is he working multiple freqs? Can you hear the other pilots, or does it just sound like a one-sided conversation? After about 30 or 45 seconds, then you can check on. But honestly, I’ll let you in on a little secret. You don’t have to check on. If it’s busy, just wait for ATC to call you. They will. Then you will have the opportunity to respond with your altitude. I wish more pilots understood that.
CaptainLeo1
Moderator | Sith Lord | Rasta
1d
What is your favorite part about being a controller? What do you enjoy the most, find interesting, and dislike, or get annoyed about when controlling… if anything? If you could be based at any airport in the world where would you be based and why?
Favorite part, Money, Power, Influence, food. Jk. I just like being apart of helping the flying public get from point A to point B as safely as possible.
I like how it is different every day. It sure beats sitting in a cubicle. Pilots who aren’t paying attention can be annoying. But for the most part, they’re all on point.
Ondrej
Staff | Stupid Death
1d
Have you had any interesting conversations with pilots?
Nothing directly. But we have a lot of NASA astronauts doing flight training in our area so that makes for some pretty cool interactions.
We did have an American pilot who deviated for weather when he wasn’t cleared too and went upstream of the arrival sector. I heard the controller say “you’re not the only airplane in the sky. You can’t just do that.” It was pretty funny.
Thank you all for the questions, if you have any more, please feel free to msg me on here or my Twitch! Have a Happy Halloween!
