Question for Newps or McNicholl or other ATC Pro

Hi,

Can you tell me or point me to a reference for how many ATC personnel
are on the active rolls? I'm hoping for a number that includes towers,
centers, and approach and departure -- the boys and girls that talk to us
pilots, admin and beauracracy excluded.

Thanks,

Casey Wilson
Freelance Writer and Photographer

Casey Wilson wrote:
Can you tell me or point me to a reference for how many ATC personnel
are on the active rolls? I'm hoping for a number that includes towers,
centers, and approach and departure -- the boys and girls that talk to us
pilots, admin and beauracracy excluded.

The FAA puts the controller workforce at 17,070 for FY '04.
The "bargaining unit" count is 14,736 (agrees with NATCA's
web page which says 15,000), so I suspect this number is probably
closer to what you are looking for.

Casey Wilson wrote:
Hi,

Can you tell me or point me to a reference for how many ATC personnel
are on the active rolls? I'm hoping for a number that includes towers,
centers, and approach and departure -- the boys and girls that talk to us
pilots, admin and beauracracy excluded.

By the way, it only took about 30 seconds of poking at the FAA web page
to give up the answer I posted.

http://www.ama500.jccbi.gov/site/lib...2004/nov04.pdf

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...
Casey Wilson wrote:
Hi,

Can you tell me or point me to a reference for how many ATC
personnel are on the active rolls? I'm hoping for a number that includes
towers, centers, and approach and departure -- the boys and girls that
talk to us pilots, admin and beauracracy excluded.

By the way, it only took about 30 seconds of poking at the FAA web page
to give up the answer I posted.

http://www.ama500.jccbi.gov/site/lib...2004/nov04.pdf

Thanks Ron, I guess I must have been poking in the wrong corners

The implication is that, considering three equally manned shifts, more than
5,000 controllers are watching the skies over the United States for us at
any given time. Impressive.

"Casey Wilson" wrote in message
news:Km8ld.619$h15.266@trnddc07...

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...
Casey Wilson wrote:
Hi,

Can you tell me or point me to a reference for how many ATC
personnel are on the active rolls? I'm hoping for a number that includes
towers, centers, and approach and departure -- the boys and girls that
talk to us pilots, admin and beauracracy excluded.

By the way, it only took about 30 seconds of poking at the FAA web page
to give up the answer I posted.

http://www.ama500.jccbi.gov/site/lib...2004/nov04.pdf

Thanks Ron, I guess I must have been poking in the wrong corners

The implication is that, considering three equally manned shifts, more
than 5,000 controllers are watching the skies over the United States for
us at any given time. Impressive.

But, of course, there aren't three equally manned shifts. Many towers and
TRACONs are closed at night, the airports become uncontrolled and the
airspace is assumed by the overlying ARTCC. ARTCCs combine sectors so that
one or two controllers handle the functions of a dozen or so during peak
hours.

The implication is that, considering three equally manned shifts, more
than 5,000 controllers are watching the skies over the United States for
us at any given time. Impressive.

But, of course, there aren't three equally manned shifts. Many towers and
TRACONs are closed at night, the airports become uncontrolled and the
airspace is assumed by the overlying ARTCC. ARTCCs combine sectors so
that one or two controllers handle the functions of a dozen or so during
peak hours.

I get your point.
Can you give me an estimate, like 50-percent on days, 30 on swing and 20
on graveyard? [Hmmm, that may be a common name for the wee-hours shift but
it seems inappropriate here, somehow.] That is, without focusing on any one
part of the country. My (usually perverse) logic tells me the NE is more
heavily trafficed than the SW, and East Coast more than Left Coast.
That's probably to be found in the document Mr. Natalie referenced
earlier, but this might be an easier way to get a lead the information.

each shift is not equal... when I was doing it.. we had 7 "Crews" in the
Center.
on any given day... two crews for the morning and 2 for the evening shift..
one crew for the midnight shift.. that equals 5, and of course, the other
two were on there days off..

24/7

BT

"Casey Wilson" wrote in message
news:Km8ld.619$h15.266@trnddc07...

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...
Casey Wilson wrote:
Hi,

Can you tell me or point me to a reference for how many ATC
personnel are on the active rolls? I'm hoping for a number that includes
towers, centers, and approach and departure -- the boys and girls that
talk to us pilots, admin and beauracracy excluded.

By the way, it only took about 30 seconds of poking at the FAA web page
to give up the answer I posted.

http://www.ama500.jccbi.gov/site/lib...2004/nov04.pdf

Thanks Ron, I guess I must have been poking in the wrong corners

The implication is that, considering three equally manned shifts, more
than 5,000 controllers are watching the skies over the United States for
us at any given time. Impressive.

answered earlier.. divide 100 by 7 = 14.3%
so, roughly 28.6% on days, 28.6% on evenings, 14.3% on mids, and the other
28.6% on their day off.

your estimates have them working 7 days straight..

BT

"Casey Wilson" wrote in message
news:Qccld.100$qS4.69@trnddc09...


The implication is that, considering three equally manned shifts, more
than 5,000 controllers are watching the skies over the United States for
us at any given time. Impressive.

But, of course, there aren't three equally manned shifts. Many towers
and TRACONs are closed at night, the airports become uncontrolled and the
airspace is assumed by the overlying ARTCC. ARTCCs combine sectors so
that one or two controllers handle the functions of a dozen or so during
peak hours.

I get your point.
Can you give me an estimate, like 50-percent on days, 30 on swing and
20 on graveyard? [Hmmm, that may be a common name for the wee-hours shift
but it seems inappropriate here, somehow.] That is, without focusing on
any one part of the country. My (usually perverse) logic tells me the NE
is more heavily trafficed than the SW, and East Coast more than Left
Coast.
That's probably to be found in the document Mr. Natalie referenced
earlier, but this might be an easier way to get a lead the information.

"BTIZ" wrote in message
news:bGgld.93311$bk1.59207@fed1read05...
answered earlier.. divide 100 by 7 = 14.3%
so, roughly 28.6% on days, 28.6% on evenings, 14.3% on mids, and the other
28.6% on their day off.

your estimates have them working 7 days straight..

BT

Ah, yet another enlightenment. I'm learning more all the time.

Thanks..

Wow .. that's a lot. Do they need that many? That's our tax money. Don't
we have to pay them all retirement then?


"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...
Casey Wilson wrote:
Can you tell me or point me to a reference for how many ATC
personnel are on the active rolls? I'm hoping for a number that includes
towers, centers, and approach and departure -- the boys and girls that
talk to us pilots, admin and beauracracy excluded.

The FAA puts the controller workforce at 17,070 for FY '04.
The "bargaining unit" count is 14,736 (agrees with NATCA's
web page which says 15,000), so I suspect this number is probably
closer to what you are looking for.