Whats the schooling and process for getting into air traffic control?

I heard that a bunch of new jobs are opening for air traffic controllers because of the 80's blacklist or somehting... Anyways, I also heard that to be accepted into the school theres a test you have to take under pressure to see if you have the skills and can handle it. Is this true? Is there a school in fort worth? What are some online / real life resources for getting info on this career field?Whats the schooling and process for getting into air traffic control?
You have to either a) get hired ';off the street'; b) do ATC in the military or c) go to a CTI (controller training initiative) school. Getting hired off the street you take the test called the AT-SAT, which no doesn't measure how much stress you can take. Its pretty much can you do basic math and how do you function playing what amounts to a video game. Passing the interview and the AT-SAT via the off the strees route doesn't get you anywhere. They then take the succeful people and pick a number at random, if your social security number ends in that number you're in, if not, tough luck. The OTS route is a tough road to hoe, 75% of those that go that way and pass the interview fail out and get fired at some point. With the application process that means less that 2.5% of potential controllers actually make it.





I'd suggest either A) getting real world training in the military or B) going to a CTI school. The military, well thats obvious, talk to a recruiter. If you get the MOS you apply for, you'll be set for ATC once you get out. There are 13 CTI schools. They are all normal colleges and universities that the FAA has said, ';We like what you do in training, keep it up and we'll snap up your grads.'; Major in ATC at one and the FAA will hire you. None of these are in Ft Worth. I think you are thinking of Silver State (or Silver Star, not sure) aviation. There are privately owned towers and SS Aviation will get you into those, but if you want the real deal with the FAA, SS won't cut it. Jobs are set to seriously open up, the FAA is way behind the hiring curve and yes it is because of the PATCO firings in the 80's am ong other things. Do the OTS route, do the military, do CTI, doesn't matter. Just know the military and CTI ways will give you a serious advantage to getting through all the hurdles you'll face. I'm going through CTI aftter getting over 350 hours in flight time in my log book and a degree. I can't imagine getting thrown to the wolves doing the off the street thing. Even with what I have it still isn't easy. Best of luck to you.