"Jill Kamienski" wrote in message
om...
Chip,
First it was just waiting on other trainees, but now we're putting
URET in, so they say they don't have the staffing and equipment to
continue D-side training while doing URET training.

LOL, URET eh? Wow! We were supposed to put URET in a couple of years ago
here at ZTL. We didn't have enough controllers to both train on URET and
also run the day to day operation so we had to take a pass. It looks like
we may end up being the last ARTCC in the NAS to get URET, but they're gonna
have to send us some staffing or we'll *never* get it up and running.


My area has 8 sectors, but two sets are usually combined together
except during "ski country" when things get crazy-busy.
I work in the area that handles the mountain airports, like Aspen,
Eagle, Telluride, Montrose, Grand Junction, Steamboat Springs, etc.

8 sectors, cool. I can't wait to hear your opinion about URET and non-radar
operations. Love your strips, they are your friends. URET is merely
another scam in a parade of FAA contractor scams, IMO. "Conflict Probe!"
Just what the chic enroute controller needs (NOT!!!). Pass the pork,
please.


I'm not sure on the number of controllers, but I know we're considered
short staffed (any surprise there?). We just had to transfer in two
controllers from other areas to try to even things out. Initially
they were going to force two people who had previously been in our
area to come back, but they finally decided to take volunteers instead
(to everyone's relief).

We're also overloaded with trainees in the area. Right now we have 7
people that will be bidding R-side trainee lines (either radar
developmentals now, or people nearly done with their D-sides) and 4
that will be bidding D-side trainee lines.
I'm the only one left in the area that's A-side only, so I should be
next to train, whenever "next" comes up.
My side of the week is pretty good about getting training done, but
the other side keeps the devs on the positions they're already checked
out on and does very little training.


Well, you went to the right facility and Region. In my area we have a grand
total of 1
R-side developmental and five D-side developmentals, one of whom is a PATCO
re-hire who is not likely to ever get certified. He's 65 or so. Another is
an ex-USAF retired E-8 controller on the Phoenix-20 program who was probably
great at terminal op's and on the battlefield but thus far is over his head
here in Atlanta-land. However, I guess four out of six hopefuls is better
than nothing.

At least out there at ZDV you will probably get checked out in normal time
once you get started. Here, no matter what side of the week you train on,
dev's are constantly getting pulled out of training to provide watch
coverage. I've got D-side guys who have been at it for over a year and
still have half the sectors left to conquer. It's a real catch 22. We
don't have enough staffing to consistently train people, and we don't have
enough staffing because we can't get people trained. Sin loi!

Good luck out there!

Chip, ZTL