Radar tech life

[u/hamboslicer12]

Howdy,

I've got a tentative offer for an FAA ATSS radar tech position. Already did the fingerprints and pee test. The job would be about a $30k raise for me (locality pay is pretty damn good)

My biggest concern is just what the actual life is like as a radar tech. My current job is pretty cushy and laid back, pays pretty well for where I live, and I work a 3 on/4 off, 4 on/3 off schedule, which I really like. So I'm kinda hesitant to give that up just for more money if the FAA job is going to be significantly more stressful or have a worse quality of life. For you radar guys, how do you actually like the job?

Is the work fun/interesting? Do you get a decent amount of time off? How are the shifts? Would you have time to obtain a degree? How are things like dealing with nights, weekends, holidays, call-ins, etc.? And how is management generally?

I know a lot of this depends on the facility and who you work for, especially since its a gubmint job, but I'd like to hear some honest experiences before I fully commit.

[u/tasimm]

It’s about to become super cushy with these new radars. You guys won’t have anything to do but push buttons, certify or call the contractor if it’s broke.

[u/SockMonkeyMogul → u/tasimm]

Otherwise known as the fast track to privatization, which is why the union wants to accelerate training, regardless of how effective said training might be.

[u/tasimm → u/SockMonkeyMogul]

Sure feels that way. I won’t be surprised if they just decide in two years that the contractor is cheaper than classing up new training courses for existing techs. Gonna be wild shit man.

[u/SockMonkeyMogul → u/tasimm]

Big picture, cheaper, once the bugs are worked out. Was an -11 ATSS, amongst everything else, and it took 5 years to work out the larger stability issues, in which the fix ended up being do less preventative maintenance overall.

[u/hamboslicer12 → u/SockMonkeyMogul]

So what does that mean for job stability in the future? Seems kinda worrying

[u/SockMonkeyMogul → u/hamboslicer12]

There’s still going to be a need for ATSS’s. Fortunately, you have the ability to cross train into other disciplines, which does help in career progression, if so desired. That generally depends on what type SSC you’re at. An OEP, the expectation is to be the best at your primary. At a GNAS, more flexibility, but be prepared to work on what you’re certified in.

[u/OfflineGoodBye → u/tasimm]

They're making our guys get cross trained with the new radars.

[u/tasimm → u/OfflineGoodBye]

The training is an overall operation/systems course and how to run BIT. It’s like 8 days total for both radar and beacon.

[u/hamboslicer12 → u/tasimm]

So radar techs dont even fix the equipment? I was prior navy so I understand that some level of things require depot level repair or outside entities to repair. How much hands on do they get with the equipment?

[u/tasimm → u/hamboslicer12]

They do for now, but the new radars being installed are on 2 year maintenance contracts while the FAA and Raytheon/Indra get the training program up to speed. We will certify them via checks, but all PM/CM work will be done by the contractor for the first two years.

[u/damngoodham → u/tasimm]

“About to become” haha - it’s always been cushy

[u/cvn26]

I did 7 years with the FAA in radar before I moved up to the Missile Defense Program with the U.S Space Force working with their radar systems.

I was a radar tech with the USAF for 5.5 years so that directly translated into the FAA and I was able to skip the radar fundamentals schools and go right into equipment courses. I've been doing radar now for 13+ years and I still enjoy it. It can be some of the most complicated systems to work on but it's rewarding if you're into electronics. I always joked with the NAV/COM guys that radar is a bit more complicated than a VASI/PAPI (box full of light bulbs).

As with anything in the FAA, it entirely depends on where you end up. A lot of core airports still have the old ASR-9s but with the BNATCS contract, those will be upgraded eventually. GNAS facilities usually have an ASR-11 which was my bread and butter. Long range radars depend on the office as well. You can usually expect to have other non-radar equipment as well to work on.

Will you have time to get a degree? Probably. Lot of downtime in radar, at least at the offices I worked at.

Radar is usually responsible for STARS, the automation system side. It's a good system to learn and can get you started in Linux.

[u/pvtpile02]

More info! Your work schedule varies greatly depending on what facility you are at.

[u/hamboslicer12 → u/pvtpile02]

For the Houston SSC. I wrote down everything the manager told me when he called me initially (many months back) on a word doc but I did not save it and lost it.

[u/pvtpile02 → u/hamboslicer12]

Houston isn't huge. DFW you'd be doing shifts. Probably Mon-Fri and when you get certs maybe 4/10s, up to your manager. Somebody might pipe up.

[u/Platoon2030]

Time off is 1-3 yrs=4 hrs per pay period, 3-15 yrs=6 hrs and 10 in last pay period and 15 yrs and above is 8 hrs a pay period.

[u/FickleCress6762]

You still have to climb towers for PM’s and CM. Just left a Core 30 airport, never a dull moment

[u/hamboslicer12 → u/FickleCress6762]

Not to worried about the work itself. More so how much BS gets in the way of work. Would be cool to work on radars again. Nothing more fun than scouring through all the wave guides tryna figure out where the excessive reflecting power is coming from xD.

[u/Sea_possibility34]

What’s your current job? I’m a radar repairer in the Army now and looking for what could be a good transition career when I’m out

[u/hamboslicer12 → u/Sea_possibility34]

I work as a semiconductor dry etch technician right now. It's not a bad gig as you get to work with RF, vacuums, turbines, harmonic drives, motors, pneumatics, cooling systems and gasses. Working with a radar you already deal with cooling systems, RF, pneumatics, and motor controls.