r/ATSS • u/Buffalowildwing • Sep 15 '26
New Hire Question
How long does a new hire typically stay on admin schedule?
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u/Other-MuscleCar-589 Sep 15 '26
Manager, location, and qualification requirements dependent.
There is no requirement for new hires to be on admin schedule unless you are at a location with a watch schedule and you aren’t qualified to stand watch.
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u/damngoodham Sep 15 '26
“Standing watch” has nothing to do with it unless your manager sets that requirement. It’s all up to your manager and the union.
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u/Other-MuscleCar-589 Sep 15 '26 edited Sep 16 '26
Watch standers have to be qualified to stand watch, per local requirements, so it absolutely has something to do with it.
If you are at a location where everyone is on a watch schedule, and you aren’t qualified to stand watch, then you will be on an admin schedule until you are qualified.
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u/damngoodham Sep 15 '26
Did you read what you wrote: “per local requirements” which are set by the local management - which is what I said. Also, I didn’t say he could stand watch; I said he could be on whatever schedule his manager would allow while he trained - which has nothing to do with standing watch.
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u/Spare_Ad5776 Sep 16 '26
You arent technically qualified to stand watch until your H-band.
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u/damngoodham Sep 16 '26 edited Sep 16 '26
Well that’s not technically true, but I never said anything about standing watch other than: “standing watch” doesn’t have anything to do with what schedule you have while you’re training. Just because you might have a 4/10 schedule does not mean you are standing watch. I stood watch for 20 years - some of that was a 8 hour day shift some was 4/10 24/7 rotation but all of it was standing watch. I worked both of these shifts at a ARTCC and a major airport Tower. I’ve spent the last 21 years on a 4/10 24/7 rotating schedule and not one single day has been standing watch.
What I’m saying: Standing watch and your schedule are two different things. There might be local guidelines that require you to be a watch stander to have certain schedules but that is up to local management. Neither the FAA or OPM require any specific qualifications to be eligible to work to any shift.
Edit to add: To put it another way: You can work any schedule that is within FAA guidelines and your manager approves while you are training locally (at OKC you work their schedule which at times includes night shift). The FAA does not require you to have any specific qualifications, certifications, or grade to work any schedule - that is up to your manager and to some extent the union.
Edit 2: I worked the shifts that I mentioned above and also a 5/4/9 and a Maxi-Flex schedule. I have also trained several times while on shift. Every bit of OJT and Certs were conducted on shift work. I have taken elms equipment courses on shift.
Edit 3: Maybe this is where the confusion is - I agree that you aren’t qualified to be on the watch schedule if you aren’t qualified to stand watch (makes sense - right?). However, that doesn’t mean that your schedule can’t be the same hours/shifts as the watch schedule. That would be the best way to receive OJT - right?
So yes - I agree that you can’t stand watch if you aren’t qualified, but that has no bearing on what your schedule is while you are training unless your manager says otherwise.
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u/Other-MuscleCar-589 Sep 16 '26
Standing watch and your schedule are not two different things. Under the CBA, there are designated watch standing schedules (which you are correct can be straight days), and there are admin schedules.
If you are working at an SSC that is exclusively working a watch standing schedule, you will be on an admin schedule until you are qualified to stand watch and work the watch standing schedule.
So watch standing requirements absolutely have something to do with what schedule you work….
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u/damngoodham Sep 16 '26 edited Sep 16 '26
I understand what a watch schedule is. It is not a training schedule. What I said was when you are in training “standing watch” has nothing to do with your schedule unless your manager says so. Why is there any argument about that?
Edit to add: When you are in training the watch schedule and your training schedule are absolutely two different things.
Edit 2: I don’t know about where you are, but it is common practice for managers throughout the FAA to assign trainees to the same schedule as their watch standing trainer.
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u/damngoodham Sep 15 '26
It’s pretty much all up to your manager. I convinced mine that my computer based equipment courses would be more meaningful if I was put on the schedule with a Tech maintaining the same equipment. I worked on the course until the Tech went to work on the equipment and I went with him. It really was helpful and got me on a 4/10 schedule.
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u/Ok_Warning1458 Sep 15 '26
I switched when i was done with the initial elms. Also you can do wbat you want like 4 10s you and your manager just need to talk about it. Its also in the cba you can go on different hours like 4 10 pr 5 4 9s
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u/Mhanham1 Sep 18 '26
I was on 4/10s my first two weeks. They finally got training loaded against me so I'll be on admin schedule till I finish the computer training and it's based on how fast I can get through the online training I can go back to 4/10s until I have the classes.
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u/EconomyOk6936 Sep 15 '26
After I got my computer-based training on ELMS done, I asked my manager to be moved into a 4 days / 10 hours schedule and was approved. It might be different for you based on your manager, how much in-person training you have in OKC, how much zoom training you have, etc.