quote:
Originally posted by mark_a:
So moving up means moving around to larger and busier airports?
What is the progression? What is the biggest plumb?
And congrats. I may not understand why you are excited but I can certainly appreciate that you ARE excited...
Exactly. The FAA usually has a plan (to which they rarely follow) of having people start out and lower level facilities and work their way up. In the Pacific Northwest, Seatac Tower is the biggest and the best paying tower around.
To me it holds a bigger meaning. Ever since I can remember, aviation has always been a part of my life. When I was younger, my grandpa would take my brother and I to the Normandy Park DQ, get us blizzards and we would sit at the viewing park overlooking Seatac airport. He would quiz us on types and we loved every minute of it.
I started flying when I was 13 at Boeing Field. I soloed at S50(Auburn Muni). I decided in college that I didn't want to fly for a living. Much to my parents dismay, I chose a different path. I chose ATC. Before I ever got started in my career, I wanted Seatac. I watch that tower being built.
I found out early on that I am not a radar controller. They gave me a second chance with Paine, 55 miles away from where I lived, and I was eternally grateful. I drove 24,000 miles a year for 4 years just thankful to still have a good job that I loved. I got lucky and got picked up at Boeing Field. I knew the airspace. It was a kick in the pants ball of fun and will be for the next year until I go to Seatac. I don't know if Seatac will be where I retire but I have a feeling it could be.
The dream has come true for me. It has been over a decade since I decided that this is where I want to be and what I want to do with my life. I will bust my ass each and every day to make them glad they picked me up and make them wish they did it earlier!
I appreciate all the support and congrats!
Situation awareness is defined as a continuous extraction of environmental information, integration of this information with previous knowledge to form a coherent mental picture in directing further perception and anticipating future events. Simply put, situational awareness mean knowing what is going on around you. 
