The Side by Side ATC Podcast

In this episode, I talk about the thing you can't do if you want to be an air traffic controller:

GIVE UP !!

You are going to have days when you know that this career is not for you. You are going to have days at the Academy when you ask yourself why you are there.

You are going to have bad, bad days.

It is going to happen.

I know this because it happens to me and it happens to EVERY student that goes through the Academy. 100%! You can bet the house on it!!

There are ways to make sure you do not make the decision to give up on your ATC dream. I discuss some of those ways in this episode. I hope they will help you.

If you need, or want, to talk, my email is [email protected] . We can set up a call, or just chat via email or text.

If you are interested in the coaching programs I offer, you can find info on those at attractwell.com/sidebysideatc .

I'm here to help.

In this episode, I talk about some questions you should ask yourself if you are interested in becoming an air traffic controller.

This career is not for everybody. If your strengths are not geared towards this type of career then, even if you are successful at the Academy, you may find that this career has just turned into a JOB. And not a very fun job at that.

Some questions to ask yourself ( or ask someone who knows you really well)

• Do I like a fast paced work environment?
• Can I think on my feet quickly?
• Can I make decisions quickly?

There are other questions to ask, they will be different for everyone, but these are some that everyone should ask before you start this journey.

I have worked with people, and seen students, who can do this job, but it can ruin their life and take all of the joy out of life. Try not to be that person.

If you have questions about this, or anything else, let me know. My email is [email protected] .

You can also find some information at the website : attractwell.com/sidebysideatc

Thank you all for listening! Have a great week!

In this episode, I review a brand new ATC board game that is out there called :

Arrival Push- A Game of Vectors.

I have played the game twice so far. The first time, I didn't use all of the rules. I left out the Weather and the Event cards. I was glad I did. This allowed me to get use to the movement of the airplanes and the other aspects of the game before introducing some, and sometimes a lot of, complexity into the play. Adding weather especially complicated the game.

I did play by most (99%) of the rules the second time. It was much harder but still manageable. AND A LOT OF FUN!!

I thoroughly enjoyed playing the game both ways, and look forward to adding in some of the extras such as military flights, special flights, and playing it as a departure sector instead of an arrival sector.

Final Verdict: Thumbs Up!!

If you like board games and you like airplanes, this is for you!!

You can get it at: pushingtingames.com .

I had some other thoughts that you can help me with, please let me know your thoughts.

You can email me at: [email protected] .

A reminder: The sale of my coaching programs is almost done! There are a few spots left at the GREATLY reduced prices! After they are gone, the prices are going to increase greatly and the number of spots in the 1:1 coaching programs is going to be reduced as well. SO DON"T DELAY!!!

You can get more info at: attractwell.com/sidebysideatc . If you can't find what you need on the website, just email me and that will be enough to reserve your spot and freeze the price at the sale price.

Thank you all for listening!!

Have a great week!!

In this episode, I talk about teamwork and how it is not just important in air traffic control, but how it is imperative at the Academy.

In the 5 years that I was an instructor at the Academy, I saw numerous classes who worked together throughout their time in OKC. I also witnessed classes who didn't. There was a stark difference between the two. I'm talking class pass rates of 80-90% versus below 50%.

I talk about how important it is to help the classmates who are struggling. It will help them, AND it will help you. Teaching someone else is the BEST way to deepen your own understanding. I guarantee it; 100%!

Don't believe me? Try it and see!

Thank you all for listening! It is wonderful to hear from you!

If you have any questions, you can email me at: [email protected] .

If you want to lock in the sale price for any of the coaching programs, you can go to: attractwell.com/sidebysideatc .

If you have a question about the website, just drop me an email.

Have a great week, and remember that I will always be with you Side by Side.

In this episode, I talk about one of the most important concepts in radar. The concept of P-A-L-M.

In the radar lab, you use PALM to identify actions that you need to take whenever an aircraft is changing a route or an altitude. You do this to ensure that you have covered everything that may happen because you have re-routed, or climbed, or descended an aircraft.

What this means is that when you are going to move an aircraft up, down, or sideways, you need to make sure that the new route or altitude is safe for them, as well as for you.

you do this by going through the four letters:

• P---Point Out. Does this aircraft need a point out along its new route? This is a HUGE question and HAS to answered for their ENTIRE route through your airspace. Not doing this could cost you LOTS of points.
• A--- Correct Altitude for Direction of Flight. Has the new route changed the aircraft's course to the point where it is now at an altitude that is IAFDOF( Inappropriate Altitude for Direction of Flight)? This is also a HUGE question and HAS to be answered, and possibly solved, in a careful manner.
• L--- LOA's. Does the new route/altitude conform to the LOA's? Of course, you have to know the LOA's to answer this question
• M---Military Airspace. Does the new route/altitude conflict with ACTIVE Military Airspace?

These are 4 questions that you have to ask, and answer, about every aircraft that you change an altitude on or change their route. The correct answers will save you a TON of points during your evals. So you MUST practice these in the labs and when you are practicing with your classmates. They are ESSENTIAL!!

Thank you for listening!!

If you have any questions, you can email me at [email protected] .

If you want information about my coaching programs, you can go to the new website at

attractwell.com/sidebysideatc

Have a great week!

This episode is all about Special Announcements!!

• First- I am announcing the new Essential Video Lessons.

These videos will be in 4 modules and cover:

-Non-Radar Classroom

-Non-Radar Lab

-Radar Classroom

-Radar LAb

There will be over 100 videos that will be available to you so you can watch as often as you need to understand every concept covered. These will be short, 5-10 minute videos so you don't have to sit through a lot to find what you need.

• Second- I will have a Pro Level 1:1 Coaching

This will be for students who only want either Non-Radar or Radar coaching but. don't want both. With the Pro Level Coaching Program, you will also get access to the videos that correspond to your purchase.

• Third- I will have an Elite 1:1 Coaching Program

This is for students who know they want the 1:1 coaching through both non-radar and radar. You will also have access to all 4 modules of the video lessons.

The Cost?

Essential Video Lesson- $197 ( Originally $500 )

Pro Level 1:1 Coaching - $397 ( Originally $800 ) - Limited Number

Elite Level 1:1 Coaching- $747 ( Originally $1497 )- Limited Number

Not sure when you are going to the Academy?

A $100 deposit will save your place AND lock the price in when they go back up in September!!

That's right! $100 will get you a spot, no matter when you get to the Academy, and it will lock your price in until you get there!!

My goal is to help as many of you as I can!

Let em help you!

Website: attractwell.com/sidebysideatccom

email if you have questions: [email protected]

In this episode, I talk about what may be the most important concept to understand in Non-Radar. That concept is W-H-A-T.

W-H-A-T is the technique that is used to change an aircraft's altitude in non-radar so that all of the traffic for that aircraft is missed. It may sound easy, but it CAN get complicated! And it can get complicated quickly!

This is W-H-A-T:

• W- Where is the aircraft, or Is the aircraft in my airspace?

I have to ensure that the aircraft is in my airspace before I can change his altitude.

• H- Is there any active holding pattern airspace in the bay? ( I talk about what the BAY is)
• A- Is there any airspace that I need to miss in this bay?
• T- Are there any other aircraft between the altitude my first aircraft is at and the altitude the aircraft wants to go to?

As you ask these questions, you are writing down any restrictions you need to give the first aircraft in order to answer the questions: or in order to miss the other airspace or aircraft.

See what I mean; it can get complicated very quickly. You have to practice this concept a lot in order to get good at it. You will get a lot of time in class to practice, but you HAVE to practice, WITH YOUR CLASSMATES, at home. The time they give you in class is not nearly enough time to get as good as you need to be in order to do well on your non-radar evals!!!!!!

In addition to this week's topic, I am announcing that I will be hosting a LIVE webinar on Saturday, August 16, 2025! The time is 10:00 am ( subject to change). The webinar will feature me answering your most asked questions!

You will have to register for the webinar. The first 9 people to register will receive a Side by Side ATC backpack. Everyone who registers will be able to lock in the current 1:1 coaching program praises for 6 months. You will also get reduced pricing for another 6 months. If you know you will not be going to the Academy for over a year, let me know and we can work out the details.

When you register, please also give me your 2-3 questions that you would like me to answer during the webinar.

Here is the link for the webinar registration:

https://attractwell.com/sidebysideatccom/landing/webinar-8-16-25

Thank you again so much for listening!! I hope that this episode has/will help someone out there!!

Remember: ATC is a team sport. Don't try to do this on your own. Get a team around you. I am always here if you need, and we can get through anything Side by Side.

In this episode, I talk about how to plan for the explosion of information that the FAA is going to shoot your way during the enroute academy. If you are not prepared for this onslaught, you will get behind. Once you get behind, you may never catch up.

Primary Goal of the first 6 weeks--- The Non-Radar Evals

They are worth 7 points each for a total of 14 points.

Secondary Goals for the first 6 weeks--- The Tests

They are the Map Test worth 2 points and the CKT1 Test worth 4 points.

6 points total from the 2 tests.

As you can see, 14 points is more than 6 points .That is why the evals are your primary goal, because they are worth more points. Because of that, you need to focus the majority of your time on the things that will make you better for the evals. That means you need to focus your practice on the things you are going to use in the evals more than you focus on the tests. You still need to focus on the tests, just not as much, or as intensely, as you focus on everything else you need for the evals.

Once you get through Non-Radar, the information really comes at you even faster. It is incredibly easy to get behind during radar. If you have a plan before you start, you have a great chance of succeeding.

Primary Goal is, of course, the Radar Evals.

They are worth 22 points each for a total of 66 points.

Secondary Goals of Radar--- The Tests

They are the Aircraft Characteristics Test ( 4 points), the CKT2 Test ( 5 points), and the Checklist Eval ( 5 points) for a total of 14 points.

Just as in Non-Radar, you have to focus on what will help you improve in running the scenarios. This means practicing, practicing, and more practicing. Try to make sure your class understands that they need to practice together now even more than they did in Non-Radar. It is the difference between getting half the class through and getting ALL of the class through. It can be done! But it can only be done as a group, not as individuals.

Make a PLAN! Stick to your PLAN!

You will be amazed what you can accomplish!!!

Thank you all for listening!!

If you have a question, or just want to talk, email me at [email protected] and we can set up a call.

If you are interested in any of my coaching programs, you can go to attrawell.com/sidebysideatc .

Have a great week!!

In this episode, I talk about what everything is that is on the Aero Center Non-Radar Map.

One of the reasons given for not studying the map before you get to OKC is that you don't know what you are trying to memorize. Well, hopefully, this will help.

I go through:

• Sectors- number, name, and frequencies
• Navaids- VORTAC, VOR/DME, and NDB
• Airways- Victor Airways and Jet Routes
• MEA's- Minimum EnRoute Altitude
• MIA- Minimum IFR Altitude
• MRA- Minimum Reception Altitude
• MCA- Minimum Crossing Altitude
• MOCA- Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude
• MOA's- Military Operations Areas
• Mileages on the airways
• Radials of the airways
• Airports
• Intersections and DME Only Intersections
• Diamond Mileages

All of these things are on your map. The map is one of the most important things you will learn at the Academy. You will use it every day, even in radar.

Try to learn as much of it as you can BEFORE you get to OKC. The more you know it, the less time and energy you will have to spend trying to learn it while you are also trying to learn how to do Non-Radar.

Thank you all for listening!

If you have any questions, please email me at: [email protected] .

Have a great week!!

In this episode, I talk about 3 things that I think you should do to prepare for the FAA Academy. Whether you are going into the en route program or the tower program, there are 3 things that you should do BEFORE you get to OKC.

First: Learn the Phonetic Alphabet for ATC

• This is probably the easiest of the 3 and that's why I put it first. It is essential that you know this before getting to OKC. Knowing this will not get you ahead of things when you get there, this is the bare minimum.

Second: Learn the Map

• This is actually almost as important as knowing the alphabet and it doesn't matter if you are going en route, tower or terminal radar. You need to know your airspace.
• I go over 3 reasons I have seen given on Discord for not learning the map before you get to OKC and I give my rebuttals to those arguments.
• Knowing your map BEFORE you get to OKC will put you ahead of where the FAA thinks you will be on day 1. It will put you level with students who have gone through CTI schools ( their students have not started going directly into towers, yet). That is a starting place that you want to be at!

Third: Have a Game Plan set up Before You Get To OKC

• I talk about how you will need to have a plan to deal with when you have night shifts and need to plan study time. Each of you are different and you need to have a plan in place that plays to your strengths as well as those of your classmates.

Finally: I get on my soapbox a little and talk about the teamwork and sacrifice that it will take if you really want to have a 100% class. IT IS NOT EASY, BUT CAN BE DONE!

Thank you all for listening!

I hope and pray that you all have a wonderful week!

If you need anything, email me at [email protected]

or go to attrawell.com/sidebysideatccom .

to set up a call to talk about where you are in your air traffic control journey.