# Happy New Year! And Why It Is a Privilege to be an Air Traffic Controller Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast-7035694/happy-new-year-and-why-it-is-a-privilege-to-be-an-air-traffic-controller Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast-7035694/happy-new-year-and-why-it-is-a-privilege-to-be-an-air-traffic-controller.md Podcast: [The Side by Side ATC Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast-7035694) Published: 2026-01-05T12:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast/2429829 Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/303058/2429829/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast/2026_01_05_04_43_12_7cb40c2d-1144-498d-8cf0-e8ab15450f56.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast-7035694/episodes/happy-new-year-and-why-it-is-a-privilege-to-be-an-air-traffic-controller Duration seconds: 2095 ## Resource In this episode, I talk about why I think it is an amazing privilege to be an air traffic controller. I talk about the small number of people in the USA who get to be air traffic controllers, and the even smaller number who get to be students at the FAA Academy. If you are wanting to be an air traffic controller and are willing to change your life in order to accomplish that goal, then you are already one of the few, one of the microscopic number of people in this country, who are willing to try this career. And you are NEEDED now more than ever! I hope and pray that you all have incredible new years!! And thank you for listening and allowing me the privilege of doing this podcast! FOR HELP: To set up a FREE call: sidebysideatc.com/scheduler/free-consult Pre-Academy If you are heading to the Academy in the next few months, I put together a structured 90-day preparation blueprint that walks you through exactly what to focus on each month before you go. It's designed to help reduce shock and build confidence before day one. You can download it at: sidebysideatc.com/page/blueprint . I also have a video where I explain the different things that are on the enroute Non-Radar Map. You can get that video at: sidebysideatc.com/page/map-video . Already at the Academy If you are already in the enroute radar portion of the Academy and feeling a little behind or lost, I have a 72-Hour Radar Recovery Plan that will help you get past those feelings and start building confidence. You can download that at : sidebysideatc.com/page/72-hourplan . If you are interested in my Coaching Programs , you can get information at : sidebysideatc.com/page/non-radar-lab-program sidebysideatc.com/page/radar-lab-program sidebysideatc.com/page/complete-lab-program or sidebysideatc.com/page/radar-recover… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast-7035694/episodes/happy-new-year-and-why-it-is-a-privilege-to-be-an-air-traffic-controller/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-side-by-side-atc-podcast-7035694/happy-new-year-and-why-it-is-a-privilege-to-be-an-air-traffic-controller.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.