RAF, SNCO Air Traffic controller and Asthma

[The Turbonator]

I was always under the impression that you could not do any aircrew jobs with the RAF if you've ever had asthma.

I rang earlier to ask about the above role and they said the role was groundcrew and that I'd be fine as long as I've not suffered from asthma since 16 and it's been longer than 4 years. I was given an inhaler when I was 3 for a cough, so if that's true, then I'm all good.

However, everything I've read since my earlier telephone conversation has described an SNCO Air Traffic controller as an aircrew role.

Can anybody shed some light on this and put my mind at rest?

[frodo_monkey]

It's a ground job (I am RAF aircrew). It's a direct entry air traffic control role i.e. based in an air traffic control tower on an airfield. Not to be confused with NCO Aircrew (Loadmasters etc).

Edited to add that you are correct in that asthma is a bar to serving as aircrew (as far as I know, I'm not a recruiter).

Edited by frodo_monkey on Monday 26th October 21:14

[The Turbonator]

frodo_monkey said:

It's a ground job (I am RAF aircrew). It's a direct entry air traffic control role i.e. based in an air traffic control tower on an airfield. Not to be confused with NCO Aircrew (Loadmasters etc).

Edited to add that you are correct in that asthma is a bar to serving as aircrew (as far as I know, I'm not a recruiter).

Edited by frodo_monkey on Monday 26th October 21:14

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[ecsrobin]

The Turbonator said:

frodo_monkey said:

It's a ground job (I am RAF aircrew). It's a direct entry air traffic control role i.e. based in an air traffic control tower on an airfield. Not to be confused with NCO Aircrew (Loadmasters etc).

Edited to add that you are correct in that asthma is a bar to serving as aircrew (as far as I know, I'm not a recruiter).

Edited by frodo_monkey on Monday 26th October 21:14

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

The reason you may be getting confused is direct entry controllers go through cranwell just like the aircrew at the very start once they've completed their Management training it's off to RAF Shawbury for close to a year to do a very intense course.

The downside to RAF air traffic control is that you can't leave and go straight to NATS to earn the real money. If you want to know anymore feel free to ask. Although I wasn't a controller I was air traffic branch up until last year and have done 2 stints through the training school.