Any Air Traffic Controllers on here?

[alistair1234]

As per title, always wanted to do it, now 27 and am seriously thinking about it.

Thanks

[evo4a]

My wife was, she is now in ops and training.... if you get an interview you may even meet her

How can we help?

[alistair1234]

I alway wanted to do it when I was in school, but didn't fancy the move down south from Chester. I'm now 27 and have worked in various sales roles for 9 years but have become fed-up with the company I work for and when looking at other jobs I was thinking about ATC as something I was always interested in.

I applied a couple of weeks ago and was sent a basic assessment to complete which I will be doing today.

My initial worry is the risk, it would mean taking a massive pay cut for 3 odd years until i'm qualified but would be well worth it in the long run. According to their own stats 3,000 people apply each year and I believe only 25 go on to be a fully qualified ATC'er after 5 years.

One initial question, may be obvious, but my nearest airport Liverpool isn't covered by NATS, and I cant find out why or who it is covered by?!

Thanks in advance

[evo4a]

If you are near Liverpool your nearest NATS airport will probably be Manchester.

It's a rigorous, interview and training program, the job is stressful. I went through it in the 90's spent 4 years in ATC and hated it, I found the pressure intense and there is no fun in a job when you worry about going to work the next day.
My wife on the other hand loved it and still works for NATS with 24 years of service.

Horses for courses, think hard about it, if you get stressed out it's not for you.

[valais]

A lex is:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...

(Brit who works/lives in Holland, but seems very helpful)

[Prawo Jazdy]

Go and visit Liverpool or Manchester if you can. It'll help you justify why you want to do the job at an interview, and it might give you more of an idea of whether it's for you or not. Manchester have just opened a shiny new tower, so that might limit their willingness to have visitors, but it's worth a go.

The figure of three years before a pay increase tends to apply more to Area control. It's more likely you'll end up here rather than at an airport, but if you do get put through the Aerodrome course, it is possible to be on decent pay within 18 months from joining.

Keep going with selection. It should give you a better idea of whether it's for you or not. You can always say no. Also, not everyone finds it stressful. Training is stressful (or at least I found), but the job itself can be great fun. You are under pressure, but that's not the same as stress.

[sparks_E39]

Why not do it through the RAF/Navy?

[Taita]

sparks_E39 said:

Why not do it through the RAF/Navy?

According to someone I know, the RAF quals have no match in civvy street so little point.

[worsy]

I tried twice in the 90's but failed at interview due to poor knowledge of planes. They presented you with a dinky size model and asked what it was. I'm not entirely sure the point assuming you could recognise a small fixed wing vs a jumbo and all sizes between but hey ho.

[ben_h100]

Taita said:

sparks_E39 said:

Why not do it through the RAF/Navy?

According to someone I know, the RAF quals have no match in civvy street so little point.

This is correct.

Go for NATS.

[PugwasHDJ80]

There was a raf bod on my NATS training course who was a mil ATCO and had to do the whole course to qualify as a civvie ATCO.

If you do go down that route then be aware that you will probably be an area controller and will end up at Swanwick or Scotland!