NATS ATC Training

[LimaDelta]

I know there are a couple of controllers on here. This was something I considered a long time ago, but events took a different turn. Anyway, for various reasons it is something I am considering again. I am a PPL(A) and have a well established career in a non-aviation but technical field. I have a couple of questions if anyone is willing to take a minute:

At 41 would I be considered, especially given the compulsory retirement at 56?
What do ATC do after that - are there management roles or are you literally pushed out of the door?
How much control do you have over postings/ATC roles? If you specialise in area control for instance will you be expected to regularly relocate between Prestwick and Swanwick or will you stay put until you request (or not) a move?
The training is 12-18 months according to the website - is this full time or an academic year (i.e. school holidays)?

Finally, other than committing CAP 413 to memory, is there any recommended reading?

TIA!

[LHRFlightman]

I'd send Djc206 a dm.

[this is my username]

Probably better asking on the pprune forums.

[Chuck328]

Not to piss on your chips too much but I believe there are redundancies being muted. Djc may possibly know more. Apologies in advance if that's cobblers.

There's also DFS ( not couches!) but a German company that run ATC at some UK airports. Edinburgh is certainly one, I think Gatwick to. Perhaps they are worth a google ?

[MarkwG]

Feel free to message me, happy to help.

[djc206]

LimaDelta said:

I know there are a couple of controllers on here. This was something I considered a long time ago, but events took a different turn. Anyway, for various reasons it is something I am considering again. I am a PPL(A) and have a well established career in a non-aviation but technical field. I have a couple of questions if anyone is willing to take a minute:

At 41 would I be considered, especially given the compulsory retirement at 56?
What do ATC do after that - are there management roles or are you literally pushed out of the door?
How much control do you have over postings/ATC roles? If you specialise in area control for instance will you be expected to regularly relocate between Prestwick and Swanwick or will you stay put until you request (or not) a move?
The training is 12-18 months according to the website - is this full time or an academic year (i.e. school holidays)?

Finally, other than committing CAP 413 to memory, is there any recommended reading?

TIA!

LD, I think before anything else it’s worth mentioning that NATS has frozen external recruitment at the moment which shouldn’t come as a surprise given how the industry looks, on a positive note movements have roughly doubled in the last couple of weeks so the green shoots of recovery are there. But to answer your questions:

No compulsory retirement any more but few people stick at it much beyond 56. There’s a chap lodging with my neighbour who must be at least 45 who is currently on furlough waiting to go back to college.

There are office roles for ATCO grades, quite a broad range of roles from procedures, airspace design, training at the college, investigations, safety and many more.

Postings are based on business need, you can state a preference but nothing is guaranteed. Technically employed on a mobile grade but in reality unless you request it you won’t be required to cross the wall as an area controller. Aerodrome is subject to the airports contract with NATS, that could be a blessing/curse depending on your desire to live in a particular place.

Training length varies considerably based on discipline and posting. College is between 6 and 12 months using round numbers depending on discipline, full time with a good amount of extra curricular study required. It’s tough going but worth it in the end. You can then expect a few months in a simulator and then live training that can take anything from 6-18mths again depending on posting, discipline and aptitude. A typical area controller at Swanwick would take around 3 years give or take 6 months to qualify from walking through the college door.

There are some games and videos on the NATS website that are probably worth a look. I’m sure there’s a treasure trove of stuff on PPRUNE regarding recruitment and what to expect at the various stages but again worth reiterating they’re not currently recruiting.

[LimaDelta]

Thanks guys. As with most things now is probably not the best time but it is still potentially an option maybe a couple of years on.

[djc206]

LimaDelta said:

Thanks guys. As with most things now is probably not the best time but it is still potentially an option maybe a couple of years on.

It’s certainly worth registering your interest through the website, it might not be long before they decide they need more of us!

With regards to redundancy raised by Chuck328 my personal view and this is very much my personal view and in no way reflects the official stance of the company or our union is that redundancies are unlikely to happen for operational ATCOs. With a recovery predicted by 2023-2024 and with the number of staff we have who will retire by then it’s likely we’ll need to keep up if not grow the number of controllers particularly in the area side of things and that means recruiting and training in earnest in the not so distant future. I just hope the same goes for all of our friends elsewhere in aviation, it’s been a bloodbath and I count myself as very fortunate to have so far gone unscathed.

[Chuck328]

djc206 said:

It’s certainly worth registering your interest through the website, it might not be long before they decide they need more of us!

With regards to redundancy raised by Chuck328 my personal view and this is very much my personal view and in no way reflects the official stance of the company or our union is that redundancies are unlikely to happen for operational ATCOs. With a recovery predicted by 2023-2024 and with the number of staff we have who will retire by then it’s likely we’ll need to keep up if not grow the number of controllers particularly in the area side of things and that means recruiting and training in earnest in the not so distant future. I just hope the same goes for all of our friends elsewhere in aviation, it’s been a bloodbath and I count myself as very fortunate to have so far gone unscathed.

I sincerely hope you are right sir. My airline is being threatened with what's tantamount to massacre. BALPA will hopefully be able to tame things a little but for now there a lot of very scared people. Tough times, all from a micro organism.