View Full Version : Where will I end up after Bournemouth?
stringfellow hawke
3rd Jan 2002, 17:04
Just looking at applying for the 74 week ATCO course at Bournemouth. Amongst other questions (see 'Should I become an ATCO'), I'd be especially interested to know where most people end up being posted after Bournemouth. I appreciate it's all based on demand at the time, and that the biggest demand is for LATCC/NERC, but can you make requests and do they take any notice of them? I'd ideally like to come back up here to Cheshire and work at Manchester, but is that highly unlikely? I don't know how many people work at Manchester and how often they need fresh faced people from Bournemouth...
What about getting transfers from one post to another? Eg. work initially at NERC and apply to Manchester when there is a position. Is that viable or does the amount of retraining required make it impossible?
Any help really appreciated. Cheers.
Not Long Now
3rd Jan 2002, 20:55
From my course, 18 out of the 30ish passing wanted to go somewhere other than LATCC. All went to LATCC.
OK it all depends on the need at the time, but generally the south of england needs everyone, and any who fail from there stand more chance of getting up north than asking first off it seems.
Still 5 on my watch who've had requests to go up north in for years. Rumour is 1 may escape in autumn after only 3 years wait. MAY I said.
MACC 29 all the time!!!!
5th Jan 2002, 04:00
You ask yourself where would you like to go, then you can be guarenteed that is that last place they will send you!!!
Warped Factor
5th Jan 2002, 16:53
Ah yes,,,,,posting preferences.
I well remember the day I was given a bit of paper and told to list my prefered postings at the end of the course.
1) Manchester
2) Edinburgh
3) Glasgow
With a further comment of "nowhere south of Birmingham".
Needless to say, I was posted to an airfield a fair bit "south of Birmingham" <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">
WF.
I'm reminded of somebody who was persuaded to put Aberdeen as his 3rd choice, because 'nobody ever gets their 3rd choice, you'll be safe'........last I heard he was in the chilly north talking to lots of helos! <img src="cool.gif" border="0">
Gonzo.
WF
Don't be so glum and negative some of us were happy you got down south! :) :) :)
Happy New Year
AyrTC
It was a long time ago, but someone I know put Bournemouth (Nats still had the contract then) as his first choice. He got sent to Sumburgh which definitely was not one of his choices.
Warped Factor
5th Jan 2002, 22:34
AyrTC,
:)
I look forward to working beside you again, at NERC <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
WF.
The Jaguar Fan Club
6th Jan 2002, 06:19
If my course postings were anything to go by, (APR) Airports came out and told us what was available, and then ended up posting people to places that they said were "definitly not an option"!
Just now, if you go Area, expect NERC with a LONG wait.
If you go APR, Aberdeen no longer has the major requirement for ab initios. In fact we have several ppl wanting to come back after OJT!!! (yes, WANTING)
I understand the waiting list for Manch still outweighs the demand.......
Needless to say, we are all mobile grades, and we signed a contract saying we would go where the company requires us to go.
Take it in the chin and look on it as an adventure! You gotta leave home sometime!
Regards
TJFC
(who got posted back near home, but didn't especially want to come back....nothing to to with PD though!!!!)
[ 06 January 2002: Message edited by: The Jaguar Fan Club ]</p>
Bright-Ling
6th Jan 2002, 14:52
TJFC....
[quote] Just now, if you go Area, expect NERC with a LONG wait. <hr></blockquote>
Surely by the time a new applicant gets there, there will be no wait....surely!!!!?!!??!! <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
B-L
------------------------------
Ever the eternal optimist! <img src="cool.gif" border="0">
[ 06 January 2002: Message edited by: Bright-Ling ]</p>
stringfellow hawke
7th Jan 2002, 15:17
Doesn't anyone get to go where they want to go?
By the way TJFC, I left home 10 years ago! This would be a career change for me. More a case of having a wife and a home in Cheshire and us both wanting to come back here eventually. Thanks for the advice anyway and to all the others who took the time to add something.
By the way, a long wait for what if posted to NERC? A transfer? Validation? For the place to become operational??!!
Someone told me about a friend who qualified from Bournemouth not so long ago who apparently laid it on thick for a compassionate posting to Manchester and got it. Anyone any experiences of that?
eyeinthesky
7th Jan 2002, 21:04
Reference this post and your one entitled NATS Controlled Aerodromes. Someone on the latter gave you good advice: Concentrate on getting accepted by NATS and through the College of Knowledge before you worry too about where you will be posted. A major part of the NATS contract (not that you ever sign one as such!) is that you are a mobile grade. This means they can post you wherever they like, and having done so can move you somewhere else when they like. (Ask the 300 or so ATCOs who have or are now relocating to the hampshire area to fit in with NATS' decision to build the NERC Dome on the South Coast)
They make some effort when possible to fit in with preferences, but as I said in an earlier reply, they will put you where they need you, not necessarily where you think would be good. To be too stuck on getting what YOU want at this stage might suggest to the selectors that you lack the flexibility you need to be an effective ATCO.
So, get selected and on the course before you start planning where you are going to live!
250 kts
7th Jan 2002, 21:36
There's a 50% chance you'll live where you want to.
Pass and you won't.
Get chopped and you can go where you want!!! :) :) :)
Cuddles
8th Jan 2002, 06:20
Well stringfellow
You could always volunteer to come to Aberdeen, it's the next best thing to resignation for avoiding the area radar course! (And you'll actually know where you're going before personnel tell you, it's nice to be one step ahead!)
It's not as bad as people who've never been here say it is.
- 18 the other day mind - had to snap the dog off a lamp post
Cuddles - should we tell the poor lad (or ladess!) what (s)he would be doing on posting to the Ice Station? Did you see on another post that someone got Aberporth straight from College? And to think that somebody we both know failed and got sent elsewhere!
stringfellow hawke
8th Jan 2002, 15:17
Go on then Odi and Cuddles, don't keep me in suspense. What would I be doing if posted to the Ice Station? Talking to Santa and his reindeer on the RT?
Cuddles
11th Jan 2002, 02:04
SH
Only if you end up on the basin eh Odi? :)
But seriously though
The majority of people posted up here from the college end up on an offshore area radar (or not) sector for a few years before (hopefully) progressing to the tower / approach function when a space comes up. This has come as a bit of a shock in the past to some who weren't expecting the area task, particularly after working towards tower and approach ratings in the college.
5milesbaby
11th Jan 2002, 02:36
stringfellow, someone off my course a few years ago had a genuine reason for their 'compassionate posting' to Manch, the company really couldn't say no. However, it has to be said its rare. At the moment though, it seems a few are getting posted there due to the backlog at London/Nerc. Postings also obviously go with the validation you are trained to get. Some get Area, and some Approach, the course is split after 9 months for the appropriate training, and the usual fight for doing what you'd like happens. If you want to go Area in Nerc, you probably have a great chance of getting it, anything else can be a struggle, but it aint that bad down here............ <img src="wink.gif" border="0">