View Full Version : Thinking of Applying
rachel1707uk
6th Jun 2006, 14:07
I've been seriously considering applying to train as an ATCO but it would mean a huge upheaval in my life (specifically, uprooting myself and my family from West Yorkshire to Bournemouth to wherever I get posted) and I wanted to ask a couple of questions first:
1) I thought it might be a good idea to get some first-hand experience before I apply. Might this be possible and, if so, what's the best way of going about it (my nearest airport is Leeds/Bradford)?
2) I know there was another question about payscales, but I wanted to clarify the structure during the training period: would I be right in thinking that it's £10K for the college period (six to nine months for an aerodrome controller) then around £16K after that for another two or three years? Also, is Working Tax Credit payable during that period?
Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me.
dbounford
6th Jun 2006, 15:09
I can only help you with the second point; I'm starting college in a couple of weeks, and yes you're right, 10,000 whilst training, 15,000-19,000 whilst validating, then it rises quite dramatically on your third anniversary of joining NATS (if you're valid by then). Hope that helps.
...then it rises quite dramatically on your third anniversary of joining NATS (if you're valid by then).
Out of interest, how dramatically does it rise? I had a google for NATS pay scales on the web, but it appears they are not in the public domain. Can't be that embarrassing, surely ;)
LXGB
BDiONU
7th Jun 2006, 18:34
Out of interest, how dramatically does it rise? I had a google for NATS pay scales on the web, but it appears they are not in the public domain. Can't be that embarrassing, surely ;)
LXGB
There are not many companies who publically publish their payscales as they're obviously commercially sensitive.
Have a look through this thread (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=224025) for an idea ;)
BD
Chilli Monster
7th Jun 2006, 21:54
Wossis LXGB - thinking of jumping ship? ;)
Always good to keep an open mind ;) Keeps people guessing :E
Padman
21st Jun 2006, 10:00
10k at the collage is def correct, and so long as you don't get re-coursed, you'll be here 9 months with area, less if doing aerodrome or approach. It does increase when you move to your posting. On validation, if before your 3 year anniversary, between 25-35k approx, depends on the grade of where you go. Then, you'll be looking at wonderful salarys, they go up and up and up too. Not too long before the 100k ATCO is the current talk of the town
rachb01
21st Jun 2006, 14:30
if you're doing approach how long is the training then? Also, I was under the impression that there is just one course, is that not the case and you can specialise in what area you want?
Spitoon
21st Jun 2006, 17:58
Wot, let loose with real traffic after less than 9 months in the business???? Well that explains a few things.........
BDiONU
21st Jun 2006, 18:50
Wot, let loose with real traffic after less than 9 months in the business????
And having to actually pass the course. Then having to successfully complete a Sector Validation Course. Then getting let loose with real traffic, with an instructor sitting with them and usually 400 hours of that before they might be at a stage suitable for examination and licensing to go solo.
Well that explains a few things.........
For example...........
BD
Cuddles
21st Jun 2006, 20:10
I can see no reason why you won't get the family tax credit, you will be employed, and ought to be eligible.
I get it (Or did until April, when I went through the threshold) - I've been in NATS for 7 years, should give you an idea of the salary increases.
Broxi
21st Jun 2006, 21:49
1) I thought it might be a good idea to get some first-hand experience before I apply. Might this be possible and, if so, what's the best way of going about it (my nearest airport is Leeds/Bradford)?
It would be a good idea to go your local tower for a look but if you get through the training down in Bournemouth - the job you end up doing whether area/approach/aerodrome will be very different to the job you see the controllers do at Leeds Bradford! I'd advise you to spend a couple of hours watching area and approach controllers, say at TC in West Drayton, Middlesex. And pop along to Heathrow, very close by, to watch the aerodrome controllers.
Shamrock274
24th Jun 2006, 22:57
. . . . so long as you don't get re-coursed, you'll be here 9 months with area, less if doing aerodrome or approach. It does increase when you move to your posting. . . .
So when you go to the NATS college do you guys choose different courses (aerodrome, approach etc) depending on what you want to end up doing(or do you get assigned the area you end up doing), is that how it works?? :ugh: or do you all do a general course covering all the important aspects of ATC and then specialise in your area when you are posted?apply to a unit???? Can anyone please explain how it works at the college,:ugh: thank you
rachb01
26th Jun 2006, 07:48
I asked that too, I think it must be a secret because no one wants to say ;)
Gonzo
26th Jun 2006, 08:47
So when you go to the NATS college do you guys choose different courses (aerodrome, approach etc) depending on what you want to end up doing(or do you get assigned the area you end up doing), is that how it works??
Towards the end of the first course (mostly theory work and some radar skills), you will be told how many will go on to each rating course (Tower, Approach Radar and Area). You get a chance to state what you would prefer, and taking that into account, and your performance so far, you are streamed on to the appropriate course.
Towards the end of that course, if appropriate, you are informed which units are available for posting, and again taking into account you preferences and you performance, you get posted to the appropriate unit.
Shamrock274
26th Jun 2006, 13:37
. . . . . your performance so far, you are streamed on to the appropriate course.
Towards the end of that course, if appropriate, you are informed which units are available for posting, and again taking into account you preferences and your performance, you get posted to the appropriate unit.
SO which areas are considered harder to get into?? or which areas are considered a challenging areas or is it dependent on ones interests??:O:O
rodan
26th Jun 2006, 14:41
SO which areas are considered harder to get into?? or which areas are considered a challenging areas or is it dependent on ones interests??:O:O
In general Area is the harder discipline, or at least the harder course to pass at the college. I found the Tower and Approach Radar courses roughly equally challenging, but I don't know if there is a pecking order at the college these days. When it comes to postings, (again, in general), the busier units get the more promising students. For Area this will be LACC (Swanwick) and LTCC (West Drayton). For Tower, Heathrow and Gatwick. For Approach, LTCC. The busiest units where you would do both Tower and Approach are likely to be Manchester (by volume) or Aberdeen (by complexity).
Gonzo is right when he says that they take your preference into account at each stage, but don't imagine that you have that much of a say in the matter, it depends entirely on what is available at the time. There are usually more people that want Tower or Approach than places available, and the majority will do Area. Likewise with postings - you will be sent to wherever the vacancies are. Sometimes an Area course will send a lot to Scottish, for example, but normally most will go to LACC and LTCC. Few people want to go to Aberdeen ('The Scottish Airport' :E ), but a disproportionate number will get sent there because of the large number of controllers required at Aberdeen to cover their extra offshore tasks.
I hope the last paragraph doesn't seem too negative, I'm sure if you love the job then you'll be happy whichever discipline you end up doing, and enjoy working wherever you get sent - every unit has it's challenges and rewards.
tired-flyboy
26th Jun 2006, 19:01
they take your preference into account at each stage :=
not true, really you go where the company needs you. Yes you have to pass the course but at the end of the day you sign a form that says you are a mobile grade.
The decision as to what discipline you follow at the college is wholly arbitary. Or so we all felt on my course.
Expect to go down the road of the area discipline as that seems to be in most demand at the moment.
Sometimes an Area course will send a lot to Scottish :=
again not the case. Nobody was sent to scottish during my time at the college (and i was there for a while). The most northern place an area controller got to was MACC (and that was only one per course / out of 27 trainees). The biggest split is TC / LACC
Each discipline is unique and each has points that people will find hard. The instructors at the college train you to be able to cope, the OJTI's at the unit you are eventually posted to build on your limited (should that be very).
Gonzo
26th Jun 2006, 19:14
tired-flyboy, how long were you at the college?
tired-flyboy
26th Jun 2006, 21:19
About 18 months, did the extended tour!!
I'm special, I am!! :ok: :ugh:
But i found the escape tunnel :D
rodan
26th Jun 2006, 21:25
Just because it didn't happen while you were there doesn't mean it never does, dude. About 50% of my course went to ScOACC. It was the exception rather than the rule though, which is what I was trying to convey.
Padman
28th Jun 2006, 13:52
At the moment, in all honesty, if you get here to the collage you will more than likely be sent to Area after completion of the basic course. As mentioned before you do sign to say you are a 'mobile grade' when you sign your contract of employment. So regarding which units you'll be posted to, it is just where they need you these days. Any personal circumstances do seem to be honestly looked at, but without a hell of a reason to go somewhere specific, i'd expect between 60-85% of a basic course to go Area.
But if you want to be an ATCO, you'll enjoy it whatever they tell you your doing, trust me :ok:
Padman
28th Jun 2006, 13:57
Also the general structure of the course is 3 months on the basic course (killed by power point and some basic radar skills in the sims), then Area, Approach, or Aerodrome. Area is a 9 month course (plus a little extra poss), Aerodrome and Approach are 6 months courses. Area is longer because there's a lot more to get through.
Dances with Boffins
30th Jun 2006, 12:27
About half of my course ended up at Scottish. Most got there via West Drayton though...:rolleyes:
About 75% of the college output is to Area. Most of those are to Swanwick. Thems the numbers that NATS needs, so that is where they go. If you are dead set on going to a specific place to work that isn't next to the M27, maybe NATS isn't for you.