Originally Posted by
Gonzo
Can we all please be clear on this thread whether we are talking about 50 years ago or today? It's potentially confusing for
ATC beginner . Let's focus on the current situation and help those applying to join today, rather than what happened 'back in my day'.
I agree Gonzo: I started in the early eighties, by the late eighties the 5 rating option was deemed outmoded & wasteful, as too many good airports ATCOs were thrown away (in reality, handed on to other ATC providers for free...). It's nearly 2025, so those last 5 rating people will be very close to retirement, if not already there. The company's gone through many iterations since then, reflecting on the past might be fun for some, but very confusing for those trying to enter the business now.