Hi, just thought i'd add my tuppenceworth.......
Like you, I was always hankering to be a jet jockey and had got as far as getting a loan all sorted out to fund my fzn ATPL. Loan signing was to be 13/9/01. Needless to say that I kinda said 'I'll get back to you' to Mr bank manager. Now, in hindsight I sometimes regret not sticking with it through the dark times; who knows, I might even have made it!!
HOWEVER, these days I am a trainee ATCO in the final stages before validation and have to say that I am glad fate dealt its hand and pushed me in the direction of ATC. Really wouldnt change what I'm doing for all the tea in China
. Its a fantastic career chioce.
As to the flying, I intend to use the nice wages NATS pay me to do my CPL/IR, possibly get an instructors rating so I can do the two things which I enjoy the most. I no longer look to fly aircraft for a living but still aim to get airborne as much as I can.
As to student wages, I suppose it all depends on which company you intrend working with. NATS wages have all changed at the college since I was there. You may well find it on the NATS website!!
Anyway, I really cannot recommend this career highly enough. Hopefully I will be controlling for many years to come. Go for it, you wont be disappointed
Spamcan