Originally Posted by 055166k
Your opening paragraph makes good sense. It is unfortunate that such a lesson has taken so long to learn.
I appreciate that the old ways of filling supervisory positions by a time-in-job formula was probably out-dated, but it was replaced by a management selection process that was/is alien to the operational coalface worker; however it favoured the Graduate entrant who not only expected 40-year job security but also that he/she would only control traffic for 5 or 6 years [7 to 8 at the outside] before progressing on the career ladder.
What resulted is an organisation so top-heavy that the severe shortage of operational controllers is hampering the ability to cope with traffic growth.
This can to some extent be camouflaged by the 24/7 nature of the job, because the abnormally large operational workforce associated with it tends to smokesreen the manager/worker ratio.
Of course with several thousand applicants for each intake there is no need to offer more than £10k, the shrinkage in applications may streamline and expedite the selection/training process.
the 10k salary is significantly less than most graduate jobs - whic will deter graduate entries and as such people with experience of self learning
It is also a bit less than some school leaver posts in my home area, which will discourage the less ambitious people from applying
those people with a real interest in the job will wish to apply, and with the reatively short time at the college 10k will not put these people off - nor will it put off poeple with ambition. What will be lacking is applicants with experience of self learning - A-levels are still pretty much spoon fed and require little learning and reading outside of the classroom. The same cannot be said of ATC. there is also a steep learning curve - especially on the new courses which has resulted in a high failure rate.
There is the danger of recruiting a lot of youngsters wh will see the time in bournemoth as an excuse to party and lounge on hte beach in stead of doing the required studying - ie a guaranteed income while partying.
As for the V scale compensating those at LTCC or SWanwick etc where the cost of living is higher and time to calidate is longer I dont see it as doing this. Firstly the V scale is paid on validation - which means those training at LTCC will on average be on the 15,000/16,000 salary longer than those going to airports who validate quicker.