northernmonkey 1261
As on of the 15 or so expats working in Geneva, I can confirm most of what has already been said - but with a bit of expat "spin".
For the moment, Approach is located in Geneva, as is the terminal control and UAC. Rumours abound as to what might move where and when but specific information is very hard to come by.
Politics are intertwined in everything we do here. Take equipment - Geneva develops a system (beit stripless, radar software, etc.) and Zurich needs a similar system. Anywhere else, they would adopt what has already been developed for and paid by the operator - not in Switzerland. Zurich must have their own system that is superior to that employed in Geneva, therefore will waste millions developing a similar system, just to prove a point. All that in a company that claims to be cash starved, while lowering route charges because the politicians demanded it!!
In either place, the local language really is a necessity - life would be possible but significantly more difficult and frustrating without it. Certainly as far as Geneva is concerned, French is mandatory as around 40 percent of the traffic and a large amount of co-ordination is done in French.
Living - Geneva (and Zurich) is expensive. Housing costs a fortune and is scarce, expect to pay at least 3,500 swiss francs per month for any kind of reasonable appartment. You can live in France but prices have risen sharply in the last few years since the swiss were also allowed to (legally) do so. A decent appartment will cost al least 300,000 euros and a house at least 450,000 - considerably more in a good area.
Work - morale is fairly low at the moment. Especially in the TCG department (tower/approach/terminal) where chronic unserstaffing has meant a lot of pressure from management to work overtime which, coupled with the shift system which always starts on lates and finishes with earlys, means chronic fatigue. Everyone works individual rosters which are received around 5 weeks in advance (if we're lucky).
Procedures - gray is the colour of the month here - black and white is definitely not "in". If it can be made less clear and/or more complicated - just wait for the next revision.
Training - even experienced controllers arriving will spend a coupl of months in the classroom, followed by, I think, around 4-6 weeks in the sim and 3 - 6 months OJT. Number of validations required depends where you're going to work. For approach it's usually approach (arr/dep/co-ord/final) and the terminal sectors - towere/approach is only for the locals!
Pay - pretty much as posted - for a controller with say, 10 years experience, gross salary is around170,000 - 180,000 swiss per year, depending on shifts worked, training etc. Allowances exist for sundays/public holidays/night shifts and coaching (OJTI). Pension is fairly good - that's all that keeps some people here but that's all changing. Since the recent pay rises in the middle east, Eurocontrol, Canada, etc. quite a few are looking elsewhere - management's head is firmly stuck in the sand believing that either noone will leave or that they'll soon come running back! The personnel department's declared goal is to reduce the salaries, as they think we're overpaid!! Cost of living has risen considerably in recent years but salaries have been stagnating for at least 15 - (0.5 percent raise, anyone?!) If yo live in France it's worse, as the Euro has strengthened a lot against the swiss franc, meaning a 15 percent or so pay cut.
Notwithstanding all this, it's a very pleasant part of the world to live in - weather is warm in summer, grey in autumn (IMC), bloody cold in January (not much snow but can reach -15 for a couple of weeks at a time) and very pleasant in the spring.
Any other questions, please pm me,
regards,
Guy.
edited for spelling and procedures
Last edited by Guy D'ageradar; 24th Nov 2007 at 12:12.