UK Military ATC to Civil Licence Conversion (Split)

[Heimdall]

Mil to Civil

Surely the simple solution to enabling RAF ATCOs to re-train as civil ATCOs is the same one that’s been kicked around for many years without ever being officially adopted.

First the RAF decide what is a reasonable return of service is, lets say 8 to 10 years on completion of the JATCC. Then over the course of say the last year of this qualifying service those individuals that wish to are considered eligible to undertake a 1 year correspondence course for an Aerodrome Licence, with a number of ‘residency’ periods of set examinations and simulator exercises at either of the CAA qualified training schools.

This course could and should be funded by the RAF as part of re-settlement training, but since funding has always been a sticking point in the past, perhaps it’s time that other sources were examined and identified. For some years RAF pilots have had a system in place to help them re-train for an ATPL, but nothing official has been set in place to enable RAF ATCOs to make a similar transfer.

I believe this system would act as a pull factor to attract individuals to become an RAF ATCO, whilst ensuring they delivered a fair return of service before taking the skills they have acquired across to the civil sector. As the ‘baby-boomer’ generation of civil ATCOs retiring increases perhaps it’s time that all RAF ATCOs were treated as a national resource and trained to civil standards, as they do in New Zealand and many other countries.

Heimdall