BC,
1. The job is different. You couldn't control easily, or safely, in the main N-S airways complex without some considerable re-training. Console yourself that many civil ATCOs wouldn't have a hope of doing what we do (oops, given myself away there!) without a similar, large, amount of training.
2. However, I believe our abilities, workrate, speed of thought and multi-tasking skills would place us higher in ATC training than an ab-initio student. It's unfortunate that this isn't recognised in any shape or form.
3. As Take3Call5 said, it's all about retention. I don't know about you, but if my ticket was
easily transferable to the civil side, do you think I'd still be doing this job for this salary? I think not.
BC - just remember you're doing things that many civvies will never come close to doing ( and I don't mean airproxes!)
To all you civvies, before you think I'm snobbish, I
really envy your salary
