mac7643193,
Been 25 years since I was at the College, so probably have a hazy recollection at best. Before automation, we had Flight Datas whose job it was to get the Flight Plans off the printers, work out which controllers needed to know about them , and write flight strips for them. We typically did this for about eighteen months before we went back to the College to do the ATC course. It was great grounding. Before we went back to the College we got attached to sectors, pilot briefing, went to secondary towers, etc.
We actually learned a fair bit about overall ATC, through osmosis, before doing all the theory.
It also depends alot on the personalities in your course. Some courses come through relatively unscathed, whilst others are decimated. If you can get your course to adopt a 'no-one is left behind' attitude it will go along way to helping all of you. Socialising in the course is highly recommended. Keep it positive. Group study/ socialising sessions tended to help in my day, and from all reports still do.
If you are able, try to get in time at the Centre, both before the course and during it, even if you have to do it off your own bat. Most controllers are more than happy to help. Remember not to make comments about how you would have done it differently. A little knowledge can be an exasperating thing.
A good model to remember is the Unconscious/Incompetence, Conscious Incompetence, Conscious/Competence, Unconscious/ Competence.
Basically at the start you don't know how much you have to learn, over time you realise that you have a lot to learn. Gradually that learning starts to take over and you can start to do the job. The end state is you start doing the right thing without having to really think about it. Think about what you were first like when starting to learn to drive, and what (hopefully) you are like now.
There is a lot of book learning, remember that you will not only be tested on your ability to parrot fashion recite it, but most importantly on how to apply it. If you are unsure, ask your instructors. Talk to your course mates. Try to think big picture i.e I know I have to do this or that, but why? The why is very important.
In the simulator, if in doubt, be conservative with separation. Instructors are looking for graduated improvement, not someone who is a superstar in 4/5 or 9/10 runs. You are only as good as your last sim exercise. Expect to have bad days, pick yourself up, learn something from it, and get going again. In the sim you need to be in front time wise. You will be told that you need to scan,scan,scan. If you feel you are getting desperately behind i.e. too many things to do and not enough time, ask if you can stop the the exercise. You may find that now you can calmly assess what needs to be done, that you are not as far behind as you thought you were. If the instructor asks to stop the exercise, don't take it as a criticism, they have probably decided that you are not getting out of the exercise what you need because you are just reacting to whatever is happening.
The instructor may say to keep it running when you ask to stop, they might decide (don't forget they have seen the exercise many times) that you are not as far behind as you think you might be and will learn more by fighting your way out of the hole you have been busily digging for the last X minutes. They might decide that it is a 'good' experience for you to have that you allowed too many aircraft into your airspace, without thinking of the possible consequences. Maybe it was better if you knocked back a clearance or two, and now you can see the consequence of your actions. Every sim run is a learning experience. Get out of them what you can. I'll guarantee that you'll think twice about being 'gung ho' the next time, after you have been burnt. Its the transition from Unconscious/Incompetence to Conscious/ Incompetence that is the hardest.
In the real world there are times due to weather/ traffic / emergency situations, that you will ask for someone to sit behind as a second set of eyes to make sure you're not missing something. It is most important to recognise your own limitations and do something to address it. You need to put safety first, ego second.
I would suggest on Day One of the course, take the lead and try to organise a social do for your course, try and get some people already on a course to come along and have a quiet ice-breaking drink and a bit of a natter about how they have found the course. Keep it positive.
Besides what it might feel like at the odd time, the instructors are there to help you get through, but you must help yourself. Make sure you have studied what is asked of you, and then some. Try to help your course mates, if someone is lagging help them as much as possible, but not to your own detriment. You learn a lot yourself when you try to explain something to others. Avoid personality clashes with instructors, you may get the odd one. They also have bad days.
Instructors will try to keep their reports to you generally positive, don't rest on your laurels, read between the lines. I have done this,this and this right but they have a concern here. That concern is something you need to work to fix quickly. In ATC you generally don't get the bouquet for what you did right, that is just self motivation, occasionally you do however get the brickbat for what you didn't do right. Suck it up, it happens to everyone.
Other than that, keep your head down, bum up and work hard.
Last edited by max1; 23rd Nov 2010 at 01:42.