How do I view the situation at present?
NATS are recruiting, they expect the aviation sector to grow, so accordingly the ATC sector will grow.
Negative....
From the NATS recruitment website:
IMPORTANT - APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED
The continuing very high levels of interest in the opportunity to train as an Air Traffic Controller mean that we have sufficient candidates to meet all our 2011 Trainee Air Traffic Control needs. We have therefore taken the decision to close our recruitment system to all new applicants from 1st April 2011.
Existing applicants are not affected by this announcement and will continue to be assessed for a Trainee role.
Recruitment needs for 2012 and subsequent years will be reviewed in the Autumn and an update will be issued at that time.
We would like to encourage you to pursue your interest in Air Traffic Control, so please continue to view our website
www.atcocareers.co.uk for future updates.
We hope to receive an application from you for this rewarding career with NATS when our recruitment system re-opens.
Also bear in mind that the NATS courses have dramatically reduced in size over the past 12-18 months, whether this will continue when recruitment re-opens, however, is anybody's guess.