This is interesting.
In 1978/79, myself and a group of friends
went through what, by modern standards, was a basic 'ATCO selection test'.
Out of about 39 selected to do the course, about 93% made it. Some of the 'failures' subsequently 'made the cut'. Of the folks who passed initially, 3 became senior captains with major airlines.
Having spent many hours as an OJTI/examiner, I don't know what the answer is. If I did, maybe I wouldn't be typing this, probably sipping Bacardi in the Caribbean or a large single-malt on the west coast.
I sat, as a 'mentor' with some students who had come through 'The College' with flying colours, but, when presented with a palette of live traffic, couldn't do it.
This is the problem. I read recently that present-day student ATCOS wait about 3 years before they talk to their first 'live' aircraft. I spoke to mine after 6 weeks.
Last edited by ZOOKER; 27th Nov 2012 at 23:01.