6 Irish student controllers in South Africa????

[jack4577]

Anybody know about 6 Irish student controllers supposed to be arriving in South Africa????
Do you work with ATNS and if so have you heard anything about this??

[B Sousa]

Ah The Irish.....Always in Numbers. We have a Pub here in Vegas called "Nine Fine Irishmen". Cant imagine where they got that name or found nine fine ones......ha ha
If its true though, you had better hide the Castles......

[126,7]

Has Ireland run out of booze, or are there too many ATCs? Heard there were 18 Irish working for DFS in Germany. Some in Bremen, some in Frankfurt and a whole bunch in Munich. Figures!! Probably didnt get much done while the Oktoberfest was on!!:}

[Goldfish Jack]

There is rumour out about some more foreign controllers arriving in SA. ATNS has taken a lot from Uraguy, some Scandanavian countries and Aussies. Not sure how many they are planning to keep employing (do they know themselves is the next question!!). I think with the new nationwide equipment upgrade they might be shore of numbers for a few years, so they are looking to contract workers. (One thing about ATNS - they certainly believe in getting the latest equipment around and it is a pleasure to work with)

ATNS has got a programme to fasttrack previously disadvantaged people into the ATC ranks. The first lot are a disaster, so we are led to believe, so I am sure they will be looking for more (contract) controllers.

They also now have a policy of when you can't make the grade at one ATSU, (as an aerodrome controller), you are transferred to another quieter ATSU to wreak havoc there!! Or they even send you on an approach course !!! and if you cant make that, then they still transfer you to a quieter ATSU to carry on wreaking havoc there......

You know the old ruling "directives... yes... we have them, but we change them as we go along!!!!!"

AAAAAh Africa - what a great place to live and work in...!!

[EltorroLoco]

This would be the first that FAJS has heard about Irish ATCs, not surprising tho since the inmates are only entitled to water and shelter here.

The Aussies r not coming to "help" here either, one of the wardens apparently managed to mess that deal up. Sorry Bruce... The only reason the foreign ATCs are here is to keep the prison going while the lifers get training on the Eurocat system, it has nothing to do with easing the locals heavy workload - the Danes only have 18 month contracts of which 6 months are for training anyway.

ATNSs opulent investment in equipment is applaudable but the complete lack of investment in their existing and new personnel is cause for concern for the future. All the equipment in the world is not worth one well trained, highly skilled and motivated ATC. Even the best race cars in the world are just paperweights without competent drivers.

The current morale at FAJS is about as high as a Siberian salt miner with no shoes, the proof of this is in the incident rate of late - 7 in the last 10 days. Our Scandinavian helper-outers are not immune from this plague either...

So don't be inclined to have a taste of ATNSs BS, even tho its covered in chocolate, it's still has a rather pungent taste inside.