Course 202

[mickrobbo]

Hi guys, I got a load of forms to fill in yesterday and a welcome to course 202 letter....woo hoo !!!

I heard a rumour once that your course number determined whether you did area or aerodrome....is this true, if so does anyone know which way course 202 will go?

I am completely open to this being complete crap and course number meaning nothing specific....but thought I'd just ask anyway.

Cheers, Mick.

[Gonzo]

No, it doesn't. You all do a basic course, mostly theory, and then get streamed at that point.

[10 DME ARC]

202 Course!!!

Makes you feel old.............:)

[Standard Noise]

Dreadfully old!:{

[Gonzo]

Bear in mind that it jumped from 129 to 200 course!

There, not as old as you think! :ok:

[Tower Ranger]

So I`m a young 74 courser then, I feel better already!!

[Standard Noise]

TR - if I looked as young as you I'd be drawin' my pension by now! BTW, how's the tractor?

Still, I don't think they'd got to triple figures before I left the college.

[ILS 119.5]

I dare not say my course no. as I would cry and would rather think i was young enough to be on 202 course. Played golf last year with a friend who was on no.1 course and he still looks quite young, he's not in atc anymore, found a better job.
Why did the course nos jump from 129 to 200?

ILS

[Gonzo]

Don't know, but 200 was the first course in the new Euro harmonised ESARR5 format.

Don't ask me what it means, though! :}

[Fletchers Left Boot]

Think the "powers that be" decided to start the first Introductory course with Number 200 as it reflected a new start. Or something.

[Hurn-ia]

Course 201 was 25 area, 2 regional approach and two aerodrome! i think from now on the majority are always going to be area...
enjoy the intro course though, we've just had our last day, quite sad actually!!

[ILS 119.5]

Does the top cadet board at the college now jump fromm 129 to 200 then?

[Gonzo]

They no longer have one! I think it had stopped a few years before I was there in '98/'99. Two reasons were given: Firstly that it made things too competitive, and secondly that it was also a bit of a curse!

[Honey Monster]

The other reason that the "top cadet board" stopped was that the second board was full.

BTW, I was on 15 course!

[ILS 119.5]

I'm glad the board has been archived, as someone says it was a curse and I agree. Without saying too much our top cadet may have fallen under this, but he is spot on now.

[Bern Oulli]

Honey Monster. No. 11 me. Shortly (very shortly) to retire. Anyway, good luck to 202 whom I probably won't meet.

[mickrobbo]

QUOTE: Course 201 was 25 area, 2 regional approach and two aerodrome

I thought Aerodrome covered approach and tower/ground? Has this changed?

If so is aerodrome everything but a radar rating?

[tori chelli]

Mickrobbo

the courses are streamed as Gonzo said, but in addition, people are targeted for a london-based 'tower only' post or a regional airport which still requires both ratings.

London tower not doing radar & vice versa is the way of things nowadays.

one bean, two beans, three bean...damn, dropped it...one bean, two

Tori

[Bern Oulli]

mps12, do NOT make it a quick circuit. Fly it normally, take your time with your downwind checks etc and get set up for a nice steady final. A rushed circuit usually ends in tears. Remember also that without the instructor, the damn thing climbs like a lift and is reluctant to come down. Trust me, I'm an ATCO!

[mickrobbo]

Great thanks for clearing that up....heres hoping for Regional Approach!!!

[foghorn]

Anyone on your course already got a pilots licence? What do they do for the flying component - do they get to hire, or do they get extra leave?

[tori chelli]

existing pilots have the opportunity to build hours, and/or go for another rating subject up to the budget allowed for everyone else...well it was in my day.

[peatair]

As a very ancient course member - (let's say a single figure below 4) - I am very glad to hear that the "Top Cadet" board has gone. It did not, in the longer term, reflect actual ability / skill as a working controller on the "boards." In fact, some of the slower starters turned out to be the better controllers.

The "top cadet" board reflected a kind of thinking which existed back in the early 1960s in ATC. Up to the formation of No.1 Cadet Course the main source for recruiting ATCOs had been almost entirely ex-service (mostly RAF + some ex RN Fleet Air Arm). As a source of recruitment the services were drying up and a decision was taken to start Cadetships which, at the time, were to be 4 years long. The powers that be at the time - then known as "The Chief ATCO" etc spoke of the new cadetships as being like Officer Cadetships in the services. Hence, the idea of the "sword of honour" board. Of course, in reality, the ATCO Cadetships were nothing like officer training in the armed forces.

Anyway - sorry to bore you busy chaps! Nevertheless, it is interesting to hear that Courses No. 130 to 199 never existed!!

[Hurn-ia]

I actually think 131-199 are being kept but only as rating courses... us chosen few (area) are to be radar skills 131 course!!

[JustaFew]

Tower Ranger, check your PMs...

[Bern Oulli]

Obviously nothing changes. We had our share of er, excitement during our flying training at Cambridge. Ah the memories. My instructor's fairly standard cry was "You'll kill us both! I have control".

[tori chelli]

Bern

what did they fly then...the demilitarised Bristol Fighter or the new-fangled Tiger Moth?

;) Tori