NATS Direct Entry

[Aus ATC]

I recently contacted NATS recruitment regarding prospects for employment. I received the standard "ab-initio" package - there seemed to be no interest in my 8 years experience as an ATC down-under.

Can any NATS insiders help with information. Is there any quick way in - based on prior experience?

[Warped Factor]

Aus ATC,

If there's a particular unit you hoped to work at, approach them directly. That has been known to work in the past.

Possible nationality problems have been mentioned. There's also licensing, I don't know if the UK will recognise your ATC qualifications or not. I'm pretty certain ours aren't recognised Down Under.

If they don't then I suspect the only way you could work here would be by going through the Student ATCO programme.

HTH,

WF.

[Douglas Spragg]

I had an Aus Licence, but NATS as it was, did not recognise my licence. I had to take the exams for a UK licence - but I did the exams privately since it was permitted to do just that in the licencing regulations at that time. I entered NATS on a Direct Entry course (4 Months) and took my final private exam during that course, after which if the instructor asked me a question, I would wave my new yellow peril!! :D :D . I still had to take the exams again at the end of the course, so ever since then I always claimed three licences, Aussie, UK non-state, and UK state on my annual report form. BAH licencing rules :mad: :mad: Didn't make me any better at controlling - they still proudly all hang on my office wall though. Good luck and have a look through the licencing conditions legislation.

[Aus ATC]

Thanks folks for the info - as I suspected. The nationality isn't an issue, and the job here is good. I was testing the water to see if there was a realistic option of transfer to the UK - it seems not. I'll just have to visit the old country on holidays instead!!

[ATCO Two]

Hi Aus ATC,

There is something known as an Assessment of Prior Competence that would cover your case and similar. I don't know a huge amount about it, but I believe it involves an assessment of knowledge and ability at the College of ATC Bournemouth. It would then be decided what aspects of the UK ATC Courses you would be exempt from - hopefully a fair amount. Perhaps a College Instructor can help me out here. Safety Regulation Group are working towards a common European licence with comparable standards across Europe, so things are moving in the right direction for you. Look at the eyesight thread on this Board and then use the link to reach CAA SRG Air Traffic Services Standards Department. A quick e-mail might glean some useful information.