ATCO Stats

[cappy]

Hi all,

I was gathering some employment stats for different jobs, and I was wondering if you guys and gals could help with the following qns for ATC:

What is the gender split (%male to %female)? My research indicated around 25% female.

What % of controllers have a university degree?

Does anyone know any ATCO with an unusual background (e.g. nuclear physicist turned ATCO)?

Are there many part-time ATCO?

Does the shift work impact your social life, do you socialise outside the ATCO community much?

Do many controllers move to different areas, or do the majority stay in one area for their career (e.g. Swanwick to Birmingham)?

Do many ATCO change career altogether (e.g. become a dentist)?

Those of you that are ATCO, how would you rate your job satisfaction/interest (10 extremely high, 1 very low/want to leave)?

And finally, how do most people react when you tell them that you are an ATCO?

Thank you very much for your help with these questions.:)
Cappy.

[eastern wiseguy]

Are there many part-time ATCO?


No ...leave it ....leave it.............:} :}

[Jerricho]

Does anyone know any ATCO with an unusual background (e.g. nuclear physicist turned ATCO)?

I used to be a porn star. ;)


And finally, how do most people react when you tell them that you are an ATCO?

"Oh, you use them table-tennis bats don't you?"

[BAND4ALL]

Does the shift work impact your social life, do you socialise outside the ATCO community much?

I do everything I can to socialise outside the ATCO community!!!

[BEXIL160]

Does anyone know any ATCO with an unusual background (e.g. nuclear physicist turned ATCO)?

.... err, Yes actually, (seriously) and he is throughly good chap.
I've also worked with a couple of ex geologists (both worked in the petrochemical industry).

There's also an ex Turf accountant of my aquaintance who is now a supervisor at a large ACC.

Do many ATCO change career altogether (e.g. become a dentist)?
No, not many, but a guy I knew gave it all up to become a Tree Surgeon. Personally i'm aiming to become RETIRED EARLY.

how do most people react when you tell them that you are an ATCO?
If they do ask, I tell them that I'm in LawnMowers ;) ;)
BEX

[Del Prado]

I used to be a porn star. ;)



Yeah, a fluffer.:eek:

[Dan Dare]

About 10% of my unit ATCOs female
1/3rd of the starting course were graduates, 1/3rd ex ATSAs and 1/3 straight from school on my course in the early 90s. I'm expect these figures are a bit different now with so many universities but such a small starting pay.

I can think of lots of interesting backgrounds in my time including: -
gardener, spitfire pilot, air hostesses, hovercraft hostess, chiropodist, policemen, city banker. I even think there was someone who was doing a phd in nuclear physics before joining up.

There aren't many part-timers - mostly family reasons. Some do part-time operational jobs, part-time ops/training/management etc

Shift work certainly infringes on the socialising. More importantly it limits your life expectancy (hence our healthy pension pot). You miss lots of weekends and get limited nights out when you have to be up and sober at 5 am the next morning or don't get home until after pub closing. Evening classes and other regular weekly events are difficult to commit to.
I still find I'm able to go out with normal workers and don't limit my R&R to co-workers. On the plus-side you can do things during the working day that others have to wait until the weekend for. It is nice not to shop with the plebs and I'm sure the golf course would be better value midweek.

I think its fair to say that most people stay at the same unit for most of their career, but in NATS we are a mobile grade and they can move you at any time. Some transfer unit for promotions. Some seek greener partures abroad (Canada, Middle East and Oz spring to mind).

Not many people leave. Mostly to fly for a living or for domestc reasons like to live closer to the in-laws:uhoh: I can think of one, who left to set up a walking tour business. The final salary pension scheme in NATS probably works to an extent as golden handcuffs. If this is removed people will be more willing to consider alternatives.

8/10 - it would be more with fewer, more social shifts. I would leave tomorrow if a wealthy benefactor provided the means though.

Response is normally one of the following 3: - "Very stressful/responsible job"; "you're the guys that are always on strike"; "are you the guy with the ping-pong bats?"
Its very rare that you get an inteligent response.

[Ppdude]

I wonder what % of us are thinking of becoming dentists?

[Number2]

With some of the trainees I've had lately, pulling my own teeth would be a more pleasant experience - does that count?

[JustaFew]

And finally, how do most people react when you tell them that you are an ATCO?

1) Isn't that a stressful job?

2) See Jerriccho

3) Why was my holiday flight to Majorca delayed by 48 hours in 1972?:confused:

[ATCO Fred]

Shift work certainly infringes on the socialising. More importantly it limits your life expectancy (hence our healthy pension pot). .
Please elaborate :confused: Not heard that one before. Don't mind passing away early so long as I get the handicap to single figures first!

[Lon More]

Got tired of explaining the job once to an (Essex?) girl. So asked "What is all around us?" .... "Air".... "O.K. . I control all that." :ugh:

[Tarq57]

1. 25% sounds about right. Wish it was higher, actually. I was on the first intake in NZ to recruit a female ATC cadet. Unfortunately she didn't make it.

2. No idea. On my course there were about two out of 16. Today, probably more than 50%. Not to disparage (Too much) but you can get a degree in Weetbix these days.

3. From fighter pilot to unemployed. Me, Fireman.

4. No.

5. Night shifts make you realize that death might not be so bad. The other shifts are fine.

6. A few. A lot leave the "coal face" and become managers, or work in publications/ATS Ops., etc. A few become pilots.

7. 8 to 9 mainly. I like it a lot. There's not much else I'd rather do. Get sick of all the BS though.

8. I don't, unless they ask. And then it's always predictable.

[Point Seven]

Being an operational ATCO is a part time job. You just get a full time wage for it.

P7

[Jerricho]

You still driving a desk then P7? :p

[Atcham Tower]

Dentist's? No, but we have a few people of Scottish extraction. And to think that I gave up a cushy job in the French Foreign Legion to work at Liverpool.

On a more serious note, university degrees are no guarantee of suitability for the job.

[Point Seven]

You still driving a desk then P7? :p

I'm not speaking to you, time waster:p

[Loki]

At the end of my career, I`m just glad I don`t have to do it all again!

Sometimes I miss it though.

[cappy]

Thank you for your reply guys, especially Dan Dare and markjoy, useful info. :)

[Jerricho]

I'm not speaking to you, time waster:p

Sh*t, my life gets better every day. :D :D