Approach or Area??

[flyinglyon]

Since everyone was kind enough to give me their opinion on 'life as a controller', i'm now looking for some further advice. I'm trying to decide whether i wld rather work in area or approach. I've been told by NATS that i can make the request but its not guaranteed. Even still, i'd like to make the correct request.

I've already made a visit to area which i thought was great, but to be honest, when i made a tower visit and was sitting up in the visual control room - i thought it was amazing. It really highlight what your job was actually involving. During my visits to both area and approach, i heard a lot of pro's and con's from both sides (e.g job security, salary, pace of work, etc) but i'd like to hear it again from all the controllers out there to help me make my final decision.

For all the area controllers out there though, i think you should that so far i'm definitely leaning towards tower unless you can persuade me otherwise!!!

Whatever stream i end up going down - can't wait to join you all. Its going to be brilliant. :ok:

[simfly]

The choice would be area or AERODROME. After an aerodome course you could be sent to a London airport where you will never do approach, or you could then do the approach course and got to terminal control in Swanwick and never do aerodrome despite having done the course, or with both you could also go to a "regional" airport and do both aerodrome and approach.

[brother4]

Brother4 recommends Approach. Only ace work in Approach.
Area, no technique at all and Area are for less capable controller. Brother4 picks the best for Approach.
This is our Brother's wisdom.

[airac]

Brother 4 obviously has hole in pocket,
He feel cocky all day.
Wisdom according to Airac

Any discipline that involves radar is good fun:D

[Carbide Finger]

Brother4 talking about themselves in the third person; says it all really.

[Scooby Don't]

Scooby Don't reckons approach is more fun in the third person, and so do I in the first person. But....it's horse for courses. Generally speaking, most people prefer the discipline they end up in! In the UK, area is the golden job but elsewhere it's approach/terminal.
If you like keeping the planes apart, go area. If you like getting them as close together as legally possible, go approach!

[Gonzo]

I agree with Scooby, most people tend to prefer the discipline they're in. Even those whom I know wanted aerodrome, but now work area.

For me, the pros of working Aerodrome are:

You get to see what's happening out the window, it seems more immediate and I feel more connected to my job and how it fits into the 'big picture'.
You can see the weather!
Although LL is a large unit compared to most airports, it's still small next to the area centres. It's big enough so that, errrr, one can usually avoid people one doesn't get on with, but small enough so that I know everyone's name.
Lots of jobs and tasks to do...In my time I've been an Instructor, Watch Training Officer, worked in Ops, on the Technical Committee, been a Union rep, worked with recruitment, been abroad for conferences, helped develop equipment and procedures, been an examiner, assessor, verifier and lots of other things.
I mix with the passengers.....ok, inbound passengers stink to high heaven when they get off a long haul flight, but it still feels pretty good to be walking through the terminal and seeing those who you'll be helping to get to their destinations safely (hopefully) in an hour or so.Bad points:

Lifts that get stuck.
With an airside tower, it can be a bit of a hassle.

[StillDark&Hungry]

Personally speaking when I joined back in '88 all I wanted to do was Aerodrome and Approach - it's what my Dad did and it's all I saw when growing up.

I was gutted when I was streamed at the College into Area.

18 valid years later and I wouldn't change it for the world!

Scooby hit the nail on the head - whichever you end up with you'll love (to the point of slagging the other's off!):rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Skyjuggler]

I've always been an approach junky!!! for me, sitting in the fish bowl watching planes all day got a bit much and I couldn't wait to get to a radar position.

I think Scooby hit the nail on the head as well with "If you like keeping the planes apart, go area. If you like getting them as close together as legally possible, go approach!".

I do a fair number of presentations to schools for recruiting purposes, and always use the following analogy.
Approach is like controlling the traffic in the CBD of a city. To make a somewhat smaller airspace work at maximum efficiency, you need to get them as close as possible without getting them too close (winning you a two week holiday and and all expenses paid trip to the tape room). The great thing is they're only on your frequency for relatively short period, then they're done!

Area can be related to the highways between two major cities. Controlling traffic over a larger airspace means you have to be able to think way ahead of the game for all aircraft concerned to try and ensure that you'll have the minimum amount of congestion trying to get into the TMA. You'll also keep the traffic for longer periods...:)

I know it's not the most technical of descriptions but I hope it helps

[Roffa]

Perhaps becoming more relevant is do you want to work for NSL or NERL and which one may offer the best long term working conditions...

[timelapse]

Gonzo did you hear I got stuck in the rest room toilet? For 25 minutes?

I know it pales in comparison to your ordeal, but still!

In seriousness, I think the "like where you end up" sentiment is very true. From my limited experience with it, I think I would have been happy doing radar as well as being very happy doing aerodrome.. You get used to whatever you're given and you thrive on the good points of it. Friends of mine who have been moved to disciplines they originally *really* did not want have reported back saying they really enjoy it now.

Clearly not every discipline is for everyone, but I wouldn't worry about it too much at this stage, sure choose which you'd prefer, but don't concern yourself if you don't get your choice. Chances are you'll fit in nicely with what you're given. I would imagine that quality is something that's looked for in selection :ok:

[Gonzo]

Not sure who your source is, Timelapse, but I've never even used the rest room toilet. Never even opened the door.:confused:

[JustaFew]

Would recommend Aerodrome if given a choice. A few airports at which NATS operate have approach radar on site, and being able to do both aerodrome AND approach radar at the same airfield gives even more experience and satisfaction.

[timelapse]

Gonzo, not you - me! :}

[Gonzo]

Ahh.....I see...I hadn't heard that one! At least you weren't freezing your :mad: off! :}

[Caesartheboogeyman]

I would imagine a unit where you can do radar and tower would provide the best variety throughout your career.

[Bamboozle Woozle]

I mix with the passengers.....ok, inbound passengers stink to high heaven when they get off a long haul flight, but it still feels pretty good to be walking through the terminal and seeing those who you'll be helping to get to their destinations safely (hopefully) in an hour or so.


...and of course, those regulation issue Raybans and the chiseled jaw help.....don't they Gonzo! ;)

[Gonzo]

Of course, this is one factor NATS uses in determining who goes to airports (where the public might observe them) and who goes to centres where everyone works underground in a bunker for months on end. The public face needs to look good. :cool:

Seem to remember a joke on a CD somewhere about that......

[goatface]

The only other thing to take into account if you opt for area is, if you ever have the desire to leave NATS your UK options are extremely limited with no aerodrome or approach tickets.
Personally, I'd do the aerodrome and approach if at all possible, that gives you the option of going to work at an airfield and/or doing APS at Swanwick if required.
That way you get the option of seeing the real aeroplanes, finding out where Gonzo really does go to oblute and/or working at Butlins.

Why anyone wants to indulge in the dark art that is area is beyond me but each to their own.

[Beholder]

in our workplace our chief brother told me that approach is for smart kids and those bad quality atco3 go to area. i am lucky to be chosen to approach stream. truth is that i am now rated as compared my other coursemates who have hard time in area training. thanks to brother.

[GetTheFlick]

I suspect things are a touch different across the pond but....

I grew up pumping gas at the local airport. I liked aviation. Got hired by the FAA and spent 25 years at a Center.

I missed the airport and the people. Center (or Area) is a challenge -- no doubt. I enjoyed it. But I missed the airport and wished I could have worked at least a few years in a Tower. The Centers are like "Hotel California" over here. You can check in but you can never leave.

I compared it to working at a local mechanic's shop (Tower) and working at the automobile factor (Center.) You're working on cars but there's a world of difference.

I'd go for a Tower. Besides, they have a better view. :ok:

Don Brown

[Hold West]

Responding from the other side of the "pond" as well. I spent the first 8 years of my career at a big center. Another year at a medium sized tower. 11 years at a "Combined Control Facility" that included area, approach, and "aerodrome" control all in the same place. My specialty was the area and a medium sized approach control - I did not work the big approach control and the tower.

However, having had time in each, I can say this:

1. There is nothing like the immediacy of clearing aircraft to take off and land. You say something and airplanes MOVE, right before your eyes.

2. You can scare the living p*** out of yourself a lot more in a tower than anywhere else.

3. Approach radar... Booooring. Cookie cutter control, vector to the downwind or the final, got the 737 in sight?, slow to 180, contact tower, same clearances day in and day out.

4. Area radar: different every day. You can craft a unique solution to every problem. You have to know a LOT more about a LOT of airspace than just a few miles around an airport. You get to work a lot of unique military operations what most of the world doesn't even know happen. I've worked the aircraft of presidents and kings, world record attempts and cutting-edge experimental aircraft, the latest military technology and the oldest of historic warbirds sometimes in the same day. Except at a very few of the largest and busiest airports, you won't see that kind of variety.

5. Area non-radar: It can be like watching grass grow, or it can bury you mentally as you try to respond to requests and figure out if everyone's still separated. If you like playing chess or even sudoku, you'll like non-radar. I had a love-hate relationship.

If I could only do one... I'd do Area. More varied, the most challenging, in my opinion. Contrary to what someone said up-topic, in the US, we'd send the ones who couldn't hack the center off to a tower somewhere, where they'd usually check out. If you can, try to vary things and move around a bit - if nothing else having all three licenses under your belt will be a bonus when you try for that fat contract job overseas!

[notared]

Having done 'em all Area most interesting, BUT, choice of workplace severly limited i.e. Swanwick or Prestwick. If I had to choose would opt for TWR/ APP.:\:8