Life after NATS College?

[BigEddie]

A quick question for all those that have been training as an ATCO but for one reason or other have had their training ceased.

What careers have people gone on to pursue and what opportunities are available with the limited training that has been obtained?

I'm not necessarily thinking about continuing with air traffic control, so any ideas for a new career would be appreciated.

Thanks guys,

Ed

[canard68]

A police sergeant who stopped me for speeding in Berkshire was an ex-cadet we recounted stories about the college and instructors, then he gave me a fixed penalty ticket!

[BigEddie]

Just to clarify, without being too specific I am currently attending the college but I didnt get through the summatives. Without wanting to write myself off I am trying to prepare what I can do next. Yahoo!® you mentioned some of the ideas that I have actually been thinking about. I am keen to become a self-employed builder but there is a distinct lack of work in that industry at the moment. I have also thought about joining the police force but many of the local forces aren't recruiting for the time being and it can take a year from applying to starting.

Ideally I would like to set up my own business, but I just need to find out exactly what I want to do!

As for applying for other internal vacancies that would be great but I was under the impression i couldnt whilst I'm waiting to see if I get recoursed and if i don't get recoursed then contract is terminated and therefore I can't apply for internal vacancies as I would no longer be employed by NATS! Catch 22 situation I think!

If anyone wants to offer me some work then please feel free to get in contact.

[ImnotanERIC]

It used to be the case that if you got binned without a recourse, or sometimes with a recourse being failed aswell, that you got a few weeks to apply internally via the VN page. A few people on my course did anyway.

[MancLad993]

Ed,

I was in a sort of similar situation not so long ago.

You are not able to apply for internal postions as this route was blocked off at the last contract negotiations (from what I was told). So if you are on a new contract (after course 213/214 I think) you can only apply for external positions and these are harder to find than a needle in a hay stack.

I do know someone who works for the Met and they seem to be continously recruiting. Think you would only have to do a couple of years before applying to transfer to a force where you want to be.:ok:

ML

[Avoiding_Action]

I do believe exceptions have been made regarding the internal vacancies though. Although I may be mistaken.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

BigEddie... If you are not sure you want to continue in ATC, but would be happier laying bricks or in the police force, why are you wasting everyone's time, including your own, by continuing?

There is vast amount of money and effort involved in training controllers, not only at Bournemouth but at any unit you may be posted to. Operational ATCOs won't take too kindly to someone who would rather be doing another job!

The difference between ATC and brick laying is so huge that I wonder what attracted you to ATC in the first place?

Good luck with whatever you do but understand that if you stay in ATC you have a lot of work ahead of you.

[Avoiding_Action]

It doesn't hurt to think about what you are going to do if you unfortunately do not make it all the way through the training.

[Arty-Ziff]

HD - I don't think he's saying that he'd rather be a brick layer or a police officer. He's simply preparing for the worst, which is pretty sensible.

Big Eddie, try staying positive. I know first hand that the college can be a daunting place, but just because you didn't get through the summatives doesn't mean you won't get a re-course. I know plenty of people who have failed 1 or even 2 courses and gone on to validate (some even wanted to be brick layers, but found it easier to get into ATC :E).

[Ballstroker]

Applying for internal vacancies is now not a course of action open to trainees who joined after the course that the OP mentions.

Not that it would make much difference if it were open as internal vancancies ('VNs') are few and far between these days. Until fairly recently there used to be a permanent trawl for operational ATSA 2s at Swanwick plus vacancies popping up as ACPOs in the various sims all the time. They would give the chopped trainee a chance to get a foot in the door, get some experience and see what internal vacancies came up in the future. It's a sign of the times that there aren't looking for anybody now.

It's not a good time to be chopped trainee at any level.

[BigEddie]

Harsh words Mr. Heathrow Director.

I have worked extremely hard to get in to NATS and throughout my training I have been absolutely dedicated. You must know its no easy task having to learn pages and pages of MATS Pt.1 verbatim but I have, plugging away at sims when they aren't going your way and learning lots of background knowledge in a short space of time, this must show some motivation. Anyway I do not want to digress from this post. I am just asking for some advice if I do not get recoursed.

As far as I can see air traffic control is all about making a plan, implementing it and adjusting it accordingly if things don't work out. In this instance I have a plan to be an excellent air traffic controller, maybe a few examiners disagree with that so therefore I'm have to make a new plan whats wrong with that? My dedication shouldn't be called in to question.

Anyway lets get back on topic, its seems like failing the college is a more common occurence than is acknowledged and if this thread can help other people also in my situation the better.

So anyone else with other ideas I can look in to, and which can be more helpful to this thread?

Ed.

P.S. Building or 'Bricklaying' as you call it, probably shares many similarities to being an ATCO I would have thought e.g. team work, problem solving, working at a steady methodical pace. Anyway I do have more interests than just living 'air traffic control', afterall it is only a job. I mentioned the building trade as I have some experience in property development and was wondering wether to pursue that line of work.

[BigEddie]

Arty-Ziff you've got it in one. Nicely put.

[anotherthing]

Yahoo


i always thought a career in the secret intelligence service would have been cool
You're better off where you are - I know a couple of people who went down that route from the forces (and then subsequently quit the intelligence services due tedium) - the vast majority of posts are desk bound very boring ones... unfortunately it's not like 'Spooks' - I agree if it was it could be cool, if a bit hectic as they solve a crisis every week!!!

Big Eddie

Check your PMs

[anotherthing]

Or Angelina Jolie in Mr and Mrs Jones...

Sorry thread drift. Cold shower required

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

BigEddie. I really am sorry that you took my post so badly because that was far from what I intended. I was an OJTI, both in the UK and abroad, for a goodly part of my working career so I know a bit about training too. In my experience, trainees who were deeply interested in the profession - and especially with where they had been posted - stood a better chance than those who would have preferred to be doing something else.

Learning page after page of MATS parrot fashion may get you through some exams, but most of the job isn't like that; it's a practical, highly skilled, job and not everyone has the ability to do it, no matter how well they know the book. I helped to try and train a very intelligent guy at Heathrow who knew the "book" well but thought that GMC could be done using PERT diagrams. By the time he'd worked out his first course of action following a call from an aircraft, another 20 had called him!

You write: "I have a plan to be an excellent air traffic controller, maybe a few examiners disagree with that so therefore I'm have to make a new plan whats wrong with that?" Nothing wrong with that at all, but have you tried to find out why they disagree with your plan to be an excellent controller? If examiners think you have problems at such an early stage you need to ask why. Maybe they think that your plan won't work?

As I said earlier, I wish you luck and hope all goes well for you. But I also hope that if you make it, you don't chuck it all away in 2-3 years to go and be a Copper, earning about a third of what you could earn as an ATCO.

[aaaabbbbcccc1111]

Big Eddie

I have sent you a PM. I know (as well as nearly every other trainee/valid person) that when training is going a little paired shaped, it feels like the world is caving in, and hopefully a fews words from people with past experiances can make some difference.

[goatface]

Big Eddie,

firstly, I sincerely hope it all goes OK for you, get through the college and go on to validate.
I am a bit suprised that no one has suggested that there is a world in ATC outside NATS, the vast majority of ATC units regional airports are not run by NATS and many of those do take on students who have not made it through CATC.
If it all goes pear shaped for you and you still want to be an ATCO, I'd suggest that you prepare the best CV you've ever written (don't be ashamed to ask for help or even better, ask someone who's used to sifting through them for advice), find out the names of the ATC Manager at every airport where you'd like to work (and even those you where you wouldn't) and drop them a line.
Many regional airports train their own ATSAs to become ATCO's, it's hard work, competition is fierce and you'd probably have spend 18 months or so as an Assistant before you'd be considered, but it's worth it if you've got the commitment and resolve.

[Avoiding_Action]

^^^^I just assumed he was on Area.

[Quincy M.E.]

But this job is easy, if i can do it anyone can. Pass the selection and you'll be fine mate. Folk do fail, but you won't be one of them if your attitudes right and you put the work in. All the best whatever you choose to do.

Are you serious?! That is the biggest load of bllocks :mad:! I put in as much work as possible but got chopped along the way. The fact is that attitude doesnt get you through, ability does! Face it: some people (myself included) get through selection but are not good enough (by varying degrees) to do the job.

[Sideshow_90]

After passing the college, did people in Swanwick just rent a little place somewhere until they got onto proper pay? Whats Swanwick like to live in :ok:

[WorkInProgress]

BigEddie, about the police force. Thought you might like to know that police force entry isnt a walk in the park. The days of "if you are over 6 foot your in" have gone!! Some forces make you attend university for nearly 2 years studying a police studies degree. They have more theory work than the nats college - trust me. I'm talking 4000 word essays every few months and examinations inbetween.

:ugh::ugh: 2 bricklayers!!! :E