Getting into ATC - Australia controller

[VBHB]

Good morning all,

Long time reader, first time poster.

I'm 28 y/o and I need direction and advice as I want to become an ATC (preferably Tower Ops but will take whatever to get in).

I'm currently in law enforcement (which is very rewarding job) in QLD but........ these day's it isn't a career due to too many reasons I could write an essay about....

I have a passion for Aviation, love planes, always listening to LiveATC etc but was never able to get my Pilot's Licence as I could not afford it, didn't do well in school (due to personal reasons) and I have a scarred left cornea. I fly payware aircraft online as a hobby and stress relief, you know living the dream and all that...

So I see that the closing date for applications for training next year is March 2012 - Airservices Australia - Job details (http://careers.airservicesaustralia.com/jobDetails.asp?sJobIDs=492434&lCategoryID=&lWorkTypeID=&lLocationID=&stp=AW&sLanguage=en)

What advice and direction would you give me so I can get in?

The only real drama I can forsee is I'm not the best at high level Maths but I'm keen to relearn from scratch (Khan Academy, tutors etc).

Also should I look at getting into VATSIM/IVAO ATC training and becoming a controller there?

Also I live in Cairns QLD and have a partner etc, she's keen to move to Brissie but is it possible to get back north?

Thanks guys,

Pete.

[Tarq57]

Can't offer too much advice about Aussie requirements, but some pretty global ones include having passed the year 11 school exams for math, English, and a science (physics is good; it's actually pertinent), and the ability to hold a medical.

Does the scratch on the cornea affect your vision at all?

I'd imagine that if you were accepted, passed the training etc, that it would be a case of "go where you are sent", with no guarantee of a placement in QLD. (I hear they are rather short in MEL centre...)

You may find it worthwhile to x-post this on the D&G General aviation sub forum, also.

[RAC/OPS]

VBHB, check yr pm's.

[le Pingouin]

VBHB, the following may be relevant:

"To be eligible to be considered for training, applicants must be able to satisfy the following mandatory criteria at the time of submitting their application.

completed Year 12 with passes in English, Maths and Science [preferably Physics]; or hold a tertiary education qualification (degree or diploma in any discipline); or hold a current Commercial or Private Pilot Licence."


Also for a class 3 medical: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2010C00851/Html/Volume_2#param190

Visual requirements

3.30
Is not suffering from any safety‑relevant pathological condition (either acute or chronic), nor any sequelae of surgery or trauma
3.31
Has normal binocular vision

[TSRABECOMING]

I am also interested in ATC career. What is the roster like in AA?

[le Pingouin]

VBHB, getting back up north is possible but there's no way of guaranteeing anything. Patience would likely be required.

TSRABECOMING, the roster you work very much depends on where you're working & the ratings you hold. Not all towers operate 24 hour & at night sectors get combined. We generally don't work block rosters (who wants to work a block of the shifts they hate) & there's limited scope for swapping shifts. Shifts are typically 7 or 8 hours but can be up to 10 hours with a minimum of 10 hours between shifts. Averages to 10 days per fortnight.

I have all ratings in my group & my roster is mainly variations of morning, morning, afternoon, afternoon, night, night, off, off, off. Those without all the ratings don't do nights.

There is great variety because the rosters are tailored to handle the traffic patterns. For instance Perth traffic is handled in Melbourne so the peaks occur 2 or 3 hours later than local Melbourne time.

[TSRABECOMING]

thank you for your reply and next is the question that I think many people want to know. what is the payment rate? are there any extra rate for irregular shift?

[topdrop]

Academy Trainee $40996
Field Trainee $61493
Once rated as a controller you start at $83699 progressing through 9 levels to $156580.
These figures do not include additional pay for public holidays or working extra shifts.

[domo_man]

topdrop. Am I correct in saying that those salaries are based on a 36 hour week including break time?

[le Pingouin]

We used to get penalty rates but not now - the extra was averaged out & converted into a straight hourly rate no matter what the shift.

[le Pingouin]

domo_man, if by "break time" you mean time away from the console but at work, then yes.

[TSRABECOMING]

Any age limit for entry?

[stevep64]

Tsrabecoming, you might want to check out the Airservices psychometric testing thread. Most of your questions, and some you haven't thought of yet, have probably been answered there. Just for your information, I had my assessment last week and I'm 46.

[le Pingouin]

No age limit but the older you are the harder it gets. So to speak.....

[The Euronator]

VBHB and TSRABECOMING,

Here is the link to the Collective agreement, have a read of it and all your salary and conditions will be answered. If you have any further questions then feel free to ask, you are not going to have everything handed to you on a plate, so take some intiative.

Airservices Australia - Careers - Air Traffic Controller (http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/careers/atc/default.asp)

[RAC/OPS]

Euronator, to be fair, VBHB has used initiative by coming here to ask questions that as far as I can see are not answered in the CA!

[RAC/OPS]

Hey VBHB, check your pm's!