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View Full Version : Your opinions on ATC please!!


TDG
30th Jan 2013, 10:47
Hi guys


I would be very grateful if you would take a few moments to answer a couple straight forward questions.
I am considering a career change to become an Air Traffic Controller (civilian) and would very much like to hear the opinions of current and ex controllers. I am arranging a visit to an ATC unit but would like to hear some anonymous unbiased opinions from you guys inthe meantime.


What are your three favourite parts of your job?


What are three bad points of your job?
Please include a sentence which includes your experience and controller type i.e. enroute etc. By all means if you have more than three points you would like to tell me please include them.

Thanks very much, I’m very much looking forward to the challenge of becoming an Air Traffic Controller, but want to do as much as I can to ensure I don’t leave a good, comfortable career due to a case of ‘the grass is always greener!’

Please PM me if you feel it is more appropriate.

Thanks again

TDG

HEATHROW DIRECTOR
30th Jan 2013, 11:51
You can't simply list three of this and three of that.

I was an ATCO for over 35 years and I enjoyed every moment of it. Full stop.

Slylo Green
30th Jan 2013, 13:59
As HD said there are too many things to list, the job in whole is my favourite part. Don't really have a least favourite.

Tower and Approach valid 3 years.

elandel
30th Jan 2013, 14:08
As HD says - I dont find any bad points about the job - thats why thousands of people appl each year - its not a gimme so get your application in!
The only time I get fed up at work is when management start to interfere :ugh: - but I'm sure you get that whatever job you do.
30 years valid at a large airport in the south east.......

Dan Dare
30th Jan 2013, 15:19
Aerodrome ATCO

Good points

Job satisfaction
Lifestyle
View


Bad points

Managers
Managers
Managers

Occams Razor
30th Jan 2013, 16:04
Tower and radar valid, achieved in the last couple of years.

It's the best job in the world.

Glamdring
30th Jan 2013, 16:40
Aerodrome & Approach ATCO

Good Points...


Job Satisfaction
Pay
Time Off


Bad Points...


Managers
Shifts
Managers

BigDaddyBoxMeal
30th Jan 2013, 16:56
Good points:


Pay
Time off
People (some of the people, some of the time ;))


Bad points:


Hours of boredom
Little job satisfaction
Lack of mobility/development opportunities


Aerodrome and Approach Radar valid ATCO for a "global leader in air traffic control and airport performance" at one of its smaller operations.

TDG
30th Jan 2013, 17:02
Thank you for your replies.

A common theme of all the responses is that everyone loves the job itself which is very reassuring.

I appreciate you're all probably very busy which is why my questions were so brief. Thank you for your time, it sounds like it is a great career.

TDG

Tarq57
30th Jan 2013, 18:12
Aerodrome controller. 33 years. Have also done approach and area.

Good points:
-Brilliant view.
-Good interactions with flight crew and colleagues.
-Job satisfaction.

Bad points:
-Poorly designed equipment-and placement, which is branded "worlds best", or "industry leader" or similar.
-Having to do night shifts.
-Management "consulting" on what changes are going to happen, and then pushing their agenda through anyway.

(Nah...that doesn't happen anywhere, does it? :ugh:)

eastern wiseguy
30th Jan 2013, 21:04
Just about to retire after over 35 years(27 years Tower and Approach)

Like

Job satisfaction
People
The sheer FUN that they pay me for this

Dislike

Morning shifts.....that's it:)

chevvron
31st Jan 2013, 12:55
Good points - too many to mention.

Bad points.
1. Lack of investment.
2. Management reluctant to embrace new technology due to its cost.
3. Airport authorities who won't pay for decent equipment and the qualified personnel
to operate it.

cottam approach
1st Feb 2013, 17:50
let's not forget being an ATCO gets you loadsa birds

Raven30
1st Feb 2013, 18:49
let's not forget being an ATCO gets you loadsa birds I look forward to that!! :}

WorkInProgress
1st Feb 2013, 20:28
Quote:
let's not forget being an ATCO gets you loadsa birds

Valid for 10 yrs up north (mad for it and 2 Rwys). Not wanting to upset any lady atco's, but this must be when we r on night outs on the raz!! Lol.

kcockayne
5th Feb 2013, 15:10
My contemparaneous colleagues & myself often used to say , even before we'd retired, that we'd been extremely lucky & enjoyed the golden years of ATC before the regulators (SRG) struck with a vengeance; & before the days of SRATCOH (which were, for us wef 2004) & EFPS.

Nothing has changed to force us to change our opinions!

In fact, the malaise continues, & deepens, from what we're told.

The best parts of the job ?

1. I never worked a day in 36 years (whilst in ATC).
2. I loved every minute of every one of those days.
3. I was, effectively, my own boss & made my own decisions - despite the teamwork involved.
4. The teamwork.
5. The characters I worked with (ATC & flying).
6. The freedom of the job, the time off, shift work & the pay.

The worst parts ?

The Management - even worse today, thanks to the items in my first paragraph & to the complete lack of CHARACTERS in ATC together with the awesome experiences they had accummulated (2nd World War, Battle of Britain etc.)

Would I do it all over again ?

You bet your arse I would ! - regardless of the worst parts of the job.

On the beach
5th Feb 2013, 16:39
Beats working for a living.

makosa
5th Feb 2013, 20:48
Good points:

- Time off
- Salary
- Job is like a hobby


Bad points:

- Working early shifts, weekends
- Equipment getting old...
- Sometimes some routine