NATS Tower Jobs

[GrobblySquirrel]

Hi guys!

I am just wanting to know more information about how NATS runs their towers. I understand from the jobs advertise you require an approach rating. Can you tell me more about what you do with your approach rating in the tower? I only have an aerodrome rating from a busy (mainly VFR) aerodrome in New Zealand and also wondering whether you think there is any point applying?

Thank you!

[throw a dyce]

Glasgow and Farnborough have Approach Control(separate radar rooms) in the Tower buildings,so you would need an APS rating eventually.
Give it a go and see what they say.

[chevvron]

Bristol, Southampton, Cardiff too.
NATS require APS ratings not APP as all their units are mainly radar with procedural iap's just for backup in case of radar failure.
Farnborough have been experimenting with the controller doing ADV/ADI also doing APS during quieter periods, usually prior to 8am local time and after 8pm local time; other NATS units may do this too.

[T250]

Why they so desperate? :hmm::E

[NewquayJacob]

So one controller can work tower and radar simultaneously?

[GASA]

I remember from my college days being told never to try to provide a radar approach service on the ATM for various reasons in the interest of safety etc. Now it suits the business need....

[TCAS FAN]

NewquayJacob

Got it in one!

Gasa

Too right, one thing NATS are good at is moving goal posts to suit business purposes, piling on the pressure for ATCOs, rather than look at their top heavy management structure and system where cut backs could be made and significant savings made. Why do small units like Farnborough and Southampton pay for a GM (who is invariably not an ATCO) when a MATS or SATCO could do the job?

Pre-NATS days Southampton fired an ATCO for providing a RAS (as it was in those days) with the ATM to a late arrival in order to leave controlled airspace to make a straight-in approach. How times and attitudes have changed.

[chevvron]

Don't know about Southampton or the present incumbent at Farnborough, but up until recently the GM at Farnborough has always been an ATCO but not alway operational.
Some recent GMs there have held a tower validation and one was a Farnborough ATCO anyway so she was valid in all positions until she regretfully resigned and joined the CAA.

[TCAS FAN]

Chevvron

Still love her cakes!

[2 sheds]

until she regretfully resigned and joined the CAA.


Nobody forced her, surely?

[Norwegian Blue]

Ah, remember her well. Lovely Lady! Ah well, NATS loss is the CAA's gain.

[Standard Noise]

I remember at Coventry back in the day, when some of the ex-Brum old stagers told me stories about when they vectored on the DFTI and got their arses kicked for it. Oh how we laughed at the thought of it ever being officially sanctioned! Anyhoo, here we find ourselves in 2016.........:ugh::rolleyes:

[kcockayne]

Yes, it was absolutely forbidden, under pain of death - until Management found out that there was something in it for them; &, suddenly it became perfectly acceptable (all SRG concerns evaporated !).