ATCcurious
8th Sep 2002, 18:24
Theres a possibility I might be made redundant in the next 6 months and unlike some, I'm desparately hoping it happens to get out of the IT ratrace and go do something real. I've been thinking about ATC and I'm curious about how the licensing system works and how one would go about getting to the point of being a fully-fledged ATCO. I've done some digging on this forum and come up with the following.
I know the easiest way is to go and get NATS to pay for it, but what if that route isn't open to you (eg too old and wizened!)? I've had a trawl through the postings and it looks like most often folk get themselves taken on as ATSAs by SERCO or some other ATC providers and then hope that they'll get put on the training courses at some point in the future.
What about the self-funded option?
So far I understand the following (and please correct the bits that are wrong!)
You can go to CATC, ASTAC or Shearwater and get your self an ADC course for about £15k, but at the end of this, all you have is the bit of paper and no certificate of competency so you can't actually do anything. (BTW, I understand that this includes some flying training - given I already have a PPL, can a discount get negotiated on this to exclude the flying?)
What exactly needs to be done to turn this bit of paper into a 'valid' licence? Is it all down to experience, so the only way to do it, is to get taken on as a trainee? How long does the training last after this stage? (I've seen NATS mentioned as 18 month at Hurn and then 18 months till valid, but I'm assuming this covers a lot more than just the ADC course).
It seems from what I've seen in other threads that an ADC course on its own is unlikely to get you a job anywhere (is that right?) so the last para would appear to be purely theoretical, and the reality is that you would still have to get taken on as an ATSA while they suss you out. Is that true?
What about if you were to add an APP or even APR to that? Does it make much difference? Are APP and APR complementary or do you do APP and then APR? Is it only NATS who provide area ratings? Does anyone in the UK other than NATS have area controllers?
Also, I'm guessing that ADC lets you work Tower, whereas to work Approach you need APP or APR as appropriate to the facility, is that correct?
Would the non-NATS providers (SERCO, Safeskies or the airports themselves in some cases I think) be interested in a deal whereby you agree to, say, a six month trial as an ATSA and then, if both parties are happy, offer to self-fund the ADC course with a view to then being funded by them for APP or APR? Would it make me incredibly unpopular with others ?!
Finally, roughly how much does an ATSA earn?
Hmm, a lot of questions.... Thanks for any help.
I know the easiest way is to go and get NATS to pay for it, but what if that route isn't open to you (eg too old and wizened!)? I've had a trawl through the postings and it looks like most often folk get themselves taken on as ATSAs by SERCO or some other ATC providers and then hope that they'll get put on the training courses at some point in the future.
What about the self-funded option?
So far I understand the following (and please correct the bits that are wrong!)
You can go to CATC, ASTAC or Shearwater and get your self an ADC course for about £15k, but at the end of this, all you have is the bit of paper and no certificate of competency so you can't actually do anything. (BTW, I understand that this includes some flying training - given I already have a PPL, can a discount get negotiated on this to exclude the flying?)
What exactly needs to be done to turn this bit of paper into a 'valid' licence? Is it all down to experience, so the only way to do it, is to get taken on as a trainee? How long does the training last after this stage? (I've seen NATS mentioned as 18 month at Hurn and then 18 months till valid, but I'm assuming this covers a lot more than just the ADC course).
It seems from what I've seen in other threads that an ADC course on its own is unlikely to get you a job anywhere (is that right?) so the last para would appear to be purely theoretical, and the reality is that you would still have to get taken on as an ATSA while they suss you out. Is that true?
What about if you were to add an APP or even APR to that? Does it make much difference? Are APP and APR complementary or do you do APP and then APR? Is it only NATS who provide area ratings? Does anyone in the UK other than NATS have area controllers?
Also, I'm guessing that ADC lets you work Tower, whereas to work Approach you need APP or APR as appropriate to the facility, is that correct?
Would the non-NATS providers (SERCO, Safeskies or the airports themselves in some cases I think) be interested in a deal whereby you agree to, say, a six month trial as an ATSA and then, if both parties are happy, offer to self-fund the ADC course with a view to then being funded by them for APP or APR? Would it make me incredibly unpopular with others ?!
Finally, roughly how much does an ATSA earn?
Hmm, a lot of questions.... Thanks for any help.