should i (try to) become an ATCO? (new twist)

[bored@work]

firstly, i know this is hardly a new topic but i have some slightly different questions because i'm coming from a slightly different angle.

I'm thinking about becoming an ATCO. I'd like your opinion on a few questions so I can help judge if it's right or not. Chances are I know some of you professionally so don't take the p155 please !

I am 'mid-twenties' yrs old and used to live in Bournemouth. I worked for a well know ATC R&D centre in the area, beside a well know College of ATC...... I was one of those geeky nerd scientist blokes. I left them a couple of years back and work for a similar geeky nerd R&D place in mainland europe. I've been a geeky nerd ATC R&D bloke for 4 years now but it can't last forever.

Anyway, I want to move back to Bournemouth. I was there at the weekend and realise I want to live there. Seeing as how NATS aren't hiring the geeky scientist types anymore, and seeing as how I always enjoyed meeting all you lot and playing on the simulators much more than i enjoyed all this geeky stuff I thought maybe I might want to become a controller. I just need a bit of convincing and that's hopefully where you can give me some advice. basically:

1) Will CATC still be in Bournemouth in 3 years time? or will it move near Swanwick?

2) Is shift work a pain in the ar5e? Pros and cons? I've always been a 9-5er.

3) Am i too old for this carry on? I'd be 30 by time i passed (if i passed....).

4) Am I a bit blinkered seeing as how i've only seen it from the geeky nerd side in the simulators? although i spent a fair bit of time in up at latcc talking to controllers about a cetain well known paper-warming tool...

5) How bad is the commute to Swanwick from Bournemouth?

Basically, I want to live in Bournemouth, do something to do with ATC and get a fairly decent wage. It seems like a good enough option if I was accepted / passed and all that. Or are there other options?

thanks
B@W

[eastern wiseguy]

Hi you won't know me as I was in this lot before you were born..but in answer to your queries

1/Don't know ...but it would seem an expensive thing to do

2/From a personal point of view I have always found 9-5 the BIG pain in the ass...I like my time of without the grind of always having to do shopping and such like on a weekend

3/Maybe.....I was 28 when I went through CATC and it was difficult enough...but it is a personal thing.I was the oldest on my course and there were only a few older on subsequent courses.As someone involved with trainee/students/cadets when they arrive at my airfield I find the average age is early twenties and some of them struggle.

4/What is your motivation for wanting to do the job?.If it is purely so that you can live in Bournemouth you MUST be aware that you could be sent to any NATS unit in the country and......

5/ The commute from ABERDEEN to Bournemouth might just kill you! Enjoy and good luck whatever you decide

[VectorLine]

1. Probably still in bournemouth
2. Not for me - but then again it might be for you
3. No
4. Best answering this question yourself
5. Depends on whether you find driving 40 minutes to work a problem or not.