Iraq Atc Jobs

[GLOC]

Any gossip on the IRAQ ATC jobs that have a salary offer of $135,000 US. Heard a few companies have thrown their hat in the ring. I guess it will be to replace the RAAF team in Baghdad and the other military teams in the rest of Iraq.

I am assuming you would be provided an issue of flack jacket and helmet, also might have to update the life insurance policy!

:ooh:

[GLOC]

Also heard it was a one year contract with only 2 weeks leave!?????

:sad:

Any info??

[126,7]

Cool, I've allways wanted a flack jacket:}

[contact_tower]

Cool, I've allways wanted a flack jacket

Once you try it, I bet you'll change your mind. :E

Any news on which companys are bidding for the contract (if there is one :p )

[ZRH]

It sounds like plenty of money. Nowhere to spend it and life inside a free flack jacket
Downside is if somebody mistakes you for an American.....:ouch:

[Fox3snapshot]

Stuck in a compound with nowhere to go......pubs are closed for renovation.....ooooh dear!

:uhoh:

[CUNIM]

I was in Baghdad earlier on in July and it is not really a fun place at the moment. There are no Iraqi ATCOs so it will be necessary to train them - probably at least a year, during which they will need a filler. The company in charge is Sky Link Logistics who are working with Serco. I spoke to the Sky Link Ops manager, but we were to extend the chat the following day, but not possible due to their trying to open up the airport in the 15th July. As I surmised, it didn't happen as the shoulder mounted missiles that are in plentyful out there would affect the safety from around ten miles final inbd.

As far as beer etc goes, it is sold openly on the streets - cold too!! reasonable choice along with whisky and gin. Food is good quality, if you can afford to buy it - difficult when you have no job.

Don't bother with a flak jacket, just stay away from the Americans as they seem to attract all the lead. We went around in an old Toyota car and became part of the background.

PM me if you want any additional info

Cheers

[GLOC]

Seems unless you are a US Citizen you need not apply......

Well what a suprise!!!!

Jobs for the boys!

:yuk:

Can anyone else confirm this?

[niknak]

I don't think there will be many takers from west of 10W, the record of their own armed services in protecting their own (or anyone else if it comes to that), is not exactly impressive.

Leave it to Serco, they'll find someone daft enough to take on the task of earning large amounts of cash for a little discomfort.:uhoh:

[granny smith]

If SERCO have anything to do with it I doubt you'll be earning a lot of money!!

[Bubbette]

Most employers in the US offer only 2 weeks leave, at least to start. Course this isn't in the US. . . .

[contact_tower]

No chance of getting the 5 weeks I have now then...... :E

[Fox3snapshot]

48 Days here .......if used properly actually ends up at 72+. I think they would have to do a lot better with the conditions of the Iraq contract if they realistically want to attract anyone.

After all it would take almost 2 weeks of picking your way through the minefield to get to the departures lounge!!

:\

[Fox3snapshot]

Submited in Flight International Jobs alert 19th of August:

AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES

A major international provider of aviation services is seeking suitably qualified Air Traffic Services personnel for potential opportunities in Iraq. The following specialisation is required:


Air Traffic Controllers
Valid ICAO recognized ATC License
Current aviation standard medical certificate
Tower/Approach/Approach Radar and/or Area ratings
Procedural rating an advantage
Secure site accommodation will be provided together with excellent remuneration packages. Interested persons should apply, with CV, to the bellow addresses.


:8

[Check 6]

Addendum to above: kevlar vest and kevlar helmet to be provided at no cost.

Additionally, choice of Glock, Beretta, Smith and Wesson, or Colt pistol.

:E

[contact_tower]

Would not accept any less then something with 5.56 og higher calibre, but it seems the weapon of choice with the locals are sement truck filled with fertelizer&disel fuel so........ :mad:

Quick refresher course on the 82mm Carl Gustav might be in order as well. :E

[Fox3snapshot]

Where's your sense of adventure?????

Trick is not to order any cement!

:ooh:

[Scott Voigt]

I carry an H&K 40 cal as my choice of side arm <G>... Second Chance level 3a kevlar vest too... With trauma plate <G>...

regards

Scott

[Check 6]

Scott, that is what I miss about the states. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.

This certainly applies to Europe.

[AirNoServicesAustralia]

Check 6 you're a typical yank. Do youself a favour and check out Michael Moores "Bowling for Columbine" then ask yourself why there are so many thousand shooting deaths in the US. Yeh a system where everyone has the right to bear arms is working a treat. The UK has practically no guns and they have about 80 gun deaths a year, the US has over 2,000 a year. Your system just means the outlaws have more guns.

[contact_tower]

2.000? Try 30.000!

http://www.jointogether.org/gv/news/features/reader/0,1030,546237,00.html

The 1999 gun-death toll was 28,874 persons, the first time the figure has dropped below 30,000 since national statistics on gun deaths were first kept in 1979.

[Short Approach?]

What was the title of this thread again?

ps. Dual Berretta's :cool:

[Serco Air Tragic]

Berretas are womens weapons, go for nothing less than a good old browning (possibly a shotgun for real splatter though)

[TrafficTraffic]

As much as I hate to Hijack this thread even further from its origin...I feel the need to remind Check 6 of his constitutional rights...

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

Please explain how you as a retired Law Enforcement Manager keeping your sidearm fulfills the Second Amendment right? Dont get me wrong, I enjoy guns and shooting (targets) like the next person but fail to see where you get the right to carry a weapon on the street.

[126,7]

BLOODY THREAD HI-JACKERS!!


nothing like a nice Sig Sauer:ok:

[Fox3snapshot]

Take your "Bang Bang" and shoot-em-up cowboy and Indians role playing to Forums that are deserved of your "Soldier Of Fortune" antics......well done, very little here relates to the topic.

Most people are intelligent enough to know that there are still serious security issues related to the opportunities in Iraq, but it wasn't an opportunity to air your thoughts on what weapon you should have been born with in your groin region!

Back to the original topic please, which should include any info on the renumeration, service conditions, leave entitlements, long term plans ie. retraining the Iraqi Controllers etc.

Geez, its like Pre-School at times dealing with some of these responses!

:suspect:

[AirNoServicesAustralia]

I agree Fox3 I just got put off by the yanks comparing their firearms of choice. The reason Iraq is still the basket case that it is, is because the Yanks are real good at blowing things up and winning wars(if we forget that little police action in South East Asia 30 years ago!) but absolutely useless at keeping peace. Compare Basra where the poms are in charge and Baghdad where the Yanks are going Gungho all over the place. Who's gonna tell the Seppos that the rest of the world is sick of them and hate them (please all you Yanks ask why us Australians call you Seppos and I'll gladly explain!)

[Scott Voigt]

Air No Service;

Actually, I think that you will find that most Americans would be more than happy to leave the world to itself and let everyone else take care of sorting out things.... Problem was, very few in the UN were willing to go and do anything.

regards

Scott

[TrafficTraffic]

I Love Americans....


......Couldnt eat a whole one though!

[126,7]

In defence of the Gringos:
The world actually needs a policeman but nobody wants to volunteer and nobody has the "sidearm" to get the job done. Europeans have fought amongst each other for thousands of years, one village against the other, one county against the next until 1945. Tired of it all, we sit back and say "let the Yugoslavs sort each other out", and it was horrific. The French still try to be policeman where it suits them and they started that fiasco in south-east Asia. Poor Yanks helped out and made an even bigger fiasco. (but thats beside the point)
I also think that you cant really compare Basra and Bagdad. They are 2 different worlds with 2 different ethnic groups.

To get back to the thread:
If I was single, I would give it a shot(figuratively speaking). Good money and you only have to endure it for a year. Some psycho folks might actually like it there!! Just think about the guy working in the TWR in Monrovia or in Bunia. Stuck there with no choice and hardly a prospect of improvement. Too little qualifications and/or experience to get a job anywhere else. And we are bickering about trivial things like trigger-happiness.

[ImpairedHearing]

I can almost hear it now:

"Scandinavian 976, cleared to land runway xx (whatever Basra has ed.), winds calm & flak sporadic" :E

[LondonRadar]

:ugh: Well guys, what do you think the "excellent remuneration package" on offer is? I reckon it's about £45,000 tax free plus accomodation, but I'm only guessing. However, I think anyone even considering going would be expecting at least £90,000 plus benefits for putting their life on the line. (I say again, I'm only guessing, but I am really intrigued).:uhoh:

[126,7]

Somebody said $130000 - $135 000/year. Accomodation provided !! Staying in the same camp as the hated GIs !!??? Its probably safer than the UN building...

Dont know much about benefits, but there should at least be "exposed-to-extreme-danger-pay"!

Procedural rating an advantage

Now THAT part scares the living daylights out of me!:yuk:

[Fox3snapshot]

I heard similar figures quoted and definately compound accomodation inside the airfield, which has been secure to date.

I would expect the confinement to base would be for a reasonable period until the dust settles, so on that note the
R & R entitlements would need to be generous so you don't go loopy staring at the airlield perimeter fence for months on end.

I will be catching up with the RAAF controllers controlling Baghdad in a few weeks for beers as they rotate crews so will let you know how they have found "Club Paradise".



;)

[radar707]

The add is in Flight International now, no salary details, just a leading ATS provider seeking to recruit Tower, Approach and Area controllers for Iraq, accommodation in a SECURE ( not sure what that means) Compound, interested parties to apply to a PO Box in Saudi.

Mentioned it to the wife tonight, sh'es keen for me to apply after careful consultation of the life insurance policies:eek: :eek: :eek:

[FWA NATCA]

Radar,

My wife said the same thing. Of course, you should note that most Life Insurance Companies will not pay on their policies if you get killed in IRAQ because they still consider it a war zone.

But at $135,000 Tax Free, is tempting, "IF" they could convince everyone to stop bombing and shooting each other. They would have to provide some better R & R on regular basis.

Mike

[GLOC]

The Flight International adds have been placed by SERCO Middle East (HQ Abu Dhabi).

Tenders are still under negotiation and the recent increase in hostilities may have a delaying affect on most contract finalizations.

There was an American company involved to, but not sure of their name.

You will need to take a pack of cards or a set of knitting needles to pass your spare time.....can't imagine there will be to much else to do whilst stuck in the compound 24 hours a day.



:ugh:

[Check 6]

SkyLink Air & Logistics, Inc. in Virginia has openings for many types of airport specialities, from Paramedic/firefighters, security, managers, human resources, purchasing, just about every position you would find at an airport.

I am not sure if they are looking for ATC specialists.

[email protected]

;)

[CUNIM]

Could I just advise everyone that although I have been out in Basra and Baghdad speaking to Bechtel, Skylink logistics etc, I do not, unfortunately, have information on pay and conditions, however, I am more than happy to update you on WIHIH out there and the sort of life that you would probably have there. Nice country, pity about the crazies. In my opinion, for the right people, it would be a very rewarding experience.:ok:

[Fox3snapshot]

Thanks for the info Cunim, I like your attitude. This part of the world certainly has been rewarding and a "life experience" to say the least.

:D

I would be willing to test out my sense of adventure over that way if things in Iraq matured on the domestic and work front .....and I do not believe that it can be any worse than some happy days spent in Mogadishu during their little bun fight!

:ugh:

[Fox3snapshot]

The request for tenders has not been released yet, but in addition to Serco the US conglomerate also bidding is RVA/Lockheed Martin/WCG.

:8

PS Spank-me-baby, Getting around with that kit will only ensure your demize.....

:hmm:

[Fox3snapshot]

Once again, you really have no idea do you....next time you watch play school or whatever eduction program that reaches your level have a look at how many Iraqi's wear Dish Dasha and headress around town. Try and make a sensible contribution or don't bother at all.

:hmm:

[Fox3snapshot]

Because I don't have the time to waste reading between the dribble....I think there is already a thread running concerning ATC humor, go play in there.

:*

[GLOC]

I posted this thread on behalf of a friend who is out of the nets reach and is looking for the info. The net ain't cheap in this part of the world and any genuine info is always appreciated.

;)

[GLOC]

Hmmmmmm......some posts gone missing here????

:rolleyes:

[TrafficTraffic]

Just like the WofMD...

:mad:

[PMS]

Fox 3 you are correct re the letting of the contract. A friend of mine has been making some discreet enquiries re this Iraq business, and has come up with the following.

Serco are bidding as well as a couple of others. He did not know about the Lockheed Martin bid, but Serco has put in there bit (you can bet they will only be looking at there bottom line and not so worried about the pay for the workers)
there is a rumour out that Thales have put in a bid so would appreciate some feedback on that one.

It seems that Skylink will be taking a smallish team in initially to get some sort of ATC up and running, then once the basic procedures and systems are set up and running the winning bidder of the contract (which is due to start on 1/1/04) will then start to gradually feed their staff into the ATS structure to be trained up and then take over from the original pathfinders.

I am banking on the Yanks keeping it in house (since they won the war???) and going with Lockheed Martin, anyone signing with Serco should remember what happened with their staff who were in Teheran working for a Serco (then IAL) contract when the Shah was overthrown by the Islamic revolution. The company did absolutely nothing for the staff there who had to flee overland dodging the revolutionaries. Some arrived in Dubai to be promptly told by the company in the UAE and I quote "what the hell are you doing here, you have to get back to work". All that Serco is concerned about is where the next buck is coming from rather than your personal safety!!!

Thats basically it for now, anymore feedback on this would be welcome!

TTFN


:confused: :confused: :confused: :ok:

[Fox3snapshot]

Thanks fo rthe background info, it certainly tallies up with the news I have been getting.

Yikes, the SERCO aspect sounds a bit grim!

Will keep the dragnet out.

Cheers

:8

[CUNIM]

Yeah I hope that they don't force the FAA system on them as they have been using the UK CAA system for years. The Iraqis have enough problems as it is without having a new way of doing things, the Iraqi Airways pilots were all trained for the CAA licences and any that had FAA licenses had to retake the proper CAA exam. Grrrr :suspect:

[Fox3snapshot]

CUNIM, Yep it would certainly throw a spanner in the works! The Aussies and Brits are controlling there at the moment so conforming to a more "Universal" system than that of the States.

But Dick Smith of Oz fame thinks the States has a model system so better not question our mate Dicky!!!!


:ouch:

[Fox3snapshot]

For those who missed the Flight Int. adds (I only posted an abbreviated one before)

Air Traffic ControllersPosition type:

Permanent Region:

IraqCompany:

ATS Iraq Posted:Tuesday 19 August 2003

Job type(s):

Operations and ATC
Description: AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES

A major international provider of aviation services is seeking suitably qualified Air Traffic Services personnel for potential opportunities in Iraq. The following specialisation is required:


Air Traffic Controllers
Valid ICAO recognized ATC License
Current aviation standard medical certificate
Tower/Approach/Approach Radar and/or Area ratings
Procedural rating an advantage
Secure site accommodation will be provided together with excellent remuneration packages. Interested persons should apply, with CV, to the bellow addresses.

Reference:Fint.com

Contact Email:[email protected]

Address:

ATS Iraq
P.O. Box 72484
Abu Dhabi
United Arab EmiratesTelephone:+9712 633 5547

:ok:

[CUNIM]

Just had another little thought for anyone applying for Iraq ATC. Since the Central Council is now being given more powers, be careful that the CAA out there doesn't take the ATC jobs back once they have trained their own people - don't forget that it is Skylink Logistics acting for the US Gov't that is running the show at the moment and that may not be what the Iraqis want. So ask how long the job is for and if they are kicked out of Iraq, do they have another job for you.

[Fox3snapshot]

I would fully expect the CAA to take back their jobs once the locals are trained/retrained back into their positions as that is the object of the exersize, and certainly what we are supposed to be doing here in our part of the sandpit as well. Unfortunately for many reasons this progress is typically slow and the the tenders which are to be let will be structured around these timeframes.

The Military are running all of the ATC, Comms etc until the tenders are released, it seems that the delays are related to funds as the US, understandably, is starting to tighten the purse as there is not much monetary support coming from other nations.

I will have a better insight after the 6th of Sep. Having a few beers with the operatives who are about to rotate their teams in Baggers......assuming I remember the conversation as it probably will end up being more than a few beers!

:p

[PMS]

Fox 3

look forward to your update ASAP after the 6th Sept

Hope you can provide a full and comprehensive handover of info for us all

TTFN

:D :D

PS Hope you enjoy the beers mate, have one on us!!:bored:

[Fox3snapshot]

PMS, wilco mate!

I don't expect anything too constructive, they have been stuck in the compund for 6 months and me almost likewise (well MCT anyway)!

I am sure the "distractions" of Dubai will probably alter the topic of conversation, but I will try to keep focussed!

:ok:

[remedial boy]

Just coming to the end of 4 months in Iraq.

I know it sounds like a lot, but trust me, $135,000 isn't that much to have to spend a year out here (which luckily I don't). Haven't read all of the posts on this subject but the US ATC guys out here say that the first $80,000 are tax free and none of them are staying!

Cheers

RB

Still, wouldn't have minded a cut of the cash for my 4 months.

[PMS]

Hi all

This would be a good contract for ICAO if you ask me; keep the private companies out as they just try to make an empire and a quick buck for themselves and forget the rest and the workers.

a quick in and out to train up the Iraqis over 18 mths as they must still have some ATC people there, Saddam couldnt have killed them all.

ICAO would probably have paid reasonably well and they would have been concerned about your safety too.

TTFN

[Fox3snapshot]

ICAO are just as legendary for empire building and making a buck from projects at the expense of member states and donors, but PMS I think your option of getting them in and re-qualifying the Iraqi's (stressing on the "re" here as at the end of the day there were controllers operating up to the day of the invasion.....oops sorry I mean't liberation!) is certainly a more realistic outcome given that money for rebuilding is becoming a bit of an issue.

As you would expect and was confirmed by people leaving the place, life is pretty grim airside and very restricted. It would take a seriously good renumeration and R&R package to compensate for that sort of lifestyle, not to mention the obvious secuirty risks.

Personally I think time will tell as to whether there is enough money, inclination and avenue for private contract operators to take part in the operation.

:8

[Barra Tuesday]

I guess that poses the question "How much money is enough" for the conditions and restriction of lifestyle. Good job Fox3, how were the lads anyway and did you lead them astray in Dubai??? Last time I went out with you, we found you asleep on the can after you tried to hide from one of the local girls, who just wanted to "puck dat whitey". Remember that one - town where you grew up as I recall!!!

[Fox3snapshot]

After Dubai the lads certainly won't have got much use out of the in-flight entertainment system and would have probably been a bit timid of the complimentary drinks trolley as it whizzed past, yup a good'n !!

You will be happy to know that things haven't changed and I still wake up in strange places.....and with strange people come to think of it!!! Really miss "Kaderine" though

Cheers and beers

:E

[AirNoServicesAustralia]

latest I have heard is that noone has got the contract. Instead 35 ex Iraqi controllers have been rounded up and are being sent to Jordan for retraining and they will form the core of the ATC there.

Can anyone confirm this??

[Tweety]

Bateleur35

So we both know PMS (he is good mate of mine - great bloke actually) and I also know you (pity I cant say the same about you - you gave your identity away by your smart arse remarks - never leave clues mate it will come back and cr*p on you oneday).

I hate to tell you this but you have fingered the wrong person so think again china!! Obviously you are somewhat misinformed about this persons movements, lengths of stay whether he was welcome or not, what he has allegedly taken, done this done that, etc

My suggestion to you SUNSHINE is firstly why dont you stop listening to gossip and the grapevine, if you dont know then dont slander anyone, as I said it will come back to haunt you at some stage. Have you heard of the saying "People in glass houses, shouldn't throw stones"??? Be warned.

Secondly, why dont you just concentrate on doing what you are barely capable of doing, which is ATC and surviving. Most ATC LOSERS (and Seth Africans) end up working for Serco/working in ME , just look at those who work with you and yourself and you will know what I mean. The person who you have mistaken PMS for was obviously smart and worked that out and got out, pity you haven't seen the light yet. Oh I forgot, you need an Irishman to change yours!!:D

By the way I knew what Serco were like so did not want to work for that lot, its called due diligence.

So mate crawl back into your hole and leave gossip to women and concentrate learning more of those soooo diificult words you test the forum with.

rgds

Tweety

[aluminium persuader]

Hey Tweety!

It's probably best if you don't slander people, too. I've worked for SERCo for a long time now, I've also worked for NATS and in-house ATC. I certainly do not consider myself a loser, and I'm sure neither do the vast majority of the other professionals I've worked with over the years. In all organisations, of course you come across some who have a hard time doing their job, and others who can't be bothered. Of course you get people who open mouths without firstly engaging brain. If that meant the whole organisation was defunct, then we would all be in a sorry state.

The fact of the matter is that 99% of us in this profession are dedicated, hard-working and more than able. I'd like to think that if we weren't, we wouldn't have a licence. I don't know or particularly care who you work for or where you work. but it seems to me that, as you said, most insults come from those in the flimsiest positons themselves.

:*

[Tweety]

:mad: :mad: :mad:

Dear aluminium persuader

Firstly you dont know me from a bar of soap and I intend to keep it that way. I am as hard a working ATC as the next person and provide a bloody good service to boot. I pity you for working for Serco and NATS, why dont you do the smart thing and follow some of your cohorts and head across the pond to Canada, I hear they have taken a liking to Tea Bags of late.

Secondly I haven't slandered bateleur in any way just making him aware of his slander and putting in a good word for my mate PMS who seems to get shot at occassionally.

Now can we get back to the original issue with this thread, as PMS was only giving the forum the info they had at the time, which it would appear was fairly correct, so leave this person alone.

bye:ooh: :ooh: :ooh:

[Tower Ranger]

Tweety just a couple of questions.
Have you ever worked in the UK for either Serco or Nats and if so why do you think it was that You had such a bad experience??

[Vercingetorix]

Balatuer35
the one you are thinking of left Abu Dhabi on a "magic Carpet " (sic) and went to Toronto. Five weeks into the new job started a civil action against his employers Nav Canada. A year later then went to Doha from where, after a short stay, he did another magic carpet flight. I doubt that he would know who the Shah of Iran was, never mind that Serco - Ial was there.
Tweety,
you sound like a sourpuss Ozzie just like your Prime Minister at the Rugby World Cup presentation.

G'day Mates

[Barra Tuesday]

Hey we are not all sorpuss's. I am a diehard Wallaby fan and even I admitted that England having been the team with the best form in the world in the last twelve months was deserving of vitory in the RWC. As for Little Johhny Howard, don't read too much into him being a sourpuss; he just goes with the flow and is angry, crying, sad, furious, melancholy etc when it suits him in the public arena (there is probably an election coming up!!!)
As for jobs in Iraq; put my hand up but it appears that they are going to train locals as there was no way of guaranteeing the safety of ex-pats!!!!

[TrafficTraffic]

you sound like a sourpuss Ozzie just like your Prime Minister at the Rugby World Cup presentation.

...Dont make me laugh - whinging, complaining, ........we all know where that comes from right guv....


Love Englishmen - couldnt eat a whole one though!

Where is he now then, the canadian snow goose I thought he was still in Doha?

[Tweety]

Where do you people get your info. You are all way off the mark in regards to "the one" as you call the person you refer to.

Just to set the record straight, again, the one you refer to is not PMS.

secondly, I also know "the one" you refer to, another ATC colleague from Oz whom I worked with for quite a number of years. Not as good a mate as PMS however, still decent sort of chap and yes we did communicate up to about 9 mths ago.

"the one" also despite having the odd whinge, most of the time this persons arguments did have validity, and on top of that was a bloody good controller, never had an incident (unlike a few of our Seth African friends there who have had some, one in particular I believe had a shocker over the gulf and ended up with a ticket to Bahrain for his troubles so they do reward stupidity there) and many a supervisor in ATC were quite open about "the ones" traffic separating abilities. As for the so called magic carpet rides, are you way off.

"the one" to whom you refer resigned with the normal time frame required by Serco and departed under normal circumstances. And yes "the one" did go to Canada and worked in Toronto, and from what I hear was a bloody good controller there, pity Navcanada deicded to shaft the poor bastard, after they made several financial promises in writing and verbally and decided at the last minute not to keep them, so yes (after 6 mths) "the One" pursued the company via the union there for their just entitlements, and they did manage to have a small win, but then when they started to hire more expats from UK and Oz and guess what they decided to hire these new guys on about $30,000CAD more than what "the one" started on, I bet you would be more than slightly peeved as well sounds a little what ASA or Serco would do doesn't it. And no this person stayed over 2 years in Canada and never had an incident. the one then went to Doha, after recieving a offer to good to refuse, but which I beliieve the locals have not come up withthe goods since "the one" arrived there. I last heard he was and still believe he is in Doha.

By the way, a lot of you Tea Bags (read Poms) and Aussies owe "the one" a huge vote of thanks, as from what I know and have been told. It was this person, who wrote to the CEO of Navcanada and raised the question of hiring foreigners into Navcanada and showing the tenacity that this person is known for, showed them sugguestions on how this could be made to work, and voilla "the one" did the first testing run by Navcanada (like a test case if you like), and because he performed so well in the simulator and interview they were suitably impressed with this persons abilities, and offered them a job in either Vancouver Approach or Toronto App or Toronto North specialty. (how do I know this: well I know one of the instructors there who conducted the sim and interview thats how - I have facts not rumour). "The one"arrived their and completed the training in less than half the time and checked out first go inside the requried five days of checks and never had an incident, and from what I hear those North sectors there, can run 40 plus acft at one time (high level, low level as well as vectoring for ILS approaches at 2 regional airports there) not like some of those dinky sectors in Oz.

As The ones performance and skills impressed Navcanada, and was well liked in the centre that it made Navcanada realise that Aussies were pretty bloody good at ATC and nice people to boot and decided that they would only accept certain licences, Oz, UK and some others, but not Seth African (this may have changed but this was the case when the one told me).

So dont go throwing dirt unless you have dirt to throw and get the facts not fiction off the grapevine, it is never right.

As far as i am concerned this now closes this dirt throwing exercise re this person

Tweety

PS and to that person who asked if I had ever worked for Serco or NATS in UK, no why would I want to, crap companies from what I hear and rains to much there, pretty country to visit but as Peter Allen says I still call Australia home. by the way congrats to the Poms on winning the rugby, long time between drinks for you guys.

[aluminium persuader]

Blimey, Tweety! Did you pause for breath when you wrote that lot?

Just to get things straight, I wasn't having a pop at PMS; was just saying that it's a bit rich for you to go slagging off companies you've never worked for, and the people who work for them. Despite all our grumblings and winding each other up, neither NATS nor SERCo are terrible companies to work for. The bad experiences I've had with both have 99% been down to individuals and individual "managers" within the organisations, rather than the organisations themselves.

As I keep telling my son (age 3), you can't say you don't like them until you've tried them!

Watch out for dat bad ole puddy tat! :ok:

(edited for Aaron - spelling, that is))

[Vercingetorix]

Tweety
get the " One " to tell you about the Abu Dhabi carpets.

Cheers, mate.

[Quokka]

...and the winner of the PPRUNE Essay Award for 2003...... is ...... (drumroll) ....... (opens the envelope) ......... the winner is ..................... TWEETY!!!!!:)

[Coast]

Tweety
I believe "the one" is no longer in Doha, last I heard he burned another bridge. BTW you're misinformed about his stay and departure from Canada.

[FinalVectors]

Hi!

Anyone got any news about Iraq ATC?

Last I heard was that Serco put contract on hold. After they descided to send local controllers on refresher training.

Guess there are some Serco employees in here...any internal rumours about pending contract in the company?

thx.

[Fox3snapshot]

Well done FinalVectors you have finally brought us back to the topic of this thread. Some info on the way shortly.

Now the rest of you girls take your lover's tiffs elsewhere.

:hmm:

[GearDown&Locked]

Never mind Iraqui ATC , who'll fly there anyways :confused:

Probably, if civilian a/c are equipped with counter measures ...:eek: