Bad News CATC March has fallen thru
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Bad News CATC March has fallen thru
Yes guys we all got the same call this morning. All of us March starters have been told it's an airport only course and we have until Thurs to decide to take it or not.
It's obvious that we all wanted area and are severely gutted. I've been told June but who knows. We've basically gone from a few weeks wait to possibly well over half a years wait till september.
I'm gutted, also a bit angry that hr were requesting my employers references before christmas, if I had given them my permission which I didn't I'd be up the creek.
All us Scots in glasgow who've been drinking together have received the same news. All gutted.
What's your plans now people? Anyone taking the airport course? I can't start of my new career on the wrong foot like this.
Called CATC spoke to a few people. March being all airport was in the pipeline for a couple of months but hadn't been fully ratified (still isn't apparently maybe if we all say no they'll re-access and make it area or mixed
)
We were told to expect hiccups, doesn't help though. Gone from starting in six weeks to more than six months with no guarantee.
In the past students didn't really get a choice of area or aerodrome whereas we're getting this choice before we know enough depthabout either apart from mobility.
It's obvious that we all wanted area and are severely gutted. I've been told June but who knows. We've basically gone from a few weeks wait to possibly well over half a years wait till september.
I'm gutted, also a bit angry that hr were requesting my employers references before christmas, if I had given them my permission which I didn't I'd be up the creek.
All us Scots in glasgow who've been drinking together have received the same news. All gutted.
What's your plans now people? Anyone taking the airport course? I can't start of my new career on the wrong foot like this.
Called CATC spoke to a few people. March being all airport was in the pipeline for a couple of months but hadn't been fully ratified (still isn't apparently maybe if we all say no they'll re-access and make it area or mixed
)We were told to expect hiccups, doesn't help though. Gone from starting in six weeks to more than six months with no guarantee.
In the past students didn't really get a choice of area or aerodrome whereas we're getting this choice before we know enough depthabout either apart from mobility.
I say there boy
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I'm gutted, also a bit angry that hr were requesting my employers references before christmas, if I had given them my permission which I didn't I'd be up the creek.
I gave them permission and gave my employer lots of notice of leaving (small company, on excellent terms with owners so I felt I owed them a favour). My replacement joined the company about 2 hours before I got the magic call from HR this morning
.
Eeeek.
I gave them permission and gave my employer lots of notice of leaving (small company, on excellent terms with owners so I felt I owed them a favour). My replacement joined the company about 2 hours before I got the magic call from HR this morning
.Eeeek.
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You must be gutted but what is the problem with airport only, your chances of passing that and still being employed at the end of the course are alot greater than if you went Area, I am sure there are lots who will disagree with me but I don't know why. Area students are getting chopped left, right and centre these days, the sooner you're out of the college with any rating the better, then you can kick off your career, thats what I reckon anyway.
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It's obvious that we all wanted area and are severely gutted.
Sorry for those of you that want an Area course - the wait has been a pain so I wouldn't fancy another six months.See the other ten of you in two months!
(Smoggie - check your PMs.)
Last edited by I'm not joking sir; 4th Jan 2005 at 15:45.
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From my obviously limited knowledge of ATC I think I would prefer area to airport, although I'm sure I would also be really fulfilled with an airport position. The difficulty is, especially for those with a family, relocation. You wouldn't know where you were going after an airport course. At least with area you have a pretty fair idea. I've already moved with my husband and kids, it wouldn't be fair to do it again if I had an option not to. Even if it means waiting another 6 months. 
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Course 201 was 25 area and 4 airports. There were about 10 of us who wanted Airports and Im chuffed to be one of them. If you have been told Airports, after you pass the intro course, you do have an idea of where youre going (but not set in stone). Airports is divided into:-
Aerodrome only = London Airports
Aerodrome+Approach = Regional Airports
Hope that helps, I absolutely love the aerodrome course. If I were you I would start college as soon as you can. Whichever discipline you end up doing youll love it. The longer you put off coming to college, the more in 'limbo' you will feel. Just accept the position and things may change anyway.
Best of Luck with your choices.
Aerodrome only = London Airports
Aerodrome+Approach = Regional Airports
Hope that helps, I absolutely love the aerodrome course. If I were you I would start college as soon as you can. Whichever discipline you end up doing youll love it. The longer you put off coming to college, the more in 'limbo' you will feel. Just accept the position and things may change anyway.
Best of Luck with your choices.
I say there boy
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Is anyone getting Approach only for LTCC, or do you do Approach and Area for there?
The longer you put off coming to college, the more in 'limbo' you will feel.
2.5 years since I first applied for the job and counting (and no rejections on the way)
Sla said: The difficulty is, especially for those with a family, relocation.
That's the thing that swung area for me - having a good chance at getting Swanwick so less moves. Guess I'm going to have to reappraise things tonight with the missus.
The longer you put off coming to college, the more in 'limbo' you will feel.
2.5 years since I first applied for the job and counting (and no rejections on the way)
Sla said: The difficulty is, especially for those with a family, relocation.
That's the thing that swung area for me - having a good chance at getting Swanwick so less moves. Guess I'm going to have to reappraise things tonight with the missus.
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Something else to consider when making this decision is that there has just been a Vacancy Notice out for valid ATCOs who want to retrain and do an Area course. Why not do a few years at an Airport and then see if you still fancy Area? As mps12 says, surely it's better to get down to the College and get going?
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<<It's obvious that we all wanted area and are severely gutted. >>
Good God, what's WRONG with that? At least you'll see the aeroplanes, which you'll never do in a centre. Be grateful - there are many, many people who would give their right arms to be in your position.
Good God, what's WRONG with that? At least you'll see the aeroplanes, which you'll never do in a centre. Be grateful - there are many, many people who would give their right arms to be in your position.
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IMHO, for what its worth, you`d be mad not to take up the chance of getting A/D + APP. You`ll increase your chances of getting to work in your own part of the country and should you ever get fed up with Nats or vice versa you`ll be able to get other A/D work whereas if it doesn`t work out on the area side you`re gonna struggle.
Besides there`s a pretty good chance you`d be able to transfer from Airport to Centre work at a later stage as the staff shortages are only gonna get worse. What are the chances now of Nats letting a valid area controller go the other way.
Having seen both sides of it first hand, albeit not as a valid area controller, the chance of ending up working south of Manch with no escape would be enough to make me do A/D.
Besides there`s a pretty good chance you`d be able to transfer from Airport to Centre work at a later stage as the staff shortages are only gonna get worse. What are the chances now of Nats letting a valid area controller go the other way.
Having seen both sides of it first hand, albeit not as a valid area controller, the chance of ending up working south of Manch with no escape would be enough to make me do A/D.
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Those of you who are gutted about the March course need to take a step back, take a deep breath, get somebody close by to smack you hard around the face and then listen to this.
Area control is where it all happens, Area control is where the future is for NATS, Area control is where the money is.
Area control is damned hard work. Probably little more than half of you who start an area course will make it to validation. I went through in the days where you did aerodrome before you were streamed into approach or area. I went the area way which was what I wanted, got posted to TC after college which was what I wanted and then didn't make the final hurdle to validation. I was lucky, I already had an aerodrome ticket to fall back on and now I am happily valid at a busy london tower, If you fail the area course then you will not have that luxury. The aerodrome course ain't that tough, The approach course is more taxing (although I never did it !) but again not nearly as intense as area training. Yes, you may get poked all over the country on the airport side (Any of you guys ever hear of the scottish centre ?).
BUT
Many approach students get sent to TC to do a very fulfilling and demanding approach job (unless you get luton). The money at the smaller airports is not as good, but there are far greater opportunities for early promotion at a smaller unit. After four years valid (five if it is an ATCO 2 unit) you can get transferred to another unit (including an area course if you so desire) and try your hand at something new.
STOP PRESS
aerodrome control is fun !!!
You get to look out of the window all day and SEE the aircraft that you control, It does get busy, it is fulfilling and it still pays better than most other jobs.
You are still getting paid to train, you will be valid at least a year before your area colleagues and you will probably live significantly longer.........
I feel that you are making a grave mistake if you turn down this course on the basis of the experience that you have so far....NONE.
Go on dive in.
I promise you'll love it.
Don't come crying to me when you have failed ACS 2 for the second time, feel like an atco but are totally unemployable as one.
Think about it kids.
If you really want ATC as a career then really, really think about it.
cheers
V
Area control is where it all happens, Area control is where the future is for NATS, Area control is where the money is.
Area control is damned hard work. Probably little more than half of you who start an area course will make it to validation. I went through in the days where you did aerodrome before you were streamed into approach or area. I went the area way which was what I wanted, got posted to TC after college which was what I wanted and then didn't make the final hurdle to validation. I was lucky, I already had an aerodrome ticket to fall back on and now I am happily valid at a busy london tower, If you fail the area course then you will not have that luxury. The aerodrome course ain't that tough, The approach course is more taxing (although I never did it !) but again not nearly as intense as area training. Yes, you may get poked all over the country on the airport side (Any of you guys ever hear of the scottish centre ?).
BUT
Many approach students get sent to TC to do a very fulfilling and demanding approach job (unless you get luton). The money at the smaller airports is not as good, but there are far greater opportunities for early promotion at a smaller unit. After four years valid (five if it is an ATCO 2 unit) you can get transferred to another unit (including an area course if you so desire) and try your hand at something new.
STOP PRESS
aerodrome control is fun !!!
You get to look out of the window all day and SEE the aircraft that you control, It does get busy, it is fulfilling and it still pays better than most other jobs.
You are still getting paid to train, you will be valid at least a year before your area colleagues and you will probably live significantly longer.........
I feel that you are making a grave mistake if you turn down this course on the basis of the experience that you have so far....NONE.
Go on dive in.
I promise you'll love it.
Don't come crying to me when you have failed ACS 2 for the second time, feel like an atco but are totally unemployable as one.
Think about it kids.
If you really want ATC as a career then really, really think about it.
cheers
V
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Dunno what Vlad means about Area being where it all happens.. I worked Area (abroad) and Twr/ APP/ Rad in the Uk and I'd say that Heathrow GMC on a bad day can certainly be a place "where it all happens"!
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Just be glad you have got an offer stop winging and get on with it
You all know know EGLL is the centre of the universe so approach is not that bad Area is for the not so fortunate
10 miles instead of 3 mmmmmm
You all know know EGLL is the centre of the universe so approach is not that bad Area is for the not so fortunate 10 miles instead of 3 mmmmmm
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I obviously need to invest in some sarcasm lessons, too subtle ?
The point I was trying to make is that from the previous posts (by these lucky people who have had a job offer and are considering turning it down.............or deferring or whatever) is that although they all seem distraught that they have not been offered an area course, that there is indeed life outside the centres ( I know you know that Bren..) and little green crosses on 21" sony tubes are not the be all and end all.
Just take the job guys and have some fun.
and for everybody else....read the post again in sarcasm mode !!
The point I was trying to make is that from the previous posts (by these lucky people who have had a job offer and are considering turning it down.............or deferring or whatever) is that although they all seem distraught that they have not been offered an area course, that there is indeed life outside the centres ( I know you know that Bren..) and little green crosses on 21" sony tubes are not the be all and end all.
Just take the job guys and have some fun.
and for everybody else....read the post again in sarcasm mode !!
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I sincerely doubt that anyone is considering turning down the post - I'm certainly not, it's just a bummer to have to wait a bit longer when we felt like we were nearly in there. Waiting with very little information (except what you can pick up on pprune ) is frustrating for everyone in the recruitment system.
Even if we all wanted airports, the course numbers have been halved(?) so some of us will have to wait longer whatever happens.
I'm going to try and be positive about waiting a bit longer and think of something interesting to do with my extra few months before it's nose to the grindstone! We've got to put it in perspective, we've all still got a place at college, we just don't know when now!
) is frustrating for everyone in the recruitment system.Even if we all wanted airports, the course numbers have been halved(?) so some of us will have to wait longer whatever happens.
I'm going to try and be positive about waiting a bit longer and think of something interesting to do with my extra few months before it's nose to the grindstone! We've got to put it in perspective, we've all still got a place at college, we just don't know when now!
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Vlad, I was agreeing with you.
We airport bods are mere parking attendants when compared to Area Gods (tm).
I would recommend doing Tower/Approach to anyone. You often hear of ATCOs moving on to Area after a while at an airport, but you never ever hear of someone moving in the opposite direction.
We airport bods are mere parking attendants when compared to Area Gods (tm).
I would recommend doing Tower/Approach to anyone. You often hear of ATCOs moving on to Area after a while at an airport, but you never ever hear of someone moving in the opposite direction.
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not suggesting that anybody will give up altogether. I was just a bit surprised that so many have such strong opinions about which way they want to go before they have any idea what is involved. I know about the relocation hassle thing as I had three kids when I went through, easier for dads than mums granted. Just don't get blinkered at an early stage, take what's offered and make the best of it, either way it is a great job.
V
V
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Guys,
If only i was in you position... i'm on the same course as MPS12 and i desperately wanted to go to airports. BUT, as he said only 2 of the 29 of us got the job and i wasn't one of them.
At that point i had some serious thinking whether i stayed or not....
I chose to stay.
Get down the college and get started ASAP...... any delay will always open up the potential possibility that something similar will happen to the september course. Our course "split" was changed numerous times whilst ON the intro course! Get going and get on with the job in hand!
Above all go and enjoy it!!
81
If only i was in you position... i'm on the same course as MPS12 and i desperately wanted to go to airports. BUT, as he said only 2 of the 29 of us got the job and i wasn't one of them.
At that point i had some serious thinking whether i stayed or not....
I chose to stay.
Get down the college and get started ASAP...... any delay will always open up the potential possibility that something similar will happen to the september course. Our course "split" was changed numerous times whilst ON the intro course! Get going and get on with the job in hand!
Above all go and enjoy it!!
81