Whats going on at CATC
Join Date: Dec 2000
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Yes, it can be tough. The initial tear away from an existing job, especially if you've been there for a while and enjoy it. The move down to Bournemouth, leaving the wife & kids at home, going mad at your own company in a cheap hotel or rented room for 6 months (or a lot more!). The feeling of fear (and the smell) everytime summatives come around - even if they're not for your course! Oral boards, just to give you an extra roasting if the writtens and the summatives aren't enough. BUT, once that's behind you, nothing can describe the feeling of receiving your "yellow book", knowing you've beaten the odds, and that you survived the initial part of your training.
It doesn't stop there though, I'm now in my 22nd month away from home - 12 months in Bournemouth, and now 10 months at a unit, and the wife / kids still haven't managed to join me. But the highs keep coming - the further through the training you progress, the more you get to do, until eventually the "man from the ministry" is summoned to see if you're up to the job. Fortunately, I was, and am now in my 2nd month of being a valid controller, and enjoying it tremendously. The stress has subsided a little for now, as has the bookwork (until I really start progressing with my approach training, anyway), and I can relax a little and do the job, instead of train for it.
Yes, the pass rate seems to have dropped at the college at the moment, for whatever reason, but in the past 10 months NATS have also adjusted the course to try to improve matters. Yes, there is quite a backlog for training reviews. However, the failure rate hasn't reached 100%, so some people are still passing, and if you don't try it, you'll never know. You have to take the decision very seriously, but if you're prepared to put in the work, accept the grief when someone on your course fails, or worse, gets chopped, get over any setbacks you suffer yourself, put up with being a NATS pawn for 6 - 12 months, and possibly beyond, then I, and I am sure a lot of others on here, would wholeheartedly recommend you go for it.
I guess I painted a bleak picture there, but you've also got to remember that Bournemouth's a great place over the summer - there's no shortage of pubs, clubs and bars to visit (and discuss the course work, naturally!), take your MATS 1 down to the beach and enjoy a beer or two, the instructors and other students are always willing to help, and once you're at the unit, my experience has been fantastic, with the ATCOs that will be your mentors, and then your colleagues eager to help everyway they can.
Go for it, work hard, play hard, and enjoy it!
It doesn't stop there though, I'm now in my 22nd month away from home - 12 months in Bournemouth, and now 10 months at a unit, and the wife / kids still haven't managed to join me. But the highs keep coming - the further through the training you progress, the more you get to do, until eventually the "man from the ministry" is summoned to see if you're up to the job. Fortunately, I was, and am now in my 2nd month of being a valid controller, and enjoying it tremendously. The stress has subsided a little for now, as has the bookwork (until I really start progressing with my approach training, anyway), and I can relax a little and do the job, instead of train for it.
Yes, the pass rate seems to have dropped at the college at the moment, for whatever reason, but in the past 10 months NATS have also adjusted the course to try to improve matters. Yes, there is quite a backlog for training reviews. However, the failure rate hasn't reached 100%, so some people are still passing, and if you don't try it, you'll never know. You have to take the decision very seriously, but if you're prepared to put in the work, accept the grief when someone on your course fails, or worse, gets chopped, get over any setbacks you suffer yourself, put up with being a NATS pawn for 6 - 12 months, and possibly beyond, then I, and I am sure a lot of others on here, would wholeheartedly recommend you go for it.
I guess I painted a bleak picture there, but you've also got to remember that Bournemouth's a great place over the summer - there's no shortage of pubs, clubs and bars to visit (and discuss the course work, naturally!), take your MATS 1 down to the beach and enjoy a beer or two, the instructors and other students are always willing to help, and once you're at the unit, my experience has been fantastic, with the ATCOs that will be your mentors, and then your colleagues eager to help everyway they can.
Go for it, work hard, play hard, and enjoy it!
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Wivenhoe, not too far from the Clacton VOR
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Terrain Safe, love it! Where do you find them?
Northerner, when I left (end of August), it certainly wasn't the quality of student. It certainly wasn't the College (I assume you mean the standard of instruction). That leaves the new courses. 'Nuff said.
Someone_Else. Cheers. That has really made my day.......NOT!
Experience is what you get just after you needed it.
Northerner, when I left (end of August), it certainly wasn't the quality of student. It certainly wasn't the College (I assume you mean the standard of instruction). That leaves the new courses. 'Nuff said.
Someone_Else. Cheers. That has really made my day.......NOT!
Experience is what you get just after you needed it.
I say there boy
Join Date: Mar 2000
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Rodan, I can only comment on the 203 airports-only course.
Out of eleven who walked through the hallowed College of Knowledge entrance in March: one trainee has left training prior to completing a course; two have been chopped having failed courses; two further trainees are awaiting training review having failed courses; one trainee is on a medical recourse.
On the success side four trainees have been posted to units and the last (but not least) of the eleven trainees has an aerodrome licence and is coming back round for an approach course.
updated in the light of recent news
Out of eleven who walked through the hallowed College of Knowledge entrance in March: one trainee has left training prior to completing a course; two have been chopped having failed courses; two further trainees are awaiting training review having failed courses; one trainee is on a medical recourse.
On the success side four trainees have been posted to units and the last (but not least) of the eleven trainees has an aerodrome licence and is coming back round for an approach course.
updated in the light of recent news
Last edited by foghorn; 18th Oct 2005 at 16:39.
Naughty but Nice
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Bern Oulli:
Now why did I think that might be the case?
What do you reckon we can do about it? (as in you give me the ideas and I'll go shout about them)
I didn't know you'd left BTW!
Congratulations (I presume!)
Cheers,
N
ex 96 course - 10 years now!
"Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you're up to..."
Now why did I think that might be the case?
What do you reckon we can do about it? (as in you give me the ideas and I'll go shout about them)
I didn't know you'd left BTW!
Congratulations (I presume!)
Cheers,
N
ex 96 course - 10 years now!
"Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you're up to..."
Join Date: Jul 2001
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It's quite simple, Northerner.
They should stop trying to slash the training time at college.
Less time there means trainees going out to their units with less knowledge and to a lesser depth.
For instance, I wonder how the OJTI's at TC (APR) find the trainees that arrive having done an approach course but no aerodrome training?
BB
They should stop trying to slash the training time at college.
Less time there means trainees going out to their units with less knowledge and to a lesser depth.
For instance, I wonder how the OJTI's at TC (APR) find the trainees that arrive having done an approach course but no aerodrome training?
BB
...or the OJTIs at the ACCs likewise?
I am afraid that it is now a combination of beancounters, administrators with no idea of ATC, and some ATC middle managers (to most of whom I would not give the time of day) who have dictated the present scenario. Many of us said at the time that it would end in tears.
The imposition by Eurotrash of the current all-embracing Initial Course (or call it what you will) overloads the newcomers with a whole load of information, much of which they cannot relate to their own experience either on a simulator and certainly not in practice. NATS jumped on this bandwagon and used its introduction to cancel the "Aerodrome training for all" principle which had stood the test of time. It is a cause of considerable concern that controllers will be set in an Aerodrome or Approach or Area mould for years with no direct experience of the other disciplines, then, in their turn, to become managers.
I am afraid that it is now a combination of beancounters, administrators with no idea of ATC, and some ATC middle managers (to most of whom I would not give the time of day) who have dictated the present scenario. Many of us said at the time that it would end in tears.
The imposition by Eurotrash of the current all-embracing Initial Course (or call it what you will) overloads the newcomers with a whole load of information, much of which they cannot relate to their own experience either on a simulator and certainly not in practice. NATS jumped on this bandwagon and used its introduction to cancel the "Aerodrome training for all" principle which had stood the test of time. It is a cause of considerable concern that controllers will be set in an Aerodrome or Approach or Area mould for years with no direct experience of the other disciplines, then, in their turn, to become managers.
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Would just like to sat how much i enjoyed the rant of how to get along at the college by scotslivedit, mucho amuso, and nice to know that things haven't changed too much since the end of the 90s when i was there.
Out of interest, does the sim room still become engulfed in hairspray and perfume during the summative week while the skirts get shorter, and the sales of wonderbras in bournemouth go thru the roof? Am intrigued to know.
The new car/couple curse was a strong one while we were there, anybody having the balls to buy a new car whilst at the college almost instantly failed the course, and if any students paired up as a couple while at CATC one of the two always seemed to get chopped off a course.
Food for thought!
Another tip to survive is go down to the sim room after 5pm, take all the strips and scripts home, and revise the exercise at night, think no-one will notice even though you taxi planes a certain way because you know another will call you at minute 07 etc.
Then moan and groan all the way through the course, amaze your coursemates how you keep passing despite dismal marks, eventually get found out at NERC, and get sent to an airfield far far away, and have to cheek to apply for a transfer to a busier centre about 2 years later. Justice prevailed and the initial assessment was failed, but full marks for trying.
Good old NATS.
Out of interest, does the sim room still become engulfed in hairspray and perfume during the summative week while the skirts get shorter, and the sales of wonderbras in bournemouth go thru the roof? Am intrigued to know.
The new car/couple curse was a strong one while we were there, anybody having the balls to buy a new car whilst at the college almost instantly failed the course, and if any students paired up as a couple while at CATC one of the two always seemed to get chopped off a course.
Food for thought!
Another tip to survive is go down to the sim room after 5pm, take all the strips and scripts home, and revise the exercise at night, think no-one will notice even though you taxi planes a certain way because you know another will call you at minute 07 etc.
Then moan and groan all the way through the course, amaze your coursemates how you keep passing despite dismal marks, eventually get found out at NERC, and get sent to an airfield far far away, and have to cheek to apply for a transfer to a busier centre about 2 years later. Justice prevailed and the initial assessment was failed, but full marks for trying.
Good old NATS.
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Think I was on that course as well Falzone, as your story bought the memories of aerodrome flooding back!! I remember the amazement when one of the other guys from our course mentioned that the person was looking to come to our unit!!
Certainly glad I went through the college when I did rather than now, it seems we had a more enjoyable time!
Certainly glad I went through the college when I did rather than now, it seems we had a more enjoyable time!
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Out of interest, does the sim room still become engulfed in hairspray and perfume during the summative week while the skirts get shorter, and the sales of wonderbras in bournemouth go thru the roof? Am intrigued to know.
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For instance, I wonder how the OJTI's at TC (APR) find the trainees that arrive having done an approach course but no aerodrome training?
Nothing like throwing people in at the deep end, anyone going through the training system these days has my deepest sympathy.
WF.
Ohcirrej
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I remember the amazement when one of the other guys from our course mentioned that the person was looking to come to our unit!!
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Out of interest, does the sim room still become engulfed in hairspray and perfume during the summative week while the skirts get shorter, and the sales of wonderbras in bournemouth go thru the roof? Am intrigued to know.
What's a TR?
Type rating?
Last edited by matt_pa31; 10th Oct 2005 at 15:59.