March Course
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: March Course
Subject to medical etc am also on March course. No info yet as to when starts. Expected to be start of month but HR said it is likely to slip later. December course started on 21st Dec to give an idea.
Question for all the veteran controllers. There seems to be a fair amount of less than encouraging reports on pprune about new intakes, not up to scratch, isn’t like it was in our day. Is the general consensus that standards are slipping and less than adequate people are getting through?
I’m expecting & prepared for a hard slog…I’d be surprised/disappointed if my other course chums didn’t come to class with similar ideas.
Question for all the veteran controllers. There seems to be a fair amount of less than encouraging reports on pprune about new intakes, not up to scratch, isn’t like it was in our day. Is the general consensus that standards are slipping and less than adequate people are getting through?
I’m expecting & prepared for a hard slog…I’d be surprised/disappointed if my other course chums didn’t come to class with similar ideas.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: southampton,hampshire,england
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: March Course
Don't be put off by what you read about training and stuff on Pprune, this is a good place to blow off steam after a busy day and is a great stress-reliever......and don't forget the qualifier statement at the bottom of the page.
Over the last decade, and perhaps even before that, the industry has exploded beyond all expectation; modern ATC is intense and unrelenting.....particularly as the many low-fare airlines fly very long "days" to make the best of their aircraft utilisation.
The training courses have been shortened considerably from what they were, but one point of relevance is that the "veterans", as you refer some of us old dogs, have adapted to the demand and the added complexities of airspace changes and traffic handling using experience and assimilated knowledge and expertise.
It would be unfair to say that to-day's trainees are less capable....it would be more appropriate to say that the job is far more difficult and demanding than ever before. You have to endure a learning curve that many of the "vets" would be unable match if the situations were reversed.
I wish you all the best of luck...work hard and the reward is worth it....if I was to give you any advice it would be to lay off the booze and give the job your best. If you want the job...make the effort!
Regards.
Over the last decade, and perhaps even before that, the industry has exploded beyond all expectation; modern ATC is intense and unrelenting.....particularly as the many low-fare airlines fly very long "days" to make the best of their aircraft utilisation.
The training courses have been shortened considerably from what they were, but one point of relevance is that the "veterans", as you refer some of us old dogs, have adapted to the demand and the added complexities of airspace changes and traffic handling using experience and assimilated knowledge and expertise.
It would be unfair to say that to-day's trainees are less capable....it would be more appropriate to say that the job is far more difficult and demanding than ever before. You have to endure a learning curve that many of the "vets" would be unable match if the situations were reversed.
I wish you all the best of luck...work hard and the reward is worth it....if I was to give you any advice it would be to lay off the booze and give the job your best. If you want the job...make the effort!
Regards.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: March Course
Thanks for the responses. Noted booze advice, though think I had realised that but didn't want to admit it!
Back to original Q. Phoned HR yesterday and March course is due to start on 1st March. Bit of a surprise (especially as that is a Wednesday). Unlikely to slip apparently. goodles - you may want to give them a bell and confirm that yourself. I am hoping we may get something in the post in due course (but I forgot to ask that)...
Can someone give me a quick lowdown on the pension? Can you opt-in on first day of training? Defined contribution? What % do you contribute, what % does NATS contribute? Ta.
Back to original Q. Phoned HR yesterday and March course is due to start on 1st March. Bit of a surprise (especially as that is a Wednesday). Unlikely to slip apparently. goodles - you may want to give them a bell and confirm that yourself. I am hoping we may get something in the post in due course (but I forgot to ask that)...
Can someone give me a quick lowdown on the pension? Can you opt-in on first day of training? Defined contribution? What % do you contribute, what % does NATS contribute? Ta.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: SE England
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
March course is due to start on 1st March. Bit of a surprise (especially as that is a Wednesday)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: By the Sea-side
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Phoned HR yesterday and March course is due to start on 1st March
[Sorry. Past experiences with NATS HR may have coloured my opinion slightly
]DwB
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Course in March. Isn't this the first course to get screwed if the new pay deal goes through?
£10k a year and no payment for trips home and by the time you end up on the top of the T&D scale after two and a half years of pure torture, which is a long time you will still only be on £17k till your valid.
I was on more than that when I started at the college in 2000!
This company is a
ing joke, I don't envy you guys at all.
Short of staff and what do we do to entice the best possible people to the job?
Half the starting wage and all subsequent wages untill they are valid and take away some nice attractive perks. I would be suprised to see the WAP stay in the student package at the next pay deal.
£10k a year and no payment for trips home and by the time you end up on the top of the T&D scale after two and a half years of pure torture, which is a long time you will still only be on £17k till your valid.
I was on more than that when I started at the college in 2000!
This company is a
ing joke, I don't envy you guys at all. Short of staff and what do we do to entice the best possible people to the job?
Half the starting wage and all subsequent wages untill they are valid and take away some nice attractive perks. I would be suprised to see the WAP stay in the student package at the next pay deal.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That is unbelieveable. I was encouraged by HR to try to get on the December course if I could as the starting salary would be a "little lower" in the new year. but 5k lower...
I can't help but be really disappointed by that news. When is the pay deal finalised? 10k would be fine if you had the time to work another job in the evening, but aren't we expected to do a couple of hours in the evening too?
I can't help but be really disappointed by that news. When is the pay deal finalised? 10k would be fine if you had the time to work another job in the evening, but aren't we expected to do a couple of hours in the evening too?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Swanwick
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've heard that it is a salary of 10K flat, no WAP (for non NATS people WAP = Weekly Assistance Payment, a tax free allowance of around £100 per week paid to trainees at Bournemouth). It comes into effect on 1 March if the pay deal is accepted.
I hear lots of controllers shedding crocodile tears for the plight of poor trainees being offered such a low salary - if they really are concerned about trainee salaries they should vote against giving themselves a generous 3 year pay deal which has been funded by the savings made on trainees pay.
I hear lots of controllers shedding crocodile tears for the plight of poor trainees being offered such a low salary - if they really are concerned about trainee salaries they should vote against giving themselves a generous 3 year pay deal which has been funded by the savings made on trainees pay.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: southampton,hampshire,england
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't worry, a lot of us "oldies" are concerned about the deal for a variety of reasons.....and starting pay is a genuine concern, not in any way crocodile tears. Just make sure that if you have a vote that you use it.
I don't want to end up training somebody who is more bothered about where his/her next meal and the rent are coming from. If we want to consider ATC to be a profession rather than a job then this pay vote must fail.
If savings are needed I suggest looking into the grotesque over-promotion culture....it has, and still is, costing £millions.
I don't want to end up training somebody who is more bothered about where his/her next meal and the rent are coming from. If we want to consider ATC to be a profession rather than a job then this pay vote must fail.
If savings are needed I suggest looking into the grotesque over-promotion culture....it has, and still is, costing £millions.