College start dates, holidays etc.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: LTCC
College start dates, holidays etc.
Hello all,
I'm due to start at Hurn in March and have some questions that hopefully some helpful chaps/chapesses can answer.
Firstly, I got my medical certificate from the CAA last week but have heard nothing from NATS. Presumably the CAA inform NATS or is that something I should do?
Secondly, I spoke to HR about a start date and provisionally it is March 25th but obviously they are still sorting out the Dec course at the moment. My question is this - the in laws have asked if I want to go on holiday with them at the end of May but I can't say yes because of not knowing when the breaks from college will be. Anyone know if the terms are a standard length? How long before the first holiday is there and how long is the time off????
All help gratefully rec'd
I'm due to start at Hurn in March and have some questions that hopefully some helpful chaps/chapesses can answer.
Firstly, I got my medical certificate from the CAA last week but have heard nothing from NATS. Presumably the CAA inform NATS or is that something I should do?
Secondly, I spoke to HR about a start date and provisionally it is March 25th but obviously they are still sorting out the Dec course at the moment. My question is this - the in laws have asked if I want to go on holiday with them at the end of May but I can't say yes because of not knowing when the breaks from college will be. Anyone know if the terms are a standard length? How long before the first holiday is there and how long is the time off????
All help gratefully rec'd
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,432
Likes: 33
From: LHR/EGLL
NATS have nothing to do with the medical. CAA will inform them you have passed, and from now on it's your responsibility to ensure you renew it and inform the CAA Medical Section if you have any doubts as to its validity.
On other other question, yes because of the workload perhaps, but also because depending on which course you get selected for, the dates are different (without even considering the possiblity of having to resit exams/courses etc).
On other other question, yes because of the workload perhaps, but also because depending on which course you get selected for, the dates are different (without even considering the possiblity of having to resit exams/courses etc).
I say there boy
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Somewhere
Just to expand on what has been said, you'll get holiday, but it will be on prescribed dates depending on what course you are on and what discipline you are streamed into. However no matter what discipline you do, the leave will be subject to cancellation at short notice, particularly if recourses are needed, so don't book anything (as I found out the hard way having to forego a trip to the Costa due to a medical recourse).
So you can go on holiday, it'll just have to be a last minute type thing.
So you can go on holiday, it'll just have to be a last minute type thing.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 244
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From: LTCC
Another college question if you don't mind,
I've printed out MATS part 1 and found a couple of previous posts that disagree in how useful learning/reading this would be for the college.
Any advice on which parts to concentrate on or any other pre learning that would be useful. I'll be a bit of an old duffer at 28 when I start and it will be the first full time education for 10 years so I could do with a decent headstart!
I've printed out MATS part 1 and found a couple of previous posts that disagree in how useful learning/reading this would be for the college.
Any advice on which parts to concentrate on or any other pre learning that would be useful. I'll be a bit of an old duffer at 28 when I start and it will be the first full time education for 10 years so I could do with a decent headstart!
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,432
Likes: 33
From: LHR/EGLL
I would hesitate to recommend attempting to understand the MATS pt1 before arriving at CATC. Personally, I'd go for some of the AFE PPL study books, on Nav, MET, R/T etc. That would give you a good aviation grounding rather than trying to decipher a document which many ATCOs have problems interpreting!
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: EGCC
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 244
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From: LTCC
Ok, whilst I underatand now that it would be arrogant to book a holiday during breaks my wife is making noises about making sure we have time off together.
From what I can gather the basic course is 3 months (12 weeks?) long and then followed by 2 weeks gap?
From what I can gather the basic course is 3 months (12 weeks?) long and then followed by 2 weeks gap?
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 530
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From: UK
With the greatest respect smellysnelly you wife will have to get used to a hell of a lot of sacrafices over the next 2 years or so between college start and validation. Life as a trainee atco isnt all I can do what I want when I (or the wife) wants. I understand where she might be coming from but there is a real expectation for trainees to work damn hard and make some choices that in the short term those outside work may not like.
Best of luck at the college
Best of luck at the college
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 197
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From: Surrey
With the greatest respect smellysnelly you wife will have to get used to a hell of a lot of sacrafices over the next 2 years or so between college start and validation. Life as a trainee atco isnt all I can do what I want when I (or the wife) wants. I understand where she might be coming from but there is a real expectation for trainees to work damn hard and make some choices that in the short term those outside work may not like.
Best of luck at the college
Best of luck at the college
Its all worth it in the long run though, and the amount of time off after validation more than makes up for it.
Stick at it and good luck.
FB
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 244
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From: LTCC
Thanks for the honest replies people. I do appreciate that sacrifices have to be made in the short term and there are some things I'l just have to suck up and get on with. Was just trying to make things easier for Mrs Smelly - already moving away from friends, leaving job etc 
Will have to think of some other ways of making her happy
Thanks again guys
Ryan
Will have to think of some other ways of making her happy
Thanks again guys
Ryan
