NATS interview process
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UK wise I’m looking at potentially looking at a career in ATC. I currently work as a signaller on the railway
I’ve seen some of my colleagues come from the other way but not heard of a signaller becoming an ATC. Does anyone have any colleagues or know anyone who has done this?
I’ve seen some of my colleagues come from the other way but not heard of a signaller becoming an ATC. Does anyone have any colleagues or know anyone who has done this?
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That’s the point that’s being made though.. you shouldn’t have had to seek other employment just to get by. The salary should be enough but the majority need to make huge sacrifices. Many take a salary cut and knowing that they can be posted anywhere, like yourself, end up with double accommodation payments. NATS know this fine well but still pay the minimum they can get away with.
Now if the timescales quoted during recruitment were accurate then that’s not so bad but we were seeing more and more trainees needing hold for months between basic + acs or adi + aps. This is through no fault of their own but throws any budget calculations right up in the air. You can only hope that NATS will take a more logical approach with training post covid rather than just cram in as many courses as possible.
Granted the salary is just for training but it’s training to become an ATCO, not a burger builder at McDonalds. Admittedly covid has muddied the waters a bit financially but this has been an issue long before that. It wasn’t long ago the salary was 12k and it’s not like the company could plead poverty.
Let’s use 140 TATCs as an example given we know that’s roughly how many there were when the pandemic hit. To double their salary would cost the company in the region of £2.4million. Then there’s pension and NI contributions too so say £3mil per year. In the 18/19 and 19/20 financial years the company paid out a total of £118million in dividends to shareholders.
Trying to justify a poor training salary as being acceptable just because the alternative is worse doesn’t float either. Attempted murder isn’t acceptable just because the alternative could have been murder.
You’re right, not many will have regretted it but I’m sure many will have had doubts mid way though when the purse strings need to tighten. I’m even more sure that a huge number of potentially top class controllers will have decided against applying purely because of the salary which given the amount of talent NATS is going to lose in the next few years is really quite disappointing.
Now if the timescales quoted during recruitment were accurate then that’s not so bad but we were seeing more and more trainees needing hold for months between basic + acs or adi + aps. This is through no fault of their own but throws any budget calculations right up in the air. You can only hope that NATS will take a more logical approach with training post covid rather than just cram in as many courses as possible.
Granted the salary is just for training but it’s training to become an ATCO, not a burger builder at McDonalds. Admittedly covid has muddied the waters a bit financially but this has been an issue long before that. It wasn’t long ago the salary was 12k and it’s not like the company could plead poverty.
Let’s use 140 TATCs as an example given we know that’s roughly how many there were when the pandemic hit. To double their salary would cost the company in the region of £2.4million. Then there’s pension and NI contributions too so say £3mil per year. In the 18/19 and 19/20 financial years the company paid out a total of £118million in dividends to shareholders.
Trying to justify a poor training salary as being acceptable just because the alternative is worse doesn’t float either. Attempted murder isn’t acceptable just because the alternative could have been murder.
You’re right, not many will have regretted it but I’m sure many will have had doubts mid way though when the purse strings need to tighten. I’m even more sure that a huge number of potentially top class controllers will have decided against applying purely because of the salary which given the amount of talent NATS is going to lose in the next few years is really quite disappointing.
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Originally Posted by essexFC
UK wise I’m looking at potentially looking at a career in ATC. I currently work as a signaller on the railway
I’ve seen some of my colleagues come from the other way but not heard of a signaller becoming an ATC. Does anyone have any colleagues or know anyone who has done this?
I’ve seen some of my colleagues come from the other way but not heard of a signaller becoming an ATC. Does anyone have any colleagues or know anyone who has done this?
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Originally Posted by sayitasitis
That’s the point that’s being made though.. you shouldn’t have had to seek other employment just to get by. The salary should be enough but the majority need to make huge sacrifices. Many take a salary cut and knowing that they can be posted anywhere, like yourself, end up with double accommodation payments. NATS know this fine well but still pay the minimum they can get away with.
Now if the timescales quoted during recruitment were accurate then that’s not so bad but we were seeing more and more trainees needing hold for months between basic + acs or adi + aps. This is through no fault of their own but throws any budget calculations right up in the air. You can only hope that NATS will take a more logical approach with training post covid rather than just cram in as many courses as possible.
Granted the salary is just for training but it’s training to become an ATCO, not a burger builder at McDonalds. Admittedly covid has muddied the waters a bit financially but this has been an issue long before that. It wasn’t long ago the salary was 12k and it’s not like the company could plead poverty.
Let’s use 140 TATCs as an example given we know that’s roughly how many there were when the pandemic hit. To double their salary would cost the company in the region of £2.4million. Then there’s pension and NI contributions too so say £3mil per year. In the 18/19 and 19/20 financial years the company paid out a total of £118million in dividends to shareholders.
Trying to justify a poor training salary as being acceptable just because the alternative is worse doesn’t float either. Attempted murder isn’t acceptable just because the alternative could have been murder.
You’re right, not many will have regretted it but I’m sure many will have had doubts mid way though when the purse strings need to tighten. I’m even more sure that a huge number of potentially top class controllers will have decided against applying purely because of the salary which given the amount of talent NATS is going to lose in the next few years is really quite disappointing.
Now if the timescales quoted during recruitment were accurate then that’s not so bad but we were seeing more and more trainees needing hold for months between basic + acs or adi + aps. This is through no fault of their own but throws any budget calculations right up in the air. You can only hope that NATS will take a more logical approach with training post covid rather than just cram in as many courses as possible.
Granted the salary is just for training but it’s training to become an ATCO, not a burger builder at McDonalds. Admittedly covid has muddied the waters a bit financially but this has been an issue long before that. It wasn’t long ago the salary was 12k and it’s not like the company could plead poverty.
Let’s use 140 TATCs as an example given we know that’s roughly how many there were when the pandemic hit. To double their salary would cost the company in the region of £2.4million. Then there’s pension and NI contributions too so say £3mil per year. In the 18/19 and 19/20 financial years the company paid out a total of £118million in dividends to shareholders.
Trying to justify a poor training salary as being acceptable just because the alternative is worse doesn’t float either. Attempted murder isn’t acceptable just because the alternative could have been murder.
You’re right, not many will have regretted it but I’m sure many will have had doubts mid way though when the purse strings need to tighten. I’m even more sure that a huge number of potentially top class controllers will have decided against applying purely because of the salary which given the amount of talent NATS is going to lose in the next few years is really quite disappointing.
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Whilst this thread has gained a bit of activity in recent days/weeks... has anyone got any further insight as to where NATS are with re-inviting courses back to CTC? I believe one Cohort went back in February time, however have there been any more cohorts following ?
Thanks
Thanks
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Originally Posted by sayitasitis
Also can't believe the comments regarding pay.
As stated above, the salary does go up a bit at unit. You'll be looking at £31k at the top bands after shift pay is included. That's currently as good as it gets for the 1-3 years it takes to get on-the-job training started and validate.
Rant over.. to summarise.. wind your neck in
As stated above, the salary does go up a bit at unit. You'll be looking at £31k at the top bands after shift pay is included. That's currently as good as it gets for the 1-3 years it takes to get on-the-job training started and validate.
Rant over.. to summarise.. wind your neck in
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Originally Posted by bongomark
Can anyone give an idea of the likely progression in terms of salary after the 1-3 years on the job training/validation?
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Ab initio recruitment has started back up as it appears management is finally realising retirements don't stop because of covid. Best of luck all, despite all the issues it's still a great career and will set you up for life.
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Hi AustralianSam,
Could you possibly expand more on your recent post? I.e what you have heard, sources etc?
All things R.E NATS have gone quiet for a number of months now. I’m hopefully for some positive news in the not too distant future.
Regards,
Niall
Could you possibly expand more on your recent post? I.e what you have heard, sources etc?
All things R.E NATS have gone quiet for a number of months now. I’m hopefully for some positive news in the not too distant future.
Regards,
Niall
Originally Posted by AustralianSam
Ab initio recruitment has started back up as it appears management is finally realising retirements don't stop because of covid. Best of luck all, despite all the issues it's still a great career and will set you up for life.
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Originally Posted by NiallC98
Hi AustralianSam,
Could you possibly expand more on your recent post? I.e what you have heard, sources etc?
All things R.E NATS have gone quiet for a number of months now. I’m hopefully for some positive news in the not too distant future.
Regards,
Niall
Could you possibly expand more on your recent post? I.e what you have heard, sources etc?
All things R.E NATS have gone quiet for a number of months now. I’m hopefully for some positive news in the not too distant future.
Regards,
Niall
I can't post URLs unfortunately, but theyre easy enough to find on the NATS website.
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Originally Posted by AustralianSam
The application websie is back up for new TATCs, and they're also recruiting for experienced controllers for all NSL airports per LinkedIn and the job vacancies page. Obviously can't share anything internal, sorry if that's what you're fishing for 😂
I can't post URLs unfortunately, but theyre easy enough to find on the NATS website.
I can't post URLs unfortunately, but theyre easy enough to find on the NATS website.
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Originally Posted by Ft1989
When I go to the application page for TATCs it says 'Application window currently closed".
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It's still a positive sign that recruitment is starting up again. Hopefully it will filter through to trainee's soon 
Have the trainees that were let go during Covid all now restarted training? There was a plan to restart them in 3x cohorts throughout this year?
Have the trainees that were let go during Covid all now restarted training? There was a plan to restart them in 3x cohorts throughout this year?
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Originally Posted by ManUtd1999
It's still a positive sign that recruitment is starting up again. Hopefully it will filter through to trainee's soon
Have the trainees that were let go during Covid all now restarted training? There was a plan to restart them in 3x cohorts throughout this year?
Have the trainees that were let go during Covid all now restarted training? There was a plan to restart them in 3x cohorts throughout this year?
But there are definitely trainees back as we speak. How many, i don't know.
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Little snippet of info from the NATS instagram today:
"we do not have a date for when we will be recruiting controllers again. It will most likely be 2023 at the very earliest."
A somewhat negative outlook
"we do not have a date for when we will be recruiting controllers again. It will most likely be 2023 at the very earliest."
A somewhat negative outlook
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Hello all - long time reader first time poster.
I was offered a role on the Trainee Air Traffic Controller back in early March 2020 - obviously we all know what happened next.
Are many of you in the same situation as me? Last I heard from NATS was back in September when they emailed to say they 'are now beginning to plan when we may be able to begin returning those that are waiting to join, on a phased basis.'
If any of you are in the same situation, have you been offered training dates yet? or do you know of anyone who has?
Cheers
John
I was offered a role on the Trainee Air Traffic Controller back in early March 2020 - obviously we all know what happened next.
Are many of you in the same situation as me? Last I heard from NATS was back in September when they emailed to say they 'are now beginning to plan when we may be able to begin returning those that are waiting to join, on a phased basis.'
If any of you are in the same situation, have you been offered training dates yet? or do you know of anyone who has?
Cheers
John
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Originally Posted by JohnLi
If any of you are in the same situation, have you been offered training dates yet? or do you know of anyone who has?
Hi John,
I am also in the same position. Last email in September and I was initially offered the position in March 2020.
The only person I have heard of returning is somebody who was cut after they had commenced training, they have just been invited back to start in January.
Fingers crossed we all here something soon. I am hoping this side of Christmas but who knows.
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I'm still waiting to apply for ATC, I got an amazing opportunity in airside operations at my local airport now so I'm going to wait a few years to get experience and let the inevitable backlog of applicants calm (and to save up to cover the year of low-ish pay 
)
)
