area or aerodrome

[Gonzo]

high hopes, not really to be honest.

As begbie says, you already have a good grounding in some of the basics that will be covered.

[katie84]

thank you

hi everyone,

thanks for all the info, it has been really helpful, i guess i will just wait and see, but after looking into a bit further, i guess area sounds the more appealing. hope to see some of you in the future!!

Thanks again

Katie

[YourFriendlyATCO!]

Katie84

Try and visit Swanwick. Cadets are always welcome, and i reckon it'll help make your mind up There's a great buzz about the place, and the job is always nice and challenging.

We usually get around 10 postings in from the college every 3 months. With new systems coming soon we will be short staffed for a long time to come, so we always get lots of new cadets posted in! Unfortunately never as many as we would like though, and, again unfortunately, there is quite a low pass rate at the college at the moment.

Good luck with the course. Hopefully train you soon!

[katie84]

hi, thanks for that friendly atco, i was wondering whether anyone could tell me what the actual pass rate at the college is? and is this due to incompetence, lack of motivation, the complexity of the course, or just generally people dropping out due to other reasons?

Thanks again

Kate

[DAL208]

hi, thanks for that friendly atco, i was wondering whether anyone could tell me what the actual pass rate at the college is? and is this due to incompetence, lack of motivation, the complexity of the course, or just generally people dropping out due to other reasons?

Thanks again

Kate

Katie, I have just graduated from the college, so perhaps a more recent perspective could be helpful.

Personally, from the first day at the college i prefered the idea of aerodrome to area, for a few reasons. Firstly, i thought it just seemed more fun to work at an airport everyday as opposed to an area centre. I'm not a plane spotter by any means, however, seeing the planes you control certainly gives you a buzz. Secondly, knowing the high failure rate at the college, and further on, at the back of my mind was the thought that if i had an aerodrome rating, or at least experience of the training, if i failed nats, the qualifications would still be applicable eleswhere in UK, which Area cannot offer, and although i wouldnt trade working for NATS for any other company, it felt a safer option!
I was fortunate enough to be picked to go on Aerodrome, and obviously i can only speak from an aerodrome perspective, but i felt it was the most...rewarding course. Although, the Aerodrome course has a lot of bookwork compared to Area (although its multi choice, unlike area ) and the practical exams are every month, as opposed to at the end of the course like in area. I preferred being tested more regularly as it kept you on your toes, and everytime you passed a set of summatives (practical exams) it gave you the confidence to do it again...in a few weeks.
So its not only the type of job in long run that you would prefer, but the type of course-neither is easier im afraid but you may prefer to be tested more regularly, and be strong on the bookwork for aerodrome as oppsed to area, which (and i could be wrong) seemed a more gradual (poor term to use, nothing is "gradual" at the college) steady course, however probably more to learn in the long term as the course is double the length.
Hope i havent got you more confused, feel free to PM me with any more questions about the college and courses.
As for why people fail? any number of reasons. One thing i will say is that the instructors notice and appreciate motivation and a good attitude not only to work, but to know where you need improvement-and act on it.
Its extremely hard work at the college, be in no doubt, my course had somewhat of a record breaking failure rate. For many i think it was just not for them, for some, they were genuinely unlucky, others just couldnt step it up that final notch perhaps. Unfortunately the course is very short for what you learn, the instructors do the best they can, they really do. If you have motivation to work your a*s off and the inclination, i promise you will do fine.
anyway, i've rattled on for long enough now, sorry.

DAL.

[mr.777]

Hi Kate,
I went through the College in 2004 (validated 2weeks ago finally!!) and things have changed a fair bit since then but to give you an idea...I was on a course of 10 (nice round numbers!):
4 got chopped. Of the remaining 6, 3 now valid at LL/SS/LC, 1 doing Approach/Tower at Cardiff, Me at TC and 1 at Swanwick just begining live training now.
This doent take into account the fact that people failed courses but passed on the 2nd attempt...but of the 10 fresh faced cadets who started,5 are now valid and one is on live training. Hope this helps.
Enjoy the college. The trick is to take it one step at time...soon enough you'll be out of there and posted to a unit for live training...when the fun really begins!!
Good luck!!

Oh and BTW...instead of Aerodrome or Area...why not Approach?! it's the mutts nuts!

[YourFriendlyATCO!]

No worries at all Kate.

I've never been sure why there is such a low pass rate. Once at a unit, the pass rate is much much better. You do have to work fairly hard at college, but it's enjoyable at the same time. The thing i found that did get some people down was that you were always told when you were doing something wrong, but never praised when you did something right!! Again, after the initial 9 months at the college, things improve drastically!

Feel free to PM if i can organise a visit for you, or be of any other help.

[Ppdude]

Mancboy- I doubt that Manchester Approach will be done from Prestwick as the Job is done by the tower guys!
Unless they fancy an hour stint in the tower, a quick brew then up to Prestwick for an hour then back again. That said they could always move the tower to Prestwick too?

As for the majority of trainess going to Swanwick. I think the trend may shift as Nats realise there are not quite the numbers going up north from Manchester as they first thought. Lets face it, even if you go to Swanwick your more than likely to move to Manchester anyway if the past couple of years are anything to go by.

[MancBoy]

PPdude, what hapened when SS approach moved to TC then?

A lot of the tower guys made the move!

If the numbers aren't going North from Manchester then where are they going?

Only one of your guys went and got the latest LAS promotion so why weren't there more applicants from Manchester?

Sorry, two of your guys, one at the college part time.

[Ppdude]

Some people are forgetting that Nats isnt the only job in the world. There are numerous people who are going to be leaving nats for other jobs. I for one am looking elsewhere. I guess ATCO isnt the job for life it used to be.

Id be quite happy to loose £20k or so in wage but stay where im settled in a much nicer area, around my family, and not having to unsettle my wife or kids.

(NB.Point taken about approach thing)

[MancBoy]

If you are going to be short for the move to Scottish then I had better start sharpening my chopping tool again then!

[Ppdude]

ahhh its the famous 'choppa manc' stalking the radar late at night.
Although I do thing Manchester will start getting more people direct from the college as we get nearer the move date to compensate for the leavers.

[MancBoy]

You'd like to think so.

I was only joking about the tool, I haven't used it for at least two years or so.

[katie84]

Hi everyone, thanks so much for your help, it has all been extremely invaluable! i will bear it all in mind at the college.

Cheers

Katie