ATCO training - time and cost

[Radarspod]

I have a friend who is showing an interest in joining NATS as an ATCO, but as he has a young family, he is worried about the drop in salary. I've tried to answer his questions so he can assess weather he can afford it, but got a bit stuck as the NATS ATCO pay scales are very confusing.
Could someone provide an example of how long training takes to point of validation, how what the pay is during that time, and what would be salary approx at point of validation? PM or reply, don't mind......
Radarspod
(who finds ATCE scales much easier to understand! )

oh, and before anyone says "its an investment" - I know, he knows,.....but sometimes the here and now forces the issue.

[Gonzo]

I don't have a copy of the pay scales to hand, so take the later figures with a pinch of salt, as it's all from memory....

College (min 6 months if straight through Basic/Aerodrome or Basic/Approach, 9 months if Basic/Area. More if recoursed) 10k p.a.

Training to validation at unit 17k or 18k depending on unit banding. (now here's the difficult bit....this could be less than six months at London City - I believe a recent validation there was 11 months from college start to valid - or what, two years at an area unit if the dates for SVCs don't line up well)

On validation 28k-36k (depends on banding) plus ASAP, London weighting etc.

Then is it 2 years after date of graduation, on to the ATCO scale....?

Please someone put me right if I'm mistaken. I seem to remember also something about being at a unit for three years as significant too.....

[Scuzi]

Then is it 2 years after date of graduation, on to the ATCO scale....?

I believe it used to be that way but the move onto the ATCO scale is now on the 3rd anniversary of starting with the company.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

And even if he gets as far as training on a unit he won't know if he's going to make it until the llth hour, no matter how good he is at the college.. That's the way it goes in ATC.

[Gonzo]

Scuzi,

Ah, yes, that's where I was getting that 3 years from. Cheers...

[Defruiter]

Band 5 (Heathrow, LACC, LTCC):
TP1 (Straight from college)- £18K
TP2 (2 years with the company) - £19K
1st Validation - £30,604

Band 4 (Gatwick, Manchester, ScOACC):
TP1 (Straight from college) - £16.5K
TP2 (2 years with the company) - £17.5K
1st Validation - £29,439

Band 3 (Stansted, Birmingham):
TP1 (Straight from college) - £15K
TP2 (2 years with the company) - £16K
1st Validation - £28,935

Band 2 (Belfast, Cardiff, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen):
TP1 (Straight from college) - £15K
TP2 (2 years with the company) - £16K
1st Validation - £27,945

Band 1 (Farnborough, Luton, Southampton, London City):
TP1 (Straight from college) - £15K
TP2 (2 years with the company) - £16K
1st Validation - £27,495

I am not sure if you jump from TP1 to Validation wage if you validate before you have been with the company for 2 years - I am sure someone will know though.

Then after 3 years with the company, you move onto the ATCO scales.

Band 5 starts at £43,720
Band 4 - £42,055
Band 3 - £41,337
Band 2 - £39,922
Band 1 - £39,228

[Speedbird1T]

Defruiter

Thanks for the run down of the pay scales, very useful info. Do the scales include the shift allowance etc? If not, what percentage does one add on to give the bands 1 to 5 total figures?

BAW1T

[high-hopes]

Defruiter

is the London weighing added to your figures ?

Being on 27.9k up North and then 30.6k at Heathrow is the difference between living in a 3 bedroom house in Glasgow and sharing a flat with 7 east europeans in London !

[Radarspod]

Thank you all - have the info I needed and have passed on.

If only I'd failed my engineering degree, I'd be an ATCO too........

[Defruiter]

AFAIK, thats the base rate - All the other stuff is added on top of that

[G-OFUK]

AFAIK, thats the base rate - All the other stuff is added on top of that

The depressing thing for trainees under the new scheme is that they do not qualify for shift allowance (around 5k).

Shift allowance would only be payable after validation, irrespective of time served with the company.

[Defruiter]

Yeah - I found that bombshell out last month, after being told I would be getting it

[Dannyboyblue]

Stupid question, if you have been in the company as an atsa for 3 years do you go onto the higher rate straight away if its above you current salary?

DBB

[Defruiter]

Good question - I am not sure. I know that while you are training though, you wont drop to the 10K wage - You remain on your ATSA salary...

I'm sure someone will know the answer to your question. If not, I can try find out

[Dannyboyblue]

No need to put effort into it just curious more than anything, thanks anyway.

DBB