Namibia ATC
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 24
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From: namibia
Post 11 makes it sound flattering in fact. What was not mentioned was that only 10 of these posts exist througout the whole country. Promotion into this post is only when one becomes vacant.
The rest of the controllers with 3 ratings (aerodrome, approach and area) and around 10 years as ATC take home around 10k. If you work every weekend (which is expected of you) then you can add another 4 to 5k to that deal. So in total you'll be taking home around 15k, including everything.
Expenses: average 3 bedroom house around 850k = 10k p/month
average 5year old second hand car approx 80k = 2k p/month
insurance on above = approx 1500 p/month
Now you have about 1500 left to live on. So forget about being the sole provider for a family here. Without a second income life is really impossible. Thats why the majority of ATC's are involved in extra activities to provide extra income. From offering radio lectures to renovating houses to taxi businesses to dealing in airconditioners, you name it. This has in a recent safety audit been identified to be a huge safety risk as it exhausts staff members and devides their attention.
And dont forget, you work 6 days a week, every weekend! If you dare to take a weekend off, you lose income.
I agree that there are probably places worse off than here. But nothing is being done to improve the situation. The attitude is simply, either fit in or f..k off. And thats very sad cause nobody really wants to leave, our lives are here, our families are here. We are forced...
The rest of the controllers with 3 ratings (aerodrome, approach and area) and around 10 years as ATC take home around 10k. If you work every weekend (which is expected of you) then you can add another 4 to 5k to that deal. So in total you'll be taking home around 15k, including everything.
Expenses: average 3 bedroom house around 850k = 10k p/month
average 5year old second hand car approx 80k = 2k p/month
insurance on above = approx 1500 p/month
Now you have about 1500 left to live on. So forget about being the sole provider for a family here. Without a second income life is really impossible. Thats why the majority of ATC's are involved in extra activities to provide extra income. From offering radio lectures to renovating houses to taxi businesses to dealing in airconditioners, you name it. This has in a recent safety audit been identified to be a huge safety risk as it exhausts staff members and devides their attention.
And dont forget, you work 6 days a week, every weekend! If you dare to take a weekend off, you lose income.
I agree that there are probably places worse off than here. But nothing is being done to improve the situation. The attitude is simply, either fit in or f..k off. And thats very sad cause nobody really wants to leave, our lives are here, our families are here. We are forced...
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 272
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From: MRats
WC (meaning toilet in German). I can help you out of your misery. Pack up your stuff and act like a highway (fork off). That's your democratic righ. You are part of the problem and not part of the solution. Why didn't you leave when the other guys left some years back when the pay and benefit were even worse than now?
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 24
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From: namibia
Voel. (isn't that afrikaans "slang" for dick?)
U mean why didnt I leave at the time when you were negotiating for a job at the DFS? But they didnt offer you enough money?
Just asking...
PS: What on earth gives you the impression that I didnt leave? hmmmm?
U mean why didnt I leave at the time when you were negotiating for a job at the DFS? But they didnt offer you enough money?
Just asking...
PS: What on earth gives you the impression that I didnt leave? hmmmm?
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 47
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From: Sylt, Germany
Hi worn chair. If you left the circus, what are you whining about? Hope you not that chair that the big man atc used to sit on at the coast. I left the sinking ship many years back, but I guess its still floating. May be not for long, but that's what I thought many moons ago as well.
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 13
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From: Somewhere
so voel are the controllers that are leaving part of the problem or ones that are staying behind part the solution? from reading the thread i thought the problem was that the controllers aren't earning enough to live off (surviving is not enough) and still working damn hard to keep the DCA functioning. I know for a fact that the ATC's (when DCA's employees aren't in the office the fone gets diverted to the towers) they always answer the phone, some will help others will just brush you off and tell you to phone another day. I hope for aviations sake up in Nam that safety is never compremised. Quality staff will always out perform Quantity.
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 272
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From: MRats
Those who ATCs who left saw the circus as a problem. Those who stayed behind, saw the circus as a challenge. What the disgruntled ATCs fail to recognise is, that Government already increased their salaries w.e.f 01 April 2007. Some of them earn 30% and more. In addition they now getting car -, instructors and station allowance (although not all of them, but those in supervisory level).
A new ACC has been build and equipped. So poor radio equipment is no excuse. Tender for the supply of radar will close on the 05th Jan 2008. What more do they want besides better salary. There is noways we can beat ATNS of Serco salaries. Our industry is to small. We can milk them, but who's going to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
A new ACC has been build and equipped. So poor radio equipment is no excuse. Tender for the supply of radar will close on the 05th Jan 2008. What more do they want besides better salary. There is noways we can beat ATNS of Serco salaries. Our industry is to small. We can milk them, but who's going to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 975
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From: The frequency jungle
Heard from a reliable source that its a lot more than money thats the problem in Nam. Also heard that 2 ATCOs have just passed their assessments with ATNS and are now ready to sign the contracts.
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 47
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From: Sylt, Germany
I guess politics and affirmative action plays a role as well. But eish, I miss the sun, the biltong and the braai. Here I'm just a plug-in/plug-out ATC. My contribution to aviation is only limited to controlling. The chances of getting higher than ATC is rather limited.
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 19
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From: namibia
Congrats
Voel:
The new salaries have not materialized in total. There are prommisses and more prommisses: NO RESULTS! Will the personal section (Tji) have any "promotional letters" available in the next 7 months?
As Voel stated "the new ACC has been build and equipped. So poor radio equipment is no excuse".
That is not main reason these people are leaving.
ATCs are promoted in FYWB or FYKM to PATCO posts and salaries. The adverts in the newspapers stated clearly that these posts are in WH.
One ATC was in EGLL (to FAIL a DEGREE) for over a year on PATCO salary while still on probation???? He is back in WH for over a year now receiving the PATCO salary, with only ACC on his license. (APP training in progress)
(In WH you must have TWR, APP, ACC 5 years to become a PATCO)
This is super fair towards the rest.....
Voel
"Tender for the supply of radar will close on the 05th Jan 2008. What more do they want besides better salary."
Do you only work for monie?
Maybee some want to work and supply the service the companies pay for?
Once you have understood that give me a PM.
It is embarrasing to hear what some of these Controllers call SERVICE Congrats to the guys that have and will leave....:
The new salaries have not materialized in total. There are prommisses and more prommisses: NO RESULTS! Will the personal section (Tji) have any "promotional letters" available in the next 7 months?
As Voel stated "the new ACC has been build and equipped. So poor radio equipment is no excuse".
That is not main reason these people are leaving.
ATCs are promoted in FYWB or FYKM to PATCO posts and salaries. The adverts in the newspapers stated clearly that these posts are in WH.
One ATC was in EGLL (to FAIL a DEGREE) for over a year on PATCO salary while still on probation???? He is back in WH for over a year now receiving the PATCO salary, with only ACC on his license. (APP training in progress)
(In WH you must have TWR, APP, ACC 5 years to become a PATCO)
This is super fair towards the rest.....
Voel "Tender for the supply of radar will close on the 05th Jan 2008. What more do they want besides better salary."
Do you only work for monie?
Maybee some want to work and supply the service the companies pay for?
Once you have understood that give me a PM.
It is embarrasing to hear what some of these Controllers call SERVICE Congrats to the guys that have and will leave....:
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9
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From: space
observed
dear voel....
don't you work in the same place??? or have you being daydreaming for the last couple of years.... by reading this forum it looks like managment is not sitting in the same boat as the workers... while the workers are going down you are enjoying a luxury cruise... just remember even the mighty titanic hit an iceberg and went down in quite a fashion....
while managment spends all money for themselves the workers don,t even get the crumbs.. like rawitact said the rats are leaving the sinking ship...
don't you work in the same place??? or have you being daydreaming for the last couple of years.... by reading this forum it looks like managment is not sitting in the same boat as the workers... while the workers are going down you are enjoying a luxury cruise... just remember even the mighty titanic hit an iceberg and went down in quite a fashion....
while managment spends all money for themselves the workers don,t even get the crumbs.. like rawitact said the rats are leaving the sinking ship...
Confusion
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 272
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From: MRats
Sputnik, I don't work here, I'm only present. Yes, I am on a luxury cruise, but with a life vest on. What is your definition of a worker? Do you classify ATC's as workers? They are professionals. By the way, the ATC's in supervisory level earn more money that anybody in DCA management.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8
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From: some where in africa
Let me have a go at this
So ATC'S are leaving because of money. Is that right.
That might be a third of the truth. They are Gatfollllll of the sh...t in this country.
First of all there are ATCO's that have no medical certificate and still work.
The second fact is that ATCO's have been working with no endorsement ( nor a certificate of competency) on their license for a few days. That is a FACT. Anybody can follow it up, even the president of the union. (Voel what do you say about that.... let me guesssss EISH)
The third thing I would like to say, for the people that want to go! MOVE now you are worse than a rottttten apple in the system.(You don't help any thing any-way. You are so N.A.F.Y. { for those that don't know the term[ No Ambition Fu...kall Interest]}!
The fourth thing is that there is no just-culture. The stupidity and/or incompetence is blamed on racism, feminism or any thing else.
There are ATCO,s in the system that fail subjects, courses and check-outs. and still hold a license
( FACT)
And nobody must say anything
So ATC'S are leaving because of money. Is that right.
That might be a third of the truth. They are Gatfollllll of the sh...t in this country.
First of all there are ATCO's that have no medical certificate and still work.
The second fact is that ATCO's have been working with no endorsement ( nor a certificate of competency) on their license for a few days. That is a FACT. Anybody can follow it up, even the president of the union. (Voel what do you say about that.... let me guesssss EISH)
The third thing I would like to say, for the people that want to go! MOVE now you are worse than a rottttten apple in the system.(You don't help any thing any-way. You are so N.A.F.Y. { for those that don't know the term[ No Ambition Fu...kall Interest]}!
The fourth thing is that there is no just-culture. The stupidity and/or incompetence is blamed on racism, feminism or any thing else.
There are ATCO,s in the system that fail subjects, courses and check-outs.
and still hold a license( FACT)And nobody must say anything
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 13
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From: Somewhere
Seems to me that there are few people who have to let off some steam!
Working for a government or parastatal is never easy but i don't really think that people truely understand the role that ATC's play in the day to day role of aviation, especially in the safety arena!!!!! and how important they are (even to us pilots although we won't admit it out loud) but they have a job for a reason with great responsibility!!!
If this thread helps get a cross the message to someone with power, about the plight of Controllers in Namibia then i think that something has been achieved. (just like a few years ago when there was an expose on Carte Blanche about ATNS. The information had to be made public to improve the system)
Working for a government or parastatal is never easy but i don't really think that people truely understand the role that ATC's play in the day to day role of aviation, especially in the safety arena!!!!! and how important they are (even to us pilots although we won't admit it out loud) but they have a job for a reason with great responsibility!!!
If this thread helps get a cross the message to someone with power, about the plight of Controllers in Namibia then i think that something has been achieved. (just like a few years ago when there was an expose on Carte Blanche about ATNS. The information had to be made public to improve the system)
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 272
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From: MRats
Hey B747, it least we get some recognition for what we do. Thanks a lot. I noticed on this or any other forum, that no ATC union or association mentioned anything about "The day of the controller" on the 20 Oct or did I miss something. I hear via grape vines that DCA management is going to higher authorities to inform them of the current state of affairs. Some heads might role (people hear, please note, they don't say)