Airservices Australia Psychometric Testing
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In terms of ex-trainees being employed as blippies, I thought that the now departed ex bank manager decreed that no failed trainees were to be employed as blippies?
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SSO
I had my rejection email for SSO all along.. I guess they send them in batches and it ended up in my junk mail. Heads up I guess, check your junk mail for communications from ASA.. 
Happy holidays to everyone and good luck!
Happy holidays to everyone and good luck!
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Kiwi chick posted: To the best of my knowledge, when we finish this module in a couple of weeks we will be rated as (equivalent) Flight Data/Flight Information officers and could technically go out and work in Class G airspace (as you said - asking the pilot instead of telling him).
This shows that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. A rating is something you get when you finish field training and you receive your first endorsement. E.g you may have an tower rating but only hold an SMC endorsement. When you leave the academy, you can't "technically go out and work" as anything until you do further training to obtain the endorsement.
In Australia we don't have Flight Data/Flight Information officers. We have Flight Data Coordinators and Air Taffic Controllers. Two very different jobs.
As for SSOs versus ATC selection criteria mentioned by others. Again, two different disciplines. An ATC trainee's exposure to the role of SSO is so limited that the comments in this forum reflect badly on the posters.
This shows that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. A rating is something you get when you finish field training and you receive your first endorsement. E.g you may have an tower rating but only hold an SMC endorsement. When you leave the academy, you can't "technically go out and work" as anything until you do further training to obtain the endorsement.
In Australia we don't have Flight Data/Flight Information officers. We have Flight Data Coordinators and Air Taffic Controllers. Two very different jobs.
As for SSOs versus ATC selection criteria mentioned by others. Again, two different disciplines. An ATC trainee's exposure to the role of SSO is so limited that the comments in this forum reflect badly on the posters.
Kiwi chick. When you finish your DTI course you won't be rated as anything. Don't make the mistake of thinking once you've made it to field training (assuming you do) that you'll have learned all you need to know. I'm not trying to be rude, just a quick reality check :-)
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I'll also add that it's wrong to assume that HR get it 50% wrong in selection based on the assumption that 50% of trainees fail. Trainees who are selected are simply 'suitable for training', not guaranteed potential rated controllers. Given the very small percentage of the general population that have the spatial reasoning, problem solving and processing speed skills required to make a successful ATC, the fact that HR can give us 5 ATC's for every 10 trainees that start (on the 50% assumption) is a pretty good strike rate tbh.
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Yeah, not too sure about the 50% hit rate people are saying is about right but even if it is, there are no tests other than passing the course that HR can give you. All HR are there to do are to test the wider population and fill courses with people who have a good chance of passing. I couldnt tell you after a 30 minute interview your chances of passing ATC course, because I cant test your skills that you will use in air traffic control in an interview, the only way to do that is...you guessed it, try air traffic control.
Anyway, the selection process for RAAF Pilot training is far more arduous and even that has something like an 80% attrition rate, it has such a high attrition rate because the job is hard, like ATC.
Something that you also cant test before training is how you deal with stress. A lot of people say to me when I tell them that I am an air traffic controller "I have heard that is a stressful job" so much that I am sick of it, but I had a think about it...acute stress (stress at the console) is something that people can either deal with well, or they do not. they either make clutch decisions under pressure or they do not, this can be assessed under simulation. What cannot; is dealing with the other stress ATC's deal with; that lingering stress that is there before you start work, and stays there somewhat after work. It is this stress that in my experience that destroys ATC careers, not being able to continue to deal with this stress that ends up getting the best of people. There are no tests for it, it just comes down to the person, some people might start experiencing this type of stress whilst still under training (at the academy) but find under field training, the accumulation of these stresses is too hard to deal with. Once again, this cannot be tested for, quite simply the road needs to be walked by the individual, and HR cannot be held accountable for these particular failures
Anyway, the selection process for RAAF Pilot training is far more arduous and even that has something like an 80% attrition rate, it has such a high attrition rate because the job is hard, like ATC.
Something that you also cant test before training is how you deal with stress. A lot of people say to me when I tell them that I am an air traffic controller "I have heard that is a stressful job" so much that I am sick of it, but I had a think about it...acute stress (stress at the console) is something that people can either deal with well, or they do not. they either make clutch decisions under pressure or they do not, this can be assessed under simulation. What cannot; is dealing with the other stress ATC's deal with; that lingering stress that is there before you start work, and stays there somewhat after work. It is this stress that in my experience that destroys ATC careers, not being able to continue to deal with this stress that ends up getting the best of people. There are no tests for it, it just comes down to the person, some people might start experiencing this type of stress whilst still under training (at the academy) but find under field training, the accumulation of these stresses is too hard to deal with. Once again, this cannot be tested for, quite simply the road needs to be walked by the individual, and HR cannot be held accountable for these particular failures
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As for SSOs versus ATC selection criteria mentioned by others. Again, two different disciplines. An ATC trainee's exposure to the role of SSO is so limited that the comments in this forum reflect badly on the posters.
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Steve, it was craigieburn.
craigieburn
Join Date: Jun 2011
Seriously, how can they tell you that you don't fit the selection criteria to be a blippie, yet you fitted the selection criteria to be trained as an ATC?
One of the 2 criteria is clearly wrong.
craigieburn
Join Date: Jun 2011
Seriously, how can they tell you that you don't fit the selection criteria to be a blippie, yet you fitted the selection criteria to be trained as an ATC?
One of the 2 criteria is clearly wrong.
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Canadiangal75, yes you are dead right – I am an air traffic control trainee.
I’ve not once pretended or professed to be anything more, anything less. My advice to you was as a) a successful applicant and b) an employee with some limited experience of the SSO job.
I even made a point of stating
I’m unsure where your hostility has come from, there was nothing directed as rude or disrespectful in any of my comments. Not once did I see you mention that you trained for a year in your previous job, and irrespective of that it doesn’t change the fact that we are doing similar things in our current stage of training.
(You stated
and
so to show some respect and confirm my thoughts before commenting further, I looked it up. This was the result:
Fuji says
which was why I was very careful to state
referring to the service we are being taught to provide in a faux G Class airspace only.
I did not pluck this from my backside 
and I am under no illusions that I'm not even a quarter of the way through my college training. We were told by an instructor that "technically" at the end of DTI course we could be rated to work a Class G sector - if such a puppy existed.
(1Charlie, I didn't think you were being rude, and I thank you for "checking"
)
I couldn't agree more with Le pingouin comment
as I myself would not for one minute be happy being set loose on a Class G sector - and have said as much to my instructors.
And despite the possible mis-interpretation of my comment
I most certainly do not think that I will come out of college – if I indeed make it all the way through course – thinking that I know everything there is to know.
I have never, and hope to never be, that arrogant.
Having spent four hours a days, five days a week, for the last six weeks, working with SSO's (Blippies), (which I equate to around 120 hours) - and half of that time actually blipping - I made the executive decidion that it might just be OK to give my opinion of their role. After all, I got my PPL licence with less hours
Finally, canadiangal75 - I know myself I would be much more disheartened missing out on a job that I was already experienced in, than I would be missing out on a job that was beyond my current skill and experience level.
My advice to you was offered as a genuine attempt in pointing out that to the best of my knowledge there is a fair difference in what you used to do as an FIS officer and what you would have been (or hopefully will be) doing as an Air Traffic Controller.
The intent and history of this thread has been dedicted to current and past applicants and trainees offering advice and information about the application process and initial training at the college.
That's what I am.
A trainee.
I understand the work ahead of me, I know the work I've done behind me, and I now have a tiny smidgeon of an idea of the career that will hopefully be on offer to me.
These are my posts and these are my opinions. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Kiwi Chick
I’ve not once pretended or professed to be anything more, anything less. My advice to you was as a) a successful applicant and b) an employee with some limited experience of the SSO job.
I even made a point of stating
“and I don't for one moment profess to be an expert”
(You stated
“do a job that is quite similar in Canada... air traffic services, flight service”
“I'm not sure you know what a flight service specialist actually does in Canada...”
- Provide pre-flight weather briefings after interpreting charts, reports and satellite imagery.
- Assist with flight plan filing.
- Provide information to help pilots to safely land and take-off from uncontrolled airports.
- Stay in contact with pilots during their flights.
- Communicate safety updates.
- Provide hourly weather reports to Environment Canada forecasters for their predictions.
- Trigger search and rescue activities for missing or overdue aircraft.)
Fuji says
“In Australia we don't have Flight Data/Flight Information officers”
“(equivalent) Flight Data/Flight Information”
"This shows that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. A rating is something you get when you finish field training"
When you finish your DTI course you won't be rated as anything
and I am under no illusions that I'm not even a quarter of the way through my college training. We were told by an instructor that "technically" at the end of DTI course we could be rated to work a Class G sector - if such a puppy existed. (1Charlie, I didn't think you were being rude, and I thank you for "checking"
)I couldn't agree more with Le pingouin comment
“I suspect the Class G part leaves the trainees rather "underdone" “
And despite the possible mis-interpretation of my comment
“Once we get rated to do that, we still have another nine months of training to be controllers”
I have never, and hope to never be, that arrogant.
Having spent four hours a days, five days a week, for the last six weeks, working with SSO's (Blippies), (which I equate to around 120 hours) - and half of that time actually blipping - I made the executive decidion that it might just be OK to give my opinion of their role. After all, I got my PPL licence with less hours
Just remember, just because you made it to the academy, does not guarantee a licence. So understand a lot of hard work is required.
My advice to you was offered as a genuine attempt in pointing out that to the best of my knowledge there is a fair difference in what you used to do as an FIS officer and what you would have been (or hopefully will be) doing as an Air Traffic Controller.
The intent and history of this thread has been dedicted to current and past applicants and trainees offering advice and information about the application process and initial training at the college.
That's what I am.
A trainee.
I understand the work ahead of me, I know the work I've done behind me, and I now have a tiny smidgeon of an idea of the career that will hopefully be on offer to me.
These are my posts and these are my opinions. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Kiwi Chick
season's greeting
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Santa has to do an IFR renewal prior to his annual present run. He had done the preflight, checked all the reindeer and sleigh and waited for the testing officer to arrive. Upon arrival Santa noticed that the testing officer had his usual kit ... Headphones, clipboard, paperwork etc. There was one extra piece of kit that Santa spotted . . . it was a shotgun. Rather alarmed Santa asked what the shotgun was for . . . . ''This is for our engine out procedure''' replied the testing officer.
An oldie but a goodie
Happy Xmas to all and may next year be kinder to us all.
An oldie but a goodie
Happy Xmas to all and may next year be kinder to us all.
When you finish your DTI course you won't be rated as anything. Don't make the mistake of thinking once you've made it to field training (assuming you do) that you'll have learned all you need to know. I'm not trying to be rude, just a quick reality check :-)
I actually remember someone saying to me at the academy that after DTI you'd 'technically' be able to operate a class G only sector.. it's bollocks. In the DTI module you basically learn how to assess and pass traffic, have a token effort at providing FIS, and learn enough to pass the DTI exam. You'll learn plenty more in the HMI conversion course (where you can actually interact with flight plans) and then you'll get a shock to the system when you hit live class E/G traffic and you have to deal with airworkers, trainee pilots, random conversations and non scripted requests!
Looking back at it all now it's like the Academy was a 12 month testing process, with bits and pieces of valuable learning. You'll learn the background info, a few techniques, sep standards, and how to apply them which you'll use for the rest of your career... but other than that I think it's all about showing that you're a suitable candidate for field training. Passing your last check and getting out of the academy is an achievement, and as a result I think those who do get given plenty of opportunity to rate in the field, but don't think it's the last hurdle, because it's only the beginning.
Merry Xmas to all applicants and trainees in this thread.. enjoy your break while the rest of us are plugging away at the console
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How funny is this entire thread?
It sure is.. Forums can be quite entertaining...
It sure is.. Forums can be quite entertaining...
Merry Christmas!
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Pyscometric question:
Do you fart?
When do you fart?
why do you fart?
have you ever farted?
with whom have you ever farted?
Do you like farting?
Do Farts smell?
Do your farts smell?
Do you like farting?
LOL, making me self LMAO......... Hmmmm, I think this one will block my account... anyway.... it's a very basics of loony testing......
Do you fart?
When do you fart?
why do you fart?
have you ever farted?
with whom have you ever farted?
Do you like farting?
Do Farts smell?
Do your farts smell?
Do you like farting?
LOL, making me self LMAO......... Hmmmm, I think this one will block my account... anyway.... it's a very basics of loony testing......