ATC training
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ATC training
Hi,
I am looking into a training to be an ATCO in the UK and am aware that NATS and Astac provide ATCO training programmes. Does anyone know of other training providers?
Thanks for your help
I am looking into a training to be an ATCO in the UK and am aware that NATS and Astac provide ATCO training programmes. Does anyone know of other training providers?
Thanks for your help
StandupfortheUlstermen
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NATS provide training in their college for trainee ATCOs. ASTAC are a private college where you have to pay for the training yourself. Not aware of any others in the UK, but there are both Eurocontrol and our southern cousins to consider as well.
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If you are seriously interested in becoming an ATCO then the best thing to do is apply through NATS. The selection process is aimed at finding the right sort of people who will make successful ATCO's. In my humble opinion if you are unsuccessful after the second time of trying then chances are you aren't the right sort of person thats going to cut it in ATC. I'm not saying that the interviewers don't make mistakes or indeed get it wrong with some of the people they put through, but they do a pretty good job on the whole.
Aside from NATS deciding wether you are good enough or not, I think you will gain a much better understanding of the job yourself and you may decide its not for you. I'm sure there is every chance that you'll make a great ATCO and I don't want to put you off in the slightest but I would look at financing your own training as a final option.
Aside from NATS deciding wether you are good enough or not, I think you will gain a much better understanding of the job yourself and you may decide its not for you. I'm sure there is every chance that you'll make a great ATCO and I don't want to put you off in the slightest but I would look at financing your own training as a final option.
StandupfortheUlstermen
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the Isle of Wight
if you are unsuccessful after the second time of trying then chances are you aren't the right sort of person that's going to cut it in ATC
niknak
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For self funding/sponsered students, there is also BAE at Cwmbran, they are about to unveil their secret weapon in the form of the new aerodrome simulator, which really is the dogs bollocks and light years ahead of anything available at NATS or ASTAC.
That said, to date, ASTAC and Bae Cwmbran are probably on a par with pass rates and the only thing you have to remember about NATS is that the instructors make a huge deal of being under immense pressure
and, whereas at the two private institutions, the instructors will bend over backwards to help you, at Bournmouth, fail to make the grade within the prescribed limits, and you are toast.
That said, to date, ASTAC and Bae Cwmbran are probably on a par with pass rates and the only thing you have to remember about NATS is that the instructors make a huge deal of being under immense pressure
and, whereas at the two private institutions, the instructors will bend over backwards to help you, at Bournmouth, fail to make the grade within the prescribed limits, and you are toast.
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...whereas at the two private institutions, the instructors will bend over backwards to help you, at Bournmouth, fail to make the grade within the prescribed limits, and you are toast...
I'm no great fan of DAT&S - I think it could be improved vastly, but saying that it does have some very good points. Not having to rely on customers (trainee ATCOs) money is one of those good points - allows more impartiality.
Bearing in mind also that a licence at NATS college means in theory that you can work at busy or complex airfields (EGKK,EGLL,EGPD,EGCC etc etc) as opposed to Lands End, or Yeovil Westlands therefore the standard required by the college is probably actually above the minuimum SRG requirements because the college is there to act as a filter as well as to instruct... (one of) It's 'mission statements' is to provide trainees to NATS units who have a good chance of passing validation training.
NiKNak - it's a pity the Cwmbran sim is still light years and about 20 real years behind the mil sim at Shawbury. If you knew what was entailed to run a sim like that then maybe you would realise that it is not a viable option for a college that has large numbers on it's course - you would need more than one simulator, more like 3 or 4 minimum to fulfill DAT&S requirements. Therefore , it's not really an option
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Thanks for the responses I have been accepted by NATS to start in July but concerned about the time off between courses and the Approch/Area split. Having visited both Approach is what interests me, I was looking at self funding as another option. Alot to think about at the minute.
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onwaytobeATC
Don't sweat the Area/Approach decision at the moment. Both have their up-sides and drawbacks. You will find very few that are in either job that hanker to be on the other side of the fence. Think of it more as a choice between Angelina Jolie or Kelly Brook [or Brad Pitt / Johnny Depp if that's what floats your boat].
NATS training is free, so make the most of it. You can always quit and bugger-off to some other training establishment at a later date if NATS doesn't make your dreams come true. Quite a few have joined with that intention. Most still work for NATS
[Possibly indicative of a lack of imagination rather than love of their employer]
Don't sweat the Area/Approach decision at the moment. Both have their up-sides and drawbacks. You will find very few that are in either job that hanker to be on the other side of the fence. Think of it more as a choice between Angelina Jolie or Kelly Brook [or Brad Pitt / Johnny Depp if that's what floats your boat].
NATS training is free, so make the most of it. You can always quit and bugger-off to some other training establishment at a later date if NATS doesn't make your dreams come true. Quite a few have joined with that intention. Most still work for NATS
[Possibly indicative of a lack of imagination rather than love of their employer]
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And the web site for the BAe Training college is http://www.cwmbrancollege.com/
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Sorry, I meant to say that the Air/GMC module is much expanded over what the UK ADI stipulates. At least that's what we've all been told at the units.
DwB are you there?
DwB are you there?
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Having been at both NATS and non NATS training colleges I feel I can comment. So here are my thoughts:-
NATS training is free and if you get through it then you will prob be sent to a busy unit but not always, however the instructors as was previously said are not all that bothered if you pass or fail as you will be one of around 150 - 200students at the college. No disrespect to them, but there are just too many people to get to know. This may also be the case at your unit depending on where you go.
NATS college is non profit as stated, however it is run as a business, with the customers being the units and the TATC's being products. Course lengths have been cut, flying training taken out, ops famil and the BA week all gone due to budget constraints. The money for all of this comes from a central pool which the units pay for and like any other business the college is paid to produce trainee ATCO's and so is accountable to the units.
Training elsewhere is costly and there is no guarantee of a job at the end of it. However the instructors will bend over backwards to help you, they are customer focused and like any other business this means providing your customer with a good service. Dont think that the training is any less rigorous than NATS training though. All the areas NATS assess on the ADI course are also assessed elsewhere for example Air/Ground ops, also the written papers are not multi guess as in NATS(Except Area).
To say you wont be at a busy unit is just crap, take for example Liverpool, East Mids or Newcastle, these are busy units in their own right which are non NATS. Suggesting that you will be any less of a controller is also just plain crap so get your head out your arse anotherthing. There are many non NATS trained people who are now in NATS working at busy units, maybe they should get a lower banding than the others at their unit if that is the case.
In conclusion NATS training is free, other than that it is no better or worse than any other college of ATC. You are either able to do the job or not, it doesn't matter where you get your student rating or validate it.
NATS training is free and if you get through it then you will prob be sent to a busy unit but not always, however the instructors as was previously said are not all that bothered if you pass or fail as you will be one of around 150 - 200students at the college. No disrespect to them, but there are just too many people to get to know. This may also be the case at your unit depending on where you go.
NATS college is non profit as stated, however it is run as a business, with the customers being the units and the TATC's being products. Course lengths have been cut, flying training taken out, ops famil and the BA week all gone due to budget constraints. The money for all of this comes from a central pool which the units pay for and like any other business the college is paid to produce trainee ATCO's and so is accountable to the units.
Training elsewhere is costly and there is no guarantee of a job at the end of it. However the instructors will bend over backwards to help you, they are customer focused and like any other business this means providing your customer with a good service. Dont think that the training is any less rigorous than NATS training though. All the areas NATS assess on the ADI course are also assessed elsewhere for example Air/Ground ops, also the written papers are not multi guess as in NATS(Except Area).
To say you wont be at a busy unit is just crap, take for example Liverpool, East Mids or Newcastle, these are busy units in their own right which are non NATS. Suggesting that you will be any less of a controller is also just plain crap so get your head out your arse anotherthing. There are many non NATS trained people who are now in NATS working at busy units, maybe they should get a lower banding than the others at their unit if that is the case.
In conclusion NATS training is free, other than that it is no better or worse than any other college of ATC. You are either able to do the job or not, it doesn't matter where you get your student rating or validate it.
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Can i just say that the notion that the instructors at Hurn don't help you is utter crap! I have just spent over a year at the college and have just been posted to Swanwick and the instructors on the Basic and Area course have been really helpful and willing to help any student that has been struggling. They have all been really supportive to all the students that I have worked with during my time at the college. As for not knowing who you are, I think that all the instructors take an interest in the people who are progressing through the courses, and try to build a rapport with their students as best they can.
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tatc23,
I can't disagree with you on that one, never done area and from what i saw of the newer area guys, they didi seem keen to help. But not all of them are, although i think there is a lot of change going on at the moment.
I can't disagree with you on that one, never done area and from what i saw of the newer area guys, they didi seem keen to help. But not all of them are, although i think there is a lot of change going on at the moment.
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I whole heartedly agree with TATC23.
I'd say 95% of Area instructors at Hurn take a genuine interest in your progression and are willing to help in any way they can. I know for a fact that on our course there were instances of instructors giving up their lunchtimes and after college time to give extra instruction/tuition to individuals or small groups.
Recently, with very large basic/foundation courses it has probably been pretty difficult to get to know individual students but even under these circumstances a majority of instructors not only know who you are, but what problems/strengths you may have.
I'd say 95% of Area instructors at Hurn take a genuine interest in your progression and are willing to help in any way they can. I know for a fact that on our course there were instances of instructors giving up their lunchtimes and after college time to give extra instruction/tuition to individuals or small groups.
Recently, with very large basic/foundation courses it has probably been pretty difficult to get to know individual students but even under these circumstances a majority of instructors not only know who you are, but what problems/strengths you may have.
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Gonzo the Great is indeed correct. The Air/GMC at Hurn goes way beyond what is specified in the UK ADI rating, although the really cute stuff will only be delivered to those going to the airports under the London TMA [probably].
sr562 - the aerodrome courses have a maximum size of 10 trainees in NATs College. The instructors get to know the students pretty well, and do actually care a lot whether they pass or fail. Dunno when you went to Hurn but it isn't anything like what you seem to remember.
Can anyone please point me at a not-busy NATS unit? London City is the smallest, but I bet they don't think they're "not busy".
tatc23 and smelly - you have made some knackered old [and not-so-old] sods at Hurn blush with pride. Bless you
Ppdude - like you would crawl over Angelina to get to KB?
sr562 - the aerodrome courses have a maximum size of 10 trainees in NATs College. The instructors get to know the students pretty well, and do actually care a lot whether they pass or fail. Dunno when you went to Hurn but it isn't anything like what you seem to remember.
Probably be sent to a busy unit but not always
tatc23 and smelly - you have made some knackered old [and not-so-old] sods at Hurn blush with pride. Bless you
Ppdude - like you would crawl over Angelina to get to KB?