Paying your own way...

[excess-baggage]

I am currently going through the NATS selection process, and ideally i will be able to follow this route. However I have been looking at backup plans and paying to do the course independently through BAE or ASTAC may be an option. A few questions, if anyone has gone down this route.:

1. Does anyone know how much this is roughly going to cost?
2. Which course should I be looking into?
and linked to that i suppose is how easy is it either to get sponsorship or find a job with a student licence to do my unit training?

Thanks

[Brian81]

Sit down.

Your aerodrome ticket (the standard starting point for most controllers) will set you back somewhere in the region £20,000 (give or take 5k).

Radar / approach procedural are not too dissimilar costs I'm afraid.

Sorry :-S

If its any help, once you've got the licence, provided there's a spare seat for you in the tower most units are very happy to save twenty grand training costs.

Another option if you fail is to be an assistant for a while, give it a few years then the unit may offer you another chance at going on a course.

Bri.

[sr562]

Hi,

Am currently paying my own way at the mo. The cost as Brian said was around 15K for tower and around 17k for radar.
Then there is the problem of trying to find a job. Again as Brian said most units will be happy to save the cash, however a lot of places want experienced people so its a risk although a worth while one (I hope).

[excess-baggage]

sr563 - who did you go with and how have you found the course?

I havent seen many assistant/student jobs out there at the moment so in guess its CV mailout time.

[sr562]

excess, check your PM's