Becoming an ATC
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Becoming an ATC
Hello there!
I'm 16 years old and i'm interested in becoming an ATC, to be honest im fed up with the school life and don't want to go to uni and i thought that aiming to be an ATC would be a good way to go. I am interested in the field and am prepared to do the training. So has anyone got anything to say about it just to give me a little info of what its like, what sort of things are expected of me etc.
Thanks in advance!
Adam
I'm 16 years old and i'm interested in becoming an ATC, to be honest im fed up with the school life and don't want to go to uni and i thought that aiming to be an ATC would be a good way to go. I am interested in the field and am prepared to do the training. So has anyone got anything to say about it just to give me a little info of what its like, what sort of things are expected of me etc.
Thanks in advance!
Adam
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Hey
you can't hold a student licence until 18, and an ATCO licence until 20 so don't worry about it too much, take your time and enjoy the student life, there is plenty of time to join the employed world and start paying into somebody else's pension or benefits
you can't hold a student licence until 18, and an ATCO licence until 20 so don't worry about it too much, take your time and enjoy the student life, there is plenty of time to join the employed world and start paying into somebody else's pension or benefits
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This is true, but im very nearly 17 and going on to my last year of sixth form, so i will be 18 next year, and i'm sure this next year will fly by. Cheers for the reply
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Hey ADZ...
If you're keen to get involved in ATC then go for it
I'm not sure how strict access to control centres is over there but my best advice would be to contact them and see if you can get in there for a day or so, so you can watch and see what it's all about.
Some people see it all, go pale and we never see them again. On the otherhand, some people can barely contain their excitement and want to get in there straight away. Like I said though, contact your nearest centre and see if they can help you out. They'll also be able to tell you what to do from there...
Best of luck to you...
Keep us posted
Oh, and BTW, don't slack off too much, there are minimum requirements to get in...
If you're keen to get involved in ATC then go for it
I'm not sure how strict access to control centres is over there but my best advice would be to contact them and see if you can get in there for a day or so, so you can watch and see what it's all about.
Some people see it all, go pale and we never see them again. On the otherhand, some people can barely contain their excitement and want to get in there straight away. Like I said though, contact your nearest centre and see if they can help you out. They'll also be able to tell you what to do from there...
Best of luck to you...
Keep us posted
Oh, and BTW, don't slack off too much, there are minimum requirements to get in...
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if you are tired of learning,and do not want to go university because you fed up with student's life think twice before you start your ATC carrier.
At first 90% of students at economy,law,admistration will spend less time over books than you.Even you spend only 3/4 months in schooll you will be very soon amazed how many things you missed in school,than you have to learn the same things again,than your knowledge is not enough so you have to improve it during the OJT,than you must learn procedures,LOINs,LOAs,and similar documents BY HEART! If you don't comply with this you will see how an instructor is going to be
. After few years of trainning you will start to work operational shift but it is not end of learning. Things change rapidly so expect to learn(and someone will examine it) again the same documents. here in Europe with new license system you must pass on regular basis competency checks,so again books and documents. You may opt for some small unit but very soon you will realise that your salary is not enough,that idiots working above you and your wish will be to change things. Than again transition with new procedures,equipment,LOINs,LOAs etc. More books to follow. After a few years you will realise that OJTIs and SUPs are out of date and you would like to show them how it should be done. Be preapred. again books,exams and so on. After years at middle level positions you will realise that you could do better so again,school,books and exams as well.
when you reach the top you willl realise that pension starts next week.
So find another motivation to join ATC, or avoid it.
At first 90% of students at economy,law,admistration will spend less time over books than you.Even you spend only 3/4 months in schooll you will be very soon amazed how many things you missed in school,than you have to learn the same things again,than your knowledge is not enough so you have to improve it during the OJT,than you must learn procedures,LOINs,LOAs,and similar documents BY HEART! If you don't comply with this you will see how an instructor is going to be
. After few years of trainning you will start to work operational shift but it is not end of learning. Things change rapidly so expect to learn(and someone will examine it) again the same documents. here in Europe with new license system you must pass on regular basis competency checks,so again books and documents. You may opt for some small unit but very soon you will realise that your salary is not enough,that idiots working above you and your wish will be to change things. Than again transition with new procedures,equipment,LOINs,LOAs etc. More books to follow. After a few years you will realise that OJTIs and SUPs are out of date and you would like to show them how it should be done. Be preapred. again books,exams and so on. After years at middle level positions you will realise that you could do better so again,school,books and exams as well. when you reach the top you willl realise that pension starts next week.
So find another motivation to join ATC, or avoid it.
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First place to have a look is here;
http://www.natscareers.co.uk/
Not the only ATC provider in the UK or the only way to train but an excellent starting point.
If you do enter ATC you will be doing a lot of learning both practical and in the classroom so if a learning environment is a problem for you it may not quite be the career you were looking for.
18 is the minimum age for entering and I would recommend you continuing with your education up to 18 however if it is what you want no degree will help change your mind.
The actual NATS college is in Dorset as I note you are.
http://www.natscareers.co.uk/
Not the only ATC provider in the UK or the only way to train but an excellent starting point.
If you do enter ATC you will be doing a lot of learning both practical and in the classroom so if a learning environment is a problem for you it may not quite be the career you were looking for.
18 is the minimum age for entering and I would recommend you continuing with your education up to 18 however if it is what you want no degree will help change your mind.
The actual NATS college is in Dorset as I note you are.
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I have no problem with continuing learning, i'm just fed up with learning that i feel is leading nowhere and will not be of great use to me in later life. With the training for becoming an ATC i know what i'm aiming for and i know that what i'm learning is all to help me towards what will eventually be my future career. This is assuming i can get into it in the first place! 
And @ Flower, thanks! I have been having a read on that website and i'm acually in Bournemouth and so is the training centre i do believe! How very handy! Thanks!
And @ Flower, thanks! I have been having a read on that website and i'm acually in Bournemouth and so is the training centre i do believe! How very handy! Thanks!
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ADZ 1001, or Mr. 1001
ATC is definitely better than working for a living. On top of that, you'll be making more money than your neighbours and they'll be wondering why you have so much time off.
But if you quit high school, then forget ATC because you will quit that too. Finish high school to prove to yourself you can go the distance. Then...welcome to ATC!
Besides, knowing what year Napoleon conquered Germany and other facts do come in handy sometimes.
Do not cloud your mind young padewan thinking you have the knowledge to judge what is knowledge.
But if you quit high school, then forget ATC because you will quit that too. Finish high school to prove to yourself you can go the distance. Then...welcome to ATC!
Besides, knowing what year Napoleon conquered Germany and other facts do come in handy sometimes.
Do not cloud your mind young padewan thinking you have the knowledge to judge what is knowledge.
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I left school after a levels and ditdnt want to go to uni because i knew it would be a waste of time. i would not have had the motivation to study.
Going to the college of atc in bournemouth did involve a lot of studying, but you were getting paid to do it.
That made a big difference, and seeing the potential wages for getting fully qualified is a huge incentive.
Plus, you get loads of time off, 6 days on, 4 days off. 28 days holiday to start plus an extra 8 days in lieu of bank holidays. (no guarantee to get them off as you work shift).
Even when you are at work you get loads of time off. That is why they provide a pool table, dart board, 2 coffe lounge/canteens, sky tv, outside seating.......at swanwick anyway. piece of p**s. much better than 9 to 5.
Going to the college of atc in bournemouth did involve a lot of studying, but you were getting paid to do it.
That made a big difference, and seeing the potential wages for getting fully qualified is a huge incentive.
Plus, you get loads of time off, 6 days on, 4 days off. 28 days holiday to start plus an extra 8 days in lieu of bank holidays. (no guarantee to get them off as you work shift).
Even when you are at work you get loads of time off. That is why they provide a pool table, dart board, 2 coffe lounge/canteens, sky tv, outside seating.......at swanwick anyway. piece of p**s. much better than 9 to 5.
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I'm not sure that I'd describe the job, as I'ERIC so elequently puts it, as a piece of piss.
There's no doubt that it's an excellent career, well paid, lot's of time off and I wouldn't willingly do anything else (short of being paid the same amount or more for doing nothing), but it's also an extremely responsible job where you have to make instant decisions and they have to be right every time.
Don't underestimate the intensity of the training programme both at and after college or take your eyes off the fact that you can be chopped at any time during college or field training.The ATC training is very hard work and coming into the college environment with your brain still in "information acceptance" mode is a big advantage.
Although I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do when I left college, I felt much the same as you, with the benefit of hindsight, I would suggest that you at least finish the two years of 6th form and achieve the highest grades you can, then explore the various options - NATS, starting an ATC career at a regional non NATS airport or Eurocontrol.
Until then, it may be worth your while trying to get a part time job as a "hanger rat/ person Friday" with one of the many flying organisations in the area, you'd get invaluable experience of the workings of an airport and either be paid and/or get some flying experience.
All the best anyway.
There's no doubt that it's an excellent career, well paid, lot's of time off and I wouldn't willingly do anything else (short of being paid the same amount or more for doing nothing), but it's also an extremely responsible job where you have to make instant decisions and they have to be right every time.
Don't underestimate the intensity of the training programme both at and after college or take your eyes off the fact that you can be chopped at any time during college or field training.The ATC training is very hard work and coming into the college environment with your brain still in "information acceptance" mode is a big advantage.
Although I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do when I left college, I felt much the same as you, with the benefit of hindsight, I would suggest that you at least finish the two years of 6th form and achieve the highest grades you can, then explore the various options - NATS, starting an ATC career at a regional non NATS airport or Eurocontrol.
Until then, it may be worth your while trying to get a part time job as a "hanger rat/ person Friday" with one of the many flying organisations in the area, you'd get invaluable experience of the workings of an airport and either be paid and/or get some flying experience.
All the best anyway.
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Thanks everyone for the advice. It all comes in handy. I do intend to finish 6th form as i think having some sort of qualifications under my belt will be usefull to me. ATC is something that does genuinely interest me, i just hope i have what it takes to get into it. I currently have a part time job at a cafe 
What sort of part time jobs is it possible to get at an airport for a 17 year old? I will look into it.
Cheers!
What sort of part time jobs is it possible to get at an airport for a 17 year old? I will look into it.Cheers!
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Not sure what the odds are now, but back in the mid-90s a qualified applicant (as in, 5 GCSE passes, within the age range, etc) had about a 1% of ending up as a valid ATCO. I don't what to put you off, Adz, but you MUST have a back-up plan. If they ask you at interview what your back-up is and you say "nothing!", you'll most likely be marked down. A better answer would be "studying [insert any subject you like] at college/uni and applying to NATS again in a year" or "taking a year off in Australia/Canada/NZ and then applying to NATS and to universities next year". One of my course had applied three times, and I applied twice before getting in.
It's always better to be doing something when applying for a job, even working at MacDonalds. Better though, from the perspective of showing you have potential, is to be doing something which leads to a career, and it needn't be in aviation. If you're washing Cessnas or sweeping the floor at a flying club on the side, even better.
I'm not in favour of spoonfeeding, so I'd say it's up to you to find local flying clubs and aircraft operators and make your own contacts. While you're at it, scour the shelves of bookshops for everything you can read on ATC, find the websites for NATS, CAA and AIS and any published information you can get your hands on. Visit ATC units! You have one ATC centre and two regional airports nearby, and all you need is a phone book and some confidence to arrange a visit.
Good luck!
It's always better to be doing something when applying for a job, even working at MacDonalds. Better though, from the perspective of showing you have potential, is to be doing something which leads to a career, and it needn't be in aviation. If you're washing Cessnas or sweeping the floor at a flying club on the side, even better.
I'm not in favour of spoonfeeding, so I'd say it's up to you to find local flying clubs and aircraft operators and make your own contacts. While you're at it, scour the shelves of bookshops for everything you can read on ATC, find the websites for NATS, CAA and AIS and any published information you can get your hands on. Visit ATC units! You have one ATC centre and two regional airports nearby, and all you need is a phone book and some confidence to arrange a visit.
Good luck!
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Thanks Scooby, you've gotten me thinking there. I will definately have a look around to try and make my own opportunities and increase my chances. I have done some reading already and i will do more.
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ERIC,
"Outside seating". Is that just the TC section?.
Also "piece of p**s". Interesting comment. Obviously no justification for Band 5 pay then. As a shareholder, I feel a sudden urge to ring The Barron, give him a 'heads up'
.
"Outside seating". Is that just the TC section?
.Also "piece of p**s". Interesting comment. Obviously no justification for Band 5 pay then. As a shareholder, I feel a sudden urge to ring The Barron, give him a 'heads up'
.
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Adz 1001,
When I was 16, I felt the same way as yourself. But I ended up going to University. Enjoy your studies, and the sixth form, or whatever. There's a lot going on in the world. You only get one shot at life, and ask yourself this:-
'How many ATCOs are featured in The Sunday Times Rich List'?
When I was 16, I felt the same way as yourself. But I ended up going to University. Enjoy your studies, and the sixth form, or whatever. There's a lot going on in the world. You only get one shot at life, and ask yourself this:-
'How many ATCOs are featured in The Sunday Times Rich List'?
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Showing an interest in aviation is i think a thing of the past isn't it? or am I being cynical.
Anyway have you considered joining something like the Air cadets, learn to fly get and involved in all aspects of aviation maybe at 17 you feel to old to start but it would tell you more about the aviation world then you think, also looks good on CVs.
Anyway have you considered joining something like the Air cadets, learn to fly get and involved in all aspects of aviation maybe at 17 you feel to old to start but it would tell you more about the aviation world then you think, also looks good on CVs.
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instant decisions
NIKNAK. that sounds a bit Hollywood to me. " Instant decisions that we have to get right every time". mmmm not sure about that. So every wrong decision you make in the course of a day results in what? you having to change your plan I suggest rather than burning metal falling out of the sky!
Its a tough job at times I agree but no tougher than lots of others and as "not an eric " pointed out it is really a piece of p**s.
Its a tough job at times I agree but no tougher than lots of others and as "not an eric " pointed out it is really a piece of p**s.