Why do you want to be an ATCO?
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Why do you want to be an ATCO?
I was just wondering what are peoples' reasons for becoming an ATCO? Its a question I've been asked recently, but without having actually done the job, its hard to answer.
In my mind I know its something that I would be good at and enjoy but can anyone give me specific reasons from the job profile that they enjoy?
FDD
In my mind I know its something that I would be good at and enjoy but can anyone give me specific reasons from the job profile that they enjoy?
FDD
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I've always hated that 
question ... basically because I never heard friends ask the same question to others who wanted to become a teacher, an economist, an engineer, a fireman, or whatever ...
A passion for aviation, fascinated and interested by the job in general, and - let's be honest - a nice remuneration ... that's about as far as I ever got when it came to explaining!
question ... basically because I never heard friends ask the same question to others who wanted to become a teacher, an economist, an engineer, a fireman, or whatever ...A passion for aviation, fascinated and interested by the job in general, and - let's be honest - a nice remuneration ... that's about as far as I ever got when it came to explaining!
Last edited by Moira; 24th Jul 2008 at 12:10.
FlightDeckDave said, ''In my mind I know its something that I would be good at and enjoy but can anyone give me specific reasons from the job profile that they enjoy?''
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I agree with Darwinism.
If you feel you really want to do the job, why look for reasons to convince others that your decision is the rigth one? Just go for it! Good luck!
If you feel you really want to do the job, why look for reasons to convince others that your decision is the rigth one? Just go for it! Good luck!
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Challenging, rewarding, pretty good office view...
Sense of achievement, reasonable hours and shift patterns. And as mentioned the salary isn't bad...
Overall though, doing something that I enjoy daily and which is markedly different from what most people will do throughout their careers
Sense of achievement, reasonable hours and shift patterns. And as mentioned the salary isn't bad...
Overall though, doing something that I enjoy daily and which is markedly different from what most people will do throughout their careers
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FFD
interested in your assertion -
What makes you think that; do you do something aviation related at the moment (I've obviously seen your PPRuNe name but that doesn't mean anything on an anonymous forum)?
Just interested.
interested in your assertion -
...I know its something that I would be good at...
Just interested.
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Anotherthing,
Yes I am being a bit presumptuous, but I am basing my assumption on my skills and personality. I didn't want to start the thread with why I thought I'd be good at ATC so I made a general statement!
I am going through the selection process and have had some exposure to ATC but trying explain why I want to be an ATCO rather saying "I think I'd be good at it" made me pose the question.
Thanks for the replies guys,
FDD
Yes I am being a bit presumptuous, but I am basing my assumption on my skills and personality. I didn't want to start the thread with why I thought I'd be good at ATC so I made a general statement!
I am going through the selection process and have had some exposure to ATC but trying explain why I want to be an ATCO rather saying "I think I'd be good at it" made me pose the question.
Thanks for the replies guys,
FDD
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Whats the problem with saying "i think i'd be good at it"?
If people didn't think they could do it and be good at it then whats the point in them applying in the first place?
If people didn't think they could do it and be good at it then whats the point in them applying in the first place?
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That autumn harvest wasn't good.
Hunting was banned ,due to ecological reasons,
So I had to do something.
ATC was the only place looking for people.
Without any particular knowledge.
Hunting was banned ,due to ecological reasons,
So I had to do something.
ATC was the only place looking for people.
Without any particular knowledge.
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Cos I wanted to meet fit men!! Guess thats not too helpful for you, and I havent met any anyway......im not actually an ATCO but my father is and speaking at length to him during the years its mainly an interest in aviation that does it for many people. But I would suggest that you definately need passion for it, Air Traffic is not something you go into half heartedly. The course is demanding and you need to give it 100%. Why dont you ask for a visit to a control tower.....I did and decided it wasnt for me, altho I did find it extremly interesting and respect to people who do it as a career
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1985
read FFDs post... properly.
He states "I KNOW I would be good at it"... that was why I posed the question. There is nothing wrong with thinking you'd be good at something - for exactly the reasons you state. Similarly there is nothing wrong with a bit of self belief... in fact I think it's a very good quality.
Stating you 'know' you would be good at something is different altogether and rings alarm bells in my mind.
One of the reasons being 'what is this person going to be like to train if that's the way he thinks'?
The other reason I asked is because of his PPRuNe moniker - Flight Deck Dave. If he was a pilot, I would again ask what he based his statement
on... if it was purely from being a pilot, I would again question his assertion and why he should think that way.
To throw it back at you, 1985, what's wrong with me asking why he would think that? It's a perfectly good question to ask and in fact it is a very good interview question, especially in response to such a statement.
As for FFD - rather than taking offence at my question, he came back with a good response, if still a little woolly (would be questioned further by any half decent interviewer for example 'what skills does he possess that he feels will make him a good ATCO')?
The response he gave and the implied tone (difficult to gauge when typed) would go some way to satisfying an interviewer that they were not dealing with an egotistical know it all (FFD - I am not implying that's what you are, just trying to get 1985 to understand mechanics of interviewing techniques).
FFD
Good luck in the selection process.... for me in answer to your initial question I think the reasons for becoming one vary greatly and until in the job, most people don't really know what it fully involves. If you mean why do you enjoy the job, then there are again a multitude of reasons, many mentioned here already but they include challenge, variety, shiftwork, colleagues, pay, time off, pension, the ability to leave work at work etc etc.
read FFDs post... properly.
He states "I KNOW I would be good at it"... that was why I posed the question. There is nothing wrong with thinking you'd be good at something - for exactly the reasons you state. Similarly there is nothing wrong with a bit of self belief... in fact I think it's a very good quality.
Stating you 'know' you would be good at something is different altogether and rings alarm bells in my mind.
One of the reasons being 'what is this person going to be like to train if that's the way he thinks'?
The other reason I asked is because of his PPRuNe moniker - Flight Deck Dave. If he was a pilot, I would again ask what he based his statement
I know its something that I would be good at
To throw it back at you, 1985, what's wrong with me asking why he would think that? It's a perfectly good question to ask and in fact it is a very good interview question, especially in response to such a statement.
As for FFD - rather than taking offence at my question, he came back with a good response, if still a little woolly (would be questioned further by any half decent interviewer for example 'what skills does he possess that he feels will make him a good ATCO')?
The response he gave and the implied tone (difficult to gauge when typed) would go some way to satisfying an interviewer that they were not dealing with an egotistical know it all (FFD - I am not implying that's what you are, just trying to get 1985 to understand mechanics of interviewing techniques).
FFD
Good luck in the selection process.... for me in answer to your initial question I think the reasons for becoming one vary greatly and until in the job, most people don't really know what it fully involves. If you mean why do you enjoy the job, then there are again a multitude of reasons, many mentioned here already but they include challenge, variety, shiftwork, colleagues, pay, time off, pension, the ability to leave work at work etc etc.
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I agree anotherthing, it does come across like that. Dont take it personally FDD, its meant to be constructive criticism, we all come here to either help or be helped, or for advice/opinions, not to fight with one another so just take it on the chin!
Imagine how good it will feel if you get asked that in your interview!
Imagine how good it will feel if you get asked that in your interview!
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I aspire to do it because no two days are the same, you don't have to bring work home with you and most importantly, the love of aviation. Also, got up to a few towers and radar control centers, its the only way you know if you will really like it.
DK
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The thrill, the responsibility and my love for ATC communication. Never mind the fact i don not mind the idea of being able to boss pilots about. The only thing that puts me off a consideration of the job is the idea that each dot will be between 2 and 500+ passengers, and if I screw up they die.
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each dot will be between 2 and 500+ passengers, and if I screw up they die.
If the pilot screws up, the pilot dies. If the ATC screws up, the pilot dies.
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each dot will be between 2 and 500+ passengers, and if I screw up they die.
I don't know if the above was meant light heartedly or not, but just wondered if it is the actual truth? If so, that is some amazing responsibility!
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Look at the end of the day, when you see that dot you don't think, "Oh God, thats 500 people that will die if I screw up!" That would just be stupid, no atco that I have ever talked to has thought like that. That is the worst possible thing that could happen.
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Anyone undergoing ATCO training who has
in the back of their mind during normal operations will not normally make it. Their mindset is not conducive to being an ATCO and it would not be good for their mental health.
Sure, when you have an incident, the heart races, but even then you don't walk away and think "200 people could have died there"... until you do it for real and talk to real aircraft you won't know if that's how you will think - there are many people out there who have passed all the simulation training but have failed to validate because once speaking to live aircraft, they just fold.
The training system should be (and in the case of NATS, is) robust enough to filter these people out before they harm themselves or someone else!
the idea that each dot will be between 2 and 500+ passengers, and if I screw up they die.
Sure, when you have an incident, the heart races, but even then you don't walk away and think "200 people could have died there"... until you do it for real and talk to real aircraft you won't know if that's how you will think - there are many people out there who have passed all the simulation training but have failed to validate because once speaking to live aircraft, they just fold.
The training system should be (and in the case of NATS, is) robust enough to filter these people out before they harm themselves or someone else!