Approach or Area??
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Join Date: May 2008
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Approach or Area??
Since everyone was kind enough to give me their opinion on 'life as a controller', i'm now looking for some further advice. I'm trying to decide whether i wld rather work in area or approach. I've been told by NATS that i can make the request but its not guaranteed. Even still, i'd like to make the correct request.
I've already made a visit to area which i thought was great, but to be honest, when i made a tower visit and was sitting up in the visual control room - i thought it was amazing. It really highlight what your job was actually involving. During my visits to both area and approach, i heard a lot of pro's and con's from both sides (e.g job security, salary, pace of work, etc) but i'd like to hear it again from all the controllers out there to help me make my final decision.
For all the area controllers out there though, i think you should that so far i'm definitely leaning towards tower unless you can persuade me otherwise!!!
Whatever stream i end up going down - can't wait to join you all. Its going to be brilliant.
I've already made a visit to area which i thought was great, but to be honest, when i made a tower visit and was sitting up in the visual control room - i thought it was amazing. It really highlight what your job was actually involving. During my visits to both area and approach, i heard a lot of pro's and con's from both sides (e.g job security, salary, pace of work, etc) but i'd like to hear it again from all the controllers out there to help me make my final decision.
For all the area controllers out there though, i think you should that so far i'm definitely leaning towards tower unless you can persuade me otherwise!!!
Whatever stream i end up going down - can't wait to join you all. Its going to be brilliant.
Join Date: Nov 2000
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The choice would be area or AERODROME. After an aerodome course you could be sent to a London airport where you will never do approach, or you could then do the approach course and got to terminal control in Swanwick and never do aerodrome despite having done the course, or with both you could also go to a "regional" airport and do both aerodrome and approach.
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Brother4 recommends Approach. Only ace work in Approach.
Area, no technique at all and Area are for less capable controller. Brother4 picks the best for Approach.
This is our Brother's wisdom.
Area, no technique at all and Area are for less capable controller. Brother4 picks the best for Approach.
This is our Brother's wisdom.
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Scooby Don't reckons approach is more fun in the third person, and so do I in the first person. But....it's horse for courses. Generally speaking, most people prefer the discipline they end up in! In the UK, area is the golden job but elsewhere it's approach/terminal.
If you like keeping the planes apart, go area. If you like getting them as close together as legally possible, go approach!
If you like keeping the planes apart, go area. If you like getting them as close together as legally possible, go approach!
Join Date: Dec 1999
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I agree with Scooby, most people tend to prefer the discipline they're in. Even those whom I know wanted aerodrome, but now work area.
For me, the pros of working Aerodrome are:
For me, the pros of working Aerodrome are:
- You get to see what's happening out the window, it seems more immediate and I feel more connected to my job and how it fits into the 'big picture'.
- You can see the weather!
- Although LL is a large unit compared to most airports, it's still small next to the area centres. It's big enough so that, errrr, one can usually avoid people one doesn't get on with, but small enough so that I know everyone's name.
- Lots of jobs and tasks to do...In my time I've been an Instructor, Watch Training Officer, worked in Ops, on the Technical Committee, been a Union rep, worked with recruitment, been abroad for conferences, helped develop equipment and procedures, been an examiner, assessor, verifier and lots of other things.
- I mix with the passengers.....ok, inbound passengers stink to high heaven when they get off a long haul flight, but it still feels pretty good to be walking through the terminal and seeing those who you'll be helping to get to their destinations safely (hopefully) in an hour or so.
- Lifts that get stuck.
- With an airside tower, it can be a bit of a hassle.
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Personally speaking when I joined back in '88 all I wanted to do was Aerodrome and Approach - it's what my Dad did and it's all I saw when growing up.
I was gutted when I was streamed at the College into Area.
18 valid years later and I wouldn't change it for the world!
Scooby hit the nail on the head - whichever you end up with you'll love (to the point of slagging the other's off!)
I was gutted when I was streamed at the College into Area.
18 valid years later and I wouldn't change it for the world!
Scooby hit the nail on the head - whichever you end up with you'll love (to the point of slagging the other's off!)
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I've always been an approach junky!!! for me, sitting in the fish bowl watching planes all day got a bit much and I couldn't wait to get to a radar position.
I think Scooby hit the nail on the head as well with "If you like keeping the planes apart, go area. If you like getting them as close together as legally possible, go approach!".
I do a fair number of presentations to schools for recruiting purposes, and always use the following analogy.
Approach is like controlling the traffic in the CBD of a city. To make a somewhat smaller airspace work at maximum efficiency, you need to get them as close as possible without getting them too close (winning you a two week holiday and and all expenses paid trip to the tape room). The great thing is they're only on your frequency for relatively short period, then they're done!
Area can be related to the highways between two major cities. Controlling traffic over a larger airspace means you have to be able to think way ahead of the game for all aircraft concerned to try and ensure that you'll have the minimum amount of congestion trying to get into the TMA. You'll also keep the traffic for longer periods...
I know it's not the most technical of descriptions but I hope it helps
I think Scooby hit the nail on the head as well with "If you like keeping the planes apart, go area. If you like getting them as close together as legally possible, go approach!".
I do a fair number of presentations to schools for recruiting purposes, and always use the following analogy.
Approach is like controlling the traffic in the CBD of a city. To make a somewhat smaller airspace work at maximum efficiency, you need to get them as close as possible without getting them too close (winning you a two week holiday and and all expenses paid trip to the tape room). The great thing is they're only on your frequency for relatively short period, then they're done!
Area can be related to the highways between two major cities. Controlling traffic over a larger airspace means you have to be able to think way ahead of the game for all aircraft concerned to try and ensure that you'll have the minimum amount of congestion trying to get into the TMA. You'll also keep the traffic for longer periods...
I know it's not the most technical of descriptions but I hope it helps
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Gonzo did you hear I got stuck in the rest room toilet? For 25 minutes?
I know it pales in comparison to your ordeal, but still!
In seriousness, I think the "like where you end up" sentiment is very true. From my limited experience with it, I think I would have been happy doing radar as well as being very happy doing aerodrome.. You get used to whatever you're given and you thrive on the good points of it. Friends of mine who have been moved to disciplines they originally *really* did not want have reported back saying they really enjoy it now.
Clearly not every discipline is for everyone, but I wouldn't worry about it too much at this stage, sure choose which you'd prefer, but don't concern yourself if you don't get your choice. Chances are you'll fit in nicely with what you're given. I would imagine that quality is something that's looked for in selection
I know it pales in comparison to your ordeal, but still!
In seriousness, I think the "like where you end up" sentiment is very true. From my limited experience with it, I think I would have been happy doing radar as well as being very happy doing aerodrome.. You get used to whatever you're given and you thrive on the good points of it. Friends of mine who have been moved to disciplines they originally *really* did not want have reported back saying they really enjoy it now.
Clearly not every discipline is for everyone, but I wouldn't worry about it too much at this stage, sure choose which you'd prefer, but don't concern yourself if you don't get your choice. Chances are you'll fit in nicely with what you're given. I would imagine that quality is something that's looked for in selection
Last edited by timelapse; 23rd Aug 2008 at 22:18.
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Would recommend Aerodrome if given a choice. A few airports at which NATS operate have approach radar on site, and being able to do both aerodrome AND approach radar at the same airfield gives even more experience and satisfaction.
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I mix with the passengers.....ok, inbound passengers stink to high heaven when they get off a long haul flight, but it still feels pretty good to be walking through the terminal and seeing those who you'll be helping to get to their destinations safely (hopefully) in an hour or so.
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Of course, this is one factor NATS uses in determining who goes to airports (where the public might observe them) and who goes to centres where everyone works underground in a bunker for months on end. The public face needs to look good. 
Seem to remember a joke on a CD somewhere about that......
Seem to remember a joke on a CD somewhere about that......
Join Date: Aug 2003
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The only other thing to take into account if you opt for area is, if you ever have the desire to leave NATS your UK options are extremely limited with no aerodrome or approach tickets.
Personally, I'd do the aerodrome and approach if at all possible, that gives you the option of going to work at an airfield and/or doing APS at Swanwick if required.
That way you get the option of seeing the real aeroplanes, finding out where Gonzo really does go to oblute and/or working at Butlins.
Why anyone wants to indulge in the dark art that is area is beyond me but each to their own.
Personally, I'd do the aerodrome and approach if at all possible, that gives you the option of going to work at an airfield and/or doing APS at Swanwick if required.
That way you get the option of seeing the real aeroplanes, finding out where Gonzo really does go to oblute and/or working at Butlins.
Why anyone wants to indulge in the dark art that is area is beyond me but each to their own.
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in our workplace our chief brother told me that approach is for smart kids and those bad quality atco3 go to area. i am lucky to be chosen to approach stream. truth is that i am now rated as compared my other coursemates who have hard time in area training. thanks to brother.