No. of operational ATCO's in the UK

[classicwings]

I am just wondering out of interest if anybody would know approximately how many operational ATCO's there currently are in the UK? Given that NATS employs around 5000 staff I would have assumed that half of that figure is made up of ATCOs and ATSA' s and the rest comprise Engineers and support staff. Then there are the controllers working at non-NATS units, oh and of course there are the Military controllers aswell.

I would have thought that compared to other professions, the number employed in ATC is relatively small.

[niknak]

We employ 17 Atcos and 6 Atcas.
Every so often we do something operational as well...

[ZOOKER]

Less than 8,000, I think, (and that includes the Mil).- A fairly select profession.

[classicwings]

Niknak, I assume this is a NATS unit at an aerodrome

[Get me some traffic]

Used to be about 3400 civ + mil in the 1990s.
Don't know now tho?
GMST

[Brian81]

I asked the horses mouth a month ago as part of my curious mind season.

Reply is below (don't forget this is licence holders - these people may not be active).

>>>>

Hi

thanks for the e-mail

there are currently around 2,400 UK CAA licensed air traffic controllers

Regards

XXXXXXXXXXXXX
CAA Corp Comms

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Brian XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sent: 17 February 2008 12:07
To: CAA Press Office
Subject: Active ATCO Licence Holders

Hello,

Just a quick question, I figured the press office we’re the most likely to know the answer with the least of fuss.

I’m an air traffic controller. How many controllers are there in the UK?

The answer can be quickly found by counting the number of active ATC Licences in the system.

Basically, I want to brag to my mates that only XXX people in the UK are trained to do what I do. Whatever the figure, I reckon it will be impressive.

Kindest regards,

Brian

[Bamboozle Woozle]

Classicwings,

The unit that niknak is refering to is based at a non-NATS Regional Airport.

[Ivor_Novello]

Hi

thanks for the e-mail

there are currently around 2,400 UK CAA licensed air traffic controllers

Brian

Did they charge you for that ?

[Brian81]

My ATCO licence cost me money, as does my medicals held at Gatwick and my FISO licence & my A/G licence cost me money, so - yes... in many ways, I pay his/her salary! lol

But, seriously, I've always found the nicer you are (including flirty) the more you get.

And for what its worth - it did impress my mates, and it continues to be my most impressive and successful chat-up line.

I figure one day (with a chance of 2400/60,000,000) I will use that chat-up line with the response - "me too!"

;-)

[Dizzee Rascal]

I figure one day (with a chance of 2400/60,000,000) I will use that chat-up line with the response - "me too!"

So, are you not going to tie the knob with this one?

[Dizzee Rascal]

I meant knot, obviously.

[classicwings]

Brian 81,

I can understand what a privilage it must be to boast about working in a highly skilled profession which employs only 0.004% of the UK's population, however only problem can surely be ensuring that your 'recipient' fully understands the role of an ATCO! ( I always thought playing the Pilot card was an easier way to try and win over your mate............)

[Brian81]

I dont know about you my the standard response is either;

Wow - that's stressfull isn't it?

or

Is that the one with the bats?

And in response to my Dizzee friend, yes I probably will tie the knot(or whatever you said) with that one... wherever tHEy may be...
lol

[classicwings]

My ATCO licence cost me money, as does my medicals held at Gatwick and my FISO licence & my A/G licence cost me money

Brian81, I assume as a self sponsor you had to part with your hard earned cash to get an ADI/APS or APP rating at either Cwmbran or ASTAC? Surely your unit doesnt expect you to pay for your medicals anymore aswell?!

[kinglouis]

classicwings....... it would be great if half of the nats workforce were atcos/other operational staff.
unfortunately the army of desk munchers at the ctc has grown so much in the last couple of years we are now the minority.

[classicwings]

Crikey, didnt realise controllers were in such a minority compared to these 'desk munchers'- could there only be about 1000 valid controllers in Nats then? Im thinking take a roster for say Blue watch (TC) at Swanwick comprising of say around 70 ATCO's, multipy that by the no. of watches for the cycle- thats about 300 controllers for Terminal control. Then double it for the no. of Area controllers so 600 staff at Swanwick. So the remainder must be dotted around the country at airports and Prestwick. A select few!

[Cuddles]

Reminds me of an old joke.

How many people work for NATS?

Just under half of them.

[classicwings]

the cynics are coming out

[JustaFew]

And don't get me started on what the letters NATS & CAA stand for, either
But that's drifting a smidge.

Having been asked the stress & bats question, next comes,'Why was my holiday flight to Benidorm/Mallorca/Cyprus delayed by 25 hours in 1972?'
Witty answers, please.

[classicwings]

CAA- Campaign Against Aviation!

NATS- ??