A Supervisor as an ATCO

[cancel_mayday]

Are they eligible to do real ATC like in my country where supervisors must be certified on several sectors?

Thanks.

[ATCO Two]

Yes, most supervisors at London Terminal Control (for example), still do real ATC, but usually only on one sector group. At LTC, supervisors must achieve at least 14 hours live radar time per calendar month to maintain currency.

[cancel_mayday]

8 hours a month is required in Russia. Thank you very much.

[Caesartheboogeyman]

at London Terminal Control (for example), still do real ATC,

true, but badly

[almost professional]

Fully validated, fully rostered and a supervisor/LCE

[cancel_mayday]

So a supervisor must hold a Medical Certificate like an ordinary controller. Is this correct?

[Skybear]

In Germany supervisors are forced to give up their ratings. Instead of working as ATCOs and keeping track with our issues from time to time, their working hours are spent in offices with managment work. It 's a bad development, because they are the ones whose support is needed, when it comes to fighting for operational improvements. But the longer they are out, the lesser there understanding is.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Cancel Mayday.. In the UK Supervisors are fully licenced ATCOs so, yes, they need a medical certificate. In many UK ATC Units a Supervisor will be one of the ATCOs who is rostered for Supervisor duty.

[126,7]

true, but badly

Sadly that's the case at most stations where supervisors still practise atc. They work enough to stay current, but way too little to keep ahead of the traffic.

[anotherthing]

Supervisors have too many other duties on their plate nowadays, it dilutes their radar skills and takes away their attention from what should be their primary function.

In the Area centres, I believe that suitable ATCOS should be asked if they wished to become active as a GS/LAS. If they say yes, they would receive half a pay spine.

There would then be a large pool of ATCOS who could be rostered to carry out the function. It would result in current ATCOS doing the GS/LAS role 2 or 3 times a month and remaining very valid on radar

[cancel_mayday]

Thanks, guys!

[5miles]

In Germany supervisors are forced to give up their ratings. Instead of working as ATCOs and keeping track with our issues from time to time, their working hours are spent in offices with managment work. It 's a bad development, because they are the ones whose support is needed, when it comes to fighting for operational improvements. But the longer they are out, the lesser there understanding is.

Sounds similar to the current Australian structure. Some do manage to keep their endorsements as the staff shortage precludes them from being completely released from an operational line.

Others never had much of an understanding to begin with, so probably safer to keep them away from live traffic.

[Lon More]

5 miles are you a mate of Traffic Traffic?

I was a superviso, the area included one sector over Germany, but lost my licence on medical grounds. I was given the option to carry on doing purely supervisoral duties or to take sick leave. The way our system was set up it was neccessary that everybody worked radarso I just walked away. probably the best decision I ever made

[Gonzo]

Anotherthing,

That's what we do at LL. On a watch of ten or eleven ATCOs, we might have five or more qualified Supervisors, so usually each of the core MMAA shifts are Sup'ed by a different ATCO. It really spreads the workload, and means that all the 'supervisors' spend most of their time wearing headsets.

IMHO being a supervisor (at LL anyway) does make one a better controller, and of course there's usually more than one qualified Sup working with a headset if the rostered Sup wants to get advice or guidance.

[anotherthing]

Gonzo

I've done airfields in my past career and agree with you entirely. I believe that supervising does not only enhance your abilities as a controller (as it gives you more insight into 'the bigger picture'), but that it works the other way as well... If the majority of your roster is sat, bum in seat controlling, with 3 or 4 days a month supervising (instead of the other way round), then I think it will make you a better supervisor.

There are a few substitute supervisors at Swanwick i.e. they do it 2 or 3 times a month to cover a shortfall in manpower - in the main they tend to focus more on the nitty gritty of making the sector work than the normal supervisors do - possibly because as a substitute you have no onerous 'secondary duties' that come with the position... duties that can, if the supervisor allows it, detract fro supervising!

The substitutes get a (very) little extra for doing it, paid only on th edays they actually are rostered to Sup, so it is cost effective.

[Coast]

over here a supervisor is an atco who makes more money

[Funk]

over here a supervisor is an atco who makes more money

ditto for the UAE