Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Ground & Other Ops Forums > ATC Issues
Reload this Page >

Getting into ATC - Australia controller

Wikiposts
Search
ATC Issues A place where pilots may enter the 'lions den' that is Air Traffic Control in complete safety and find out the answers to all those obscure topics which you always wanted to know the answer to but were afraid to ask.

Getting into ATC - Australia controller

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 14th Sep 2011, 19:07
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cairns
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Getting into ATC - Australia controller

Good morning all,

Long time reader, first time poster.

I'm 28 y/o and I need direction and advice as I want to become an ATC (preferably Tower Ops but will take whatever to get in).

I'm currently in law enforcement (which is very rewarding job) in QLD but........ these day's it isn't a career due to too many reasons I could write an essay about....

I have a passion for Aviation, love planes, always listening to LiveATC etc but was never able to get my Pilot's Licence as I could not afford it, didn't do well in school (due to personal reasons) and I have a scarred left cornea. I fly payware aircraft online as a hobby and stress relief, you know living the dream and all that...

So I see that the closing date for applications for training next year is March 2012 - Airservices Australia - Job details

What advice and direction would you give me so I can get in?

The only real drama I can forsee is I'm not the best at high level Maths but I'm keen to relearn from scratch (Khan Academy, tutors etc).

Also should I look at getting into VATSIM/IVAO ATC training and becoming a controller there?

Also I live in Cairns QLD and have a partner etc, she's keen to move to Brissie but is it possible to get back north?

Thanks guys,

Pete.
VBHB is offline  
Old 15th Sep 2011, 04:28
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Wellington,NZ
Age: 66
Posts: 1,676
Received 10 Likes on 4 Posts
Can't offer too much advice about Aussie requirements, but some pretty global ones include having passed the year 11 school exams for math, English, and a science (physics is good; it's actually pertinent), and the ability to hold a medical.

Does the scratch on the cornea affect your vision at all?

I'd imagine that if you were accepted, passed the training etc, that it would be a case of "go where you are sent", with no guarantee of a placement in QLD. (I hear they are rather short in MEL centre...)

You may find it worthwhile to x-post this on the D&G General aviation sub forum, also.
Tarq57 is offline  
Old 15th Sep 2011, 06:35
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The world's most liveable city
Posts: 245
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
VBHB, check yr pm's.
RAC/OPS is offline  
Old 16th Sep 2011, 12:01
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: YMML
Posts: 1,838
Received 16 Likes on 6 Posts
VBHB, the following may be relevant:

"To be eligible to be considered for training, applicants must be able to satisfy the following mandatory criteria at the time of submitting their application.

completed Year 12 with passes in English, Maths and Science [preferably Physics]; or hold a tertiary education qualification (degree or diploma in any discipline); or hold a current Commercial or Private Pilot Licence."


Also for a class 3 medical: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F20...ume_2#param190

Visual requirements

3.30
Is not suffering from any safety‑relevant pathological condition (either acute or chronic), nor any sequelae of surgery or trauma
3.31
Has normal binocular vision
le Pingouin is offline  
Old 22nd Sep 2011, 17:29
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: always ahead of my aircraft
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
working roster

I am also interested in ATC career. What is the roster like in AA?
TSRABECOMING is offline  
Old 23rd Sep 2011, 09:51
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: YMML
Posts: 1,838
Received 16 Likes on 6 Posts
VBHB, getting back up north is possible but there's no way of guaranteeing anything. Patience would likely be required.

TSRABECOMING, the roster you work very much depends on where you're working & the ratings you hold. Not all towers operate 24 hour & at night sectors get combined. We generally don't work block rosters (who wants to work a block of the shifts they hate) & there's limited scope for swapping shifts. Shifts are typically 7 or 8 hours but can be up to 10 hours with a minimum of 10 hours between shifts. Averages to 10 days per fortnight.

I have all ratings in my group & my roster is mainly variations of morning, morning, afternoon, afternoon, night, night, off, off, off. Those without all the ratings don't do nights.

There is great variety because the rosters are tailored to handle the traffic patterns. For instance Perth traffic is handled in Melbourne so the peaks occur 2 or 3 hours later than local Melbourne time.
le Pingouin is offline  
Old 23rd Sep 2011, 12:54
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: always ahead of my aircraft
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thank you for your reply and next is the question that I think many people want to know. what is the payment rate? are there any extra rate for irregular shift?
TSRABECOMING is offline  
Old 23rd Sep 2011, 22:29
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Oz
Posts: 538
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Academy Trainee $40996
Field Trainee $61493
Once rated as a controller you start at $83699 progressing through 9 levels to $156580.
These figures do not include additional pay for public holidays or working extra shifts.
topdrop is offline  
Old 24th Sep 2011, 02:50
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sydney
Age: 32
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
topdrop. Am I correct in saying that those salaries are based on a 36 hour week including break time?
domo_man is offline  
Old 24th Sep 2011, 02:58
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: YMML
Posts: 1,838
Received 16 Likes on 6 Posts
We used to get penalty rates but not now - the extra was averaged out & converted into a straight hourly rate no matter what the shift.
le Pingouin is offline  
Old 24th Sep 2011, 03:14
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: YMML
Posts: 1,838
Received 16 Likes on 6 Posts
domo_man, if by "break time" you mean time away from the console but at work, then yes.
le Pingouin is offline  
Old 24th Sep 2011, 18:31
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: always ahead of my aircraft
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Any age limit for entry?
TSRABECOMING is offline  
Old 25th Sep 2011, 02:18
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Brisbane
Age: 59
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Tsrabecoming, you might want to check out the Airservices psychometric testing thread. Most of your questions, and some you haven't thought of yet, have probably been answered there. Just for your information, I had my assessment last week and I'm 46.
stevep64 is offline  
Old 27th Sep 2011, 16:27
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: YMML
Posts: 1,838
Received 16 Likes on 6 Posts
No age limit but the older you are the harder it gets. So to speak.....
le Pingouin is offline  
Old 28th Sep 2011, 22:10
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: P@$#ing distance from 2 borders
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
VBHB and TSRABECOMING,

Here is the link to the Collective agreement, have a read of it and all your salary and conditions will be answered. If you have any further questions then feel free to ask, you are not going to have everything handed to you on a plate, so take some intiative.

Airservices Australia - Careers - Air Traffic Controller
The Euronator is offline  
Old 29th Sep 2011, 02:03
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The world's most liveable city
Posts: 245
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Euronator, to be fair, VBHB has used initiative by coming here to ask questions that as far as I can see are not answered in the CA!
RAC/OPS is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2011, 01:23
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The world's most liveable city
Posts: 245
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Hey VBHB, check your pm's!
RAC/OPS is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.