Pilot to ATCO?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 50
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From: London
Pilot to ATCO?
Hi there,
I'm currently an airline pilot flying professionally in the UK. I have to admit the flying bug has waned and I really don't see myself flying for the rest of my life. I'm really attracted to the challenge and opportunities potentially available working on the other side of the radio.
Do many pilots move over to ATC?
Are NATS still recruiting trainee controllers? If successful are you able to choose your area of expertise, i.e radar or tower
Thanks,
DD
I'm currently an airline pilot flying professionally in the UK. I have to admit the flying bug has waned and I really don't see myself flying for the rest of my life. I'm really attracted to the challenge and opportunities potentially available working on the other side of the radio.
Do many pilots move over to ATC?
Are NATS still recruiting trainee controllers? If successful are you able to choose your area of expertise, i.e radar or tower
Thanks,
DD
Joined: Feb 2006
Aviation Qualifications: ATCO
Posts: 556
Likes: 53
Not heard of many moving from Pilot to ATCO, usually the other way.
As you're already 'in the business', so to speak, why not arrange a liaison visit to Swanwick or Heathrow to give you a look-see and an opportunity to ask as many questions as you feel the urge to ask.
Someone will, I'm sure, appear on this thread who works at one of these locations and will hopefully send you a PM with details of who to contact to arrange such a visit.
Good luck!
As you're already 'in the business', so to speak, why not arrange a liaison visit to Swanwick or Heathrow to give you a look-see and an opportunity to ask as many questions as you feel the urge to ask.
Someone will, I'm sure, appear on this thread who works at one of these locations and will hopefully send you a PM with details of who to contact to arrange such a visit.
Good luck!
Joined: Dec 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATCO
Posts: 306
Likes: 2
From: Down South
You can state a preference of area or approach/tower, but whether or not NATS listen is a different matter. With an Approach/Tower or Tower ticket you're a bit more mobile, with an Area Radar ticket your choices are Swanwick or Prestwick.
And like rab said, check your PMs
And like rab said, check your PMs
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 31
From: Herefordshire
'Back in the day' quite a few ATCOs were ex-pilots, but these had almost to a man been ex-military who had left the services either at a time when civilian pilots' jobs were scarce or because they wanted the stability in their domestic lives that could not be found in civil flying.
My No2 son is an ATCO at Swanwick and I know he is happy to show pilots around the centre.If you are interested send me a PM.
My No2 son is an ATCO at Swanwick and I know he is happy to show pilots around the centre.If you are interested send me a PM.
Last edited by Brian 48nav; 6th December 2012 at 08:58. Reason: missing word
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,839
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From: Adrift upon the tides of fate
I know of a female 747 fo who became a controller- and found that she preferred it (home every night etc.).
The biggest issue you need to think about, IMHO, is quitting your present career to risk getting rated (believe it or not- people, including pilots, fail to make it!). However, if you are looking to change regardless, then go for it.
The biggest issue you need to think about, IMHO, is quitting your present career to risk getting rated (believe it or not- people, including pilots, fail to make it!). However, if you are looking to change regardless, then go for it.
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 698
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From: Australia
Over here at my training college, 9 out of 12 of us on my course are pilots. 
And history would show that this has not one iota of influence on passing, and in fact - apparently - more ex-pilots fail to pass course than those with no experience whatsoever.
I've found I just have to shed everything I know (or thought) I knew about ATC and start with a clean slate
And history would show that this has not one iota of influence on passing, and in fact - apparently - more ex-pilots fail to pass course than those with no experience whatsoever.
I've found I just have to shed everything I know (or thought) I knew about ATC and start with a clean slate
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: South of Brittany
ATCO= No Night Shift ?
@ferris : If you want to go back home every night do'nt choose an ATCO job !!!! . Presently one full night shift , one late evening (end 1 am) and an evening (end 11 Pm) every 12 days...
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 73
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From: South of Brittany
to Hempy
When the shift (all kind of them)is ended, all team members have to leave. I have no details ( it never happened to me) but by law , there is a period following the end of work which is considered to be the medium amount of time you need to go back home. If you have an accident and be seriously hurt with aftermaths, it will be considered as "a work accident" and you will get some annuities. If you stay after the night shift for example, in your rest lounge for additional sleeping time and leave some hours later, your travel back will not be considered as such.
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Adrift upon the tides of fate
I'll put it down to english as a second language.....
The difference between a pilot and an ATCO, in the case I was talking about, is that the ATCO is home "every night", yes, even on night shifts. You can spend the evening with the kids, put them to bed and then go off to work, and you will be back home next morning to send them off to school. A pilot, on the other hand, may be away for up to 21 consecutive days (in the case of the 747 pilot, she was away a minimum of 3 days every time she worked, and on average 15 days of every month were spent down route- def not good for families).
What Hempy was saying about crews spending time in hotels was NOT about ATCOs, but about pilots. i.e. ATCOs sleep every night (or day) in their OWN BED, whereas (longhaul) pilots finish work and sleep in a hotel.
Get it?
It's a big difference in lifestyle. Often, each of us is envious of the other ;-)
The difference between a pilot and an ATCO, in the case I was talking about, is that the ATCO is home "every night", yes, even on night shifts. You can spend the evening with the kids, put them to bed and then go off to work, and you will be back home next morning to send them off to school. A pilot, on the other hand, may be away for up to 21 consecutive days (in the case of the 747 pilot, she was away a minimum of 3 days every time she worked, and on average 15 days of every month were spent down route- def not good for families).
What Hempy was saying about crews spending time in hotels was NOT about ATCOs, but about pilots. i.e. ATCOs sleep every night (or day) in their OWN BED, whereas (longhaul) pilots finish work and sleep in a hotel.
Get it?
It's a big difference in lifestyle. Often, each of us is envious of the other ;-)
