Your opinions on ATC please!!

[TDG]

Hi guys


I would be very grateful if you would take a few moments to answer a couple straight forward questions.
I am considering a career change to become an Air Traffic Controller (civilian) and would very much like to hear the opinions of current and ex controllers. I am arranging a visit to an ATC unit but would like to hear some anonymous unbiased opinions from you guys inthe meantime.

• What are your three favourite parts of your job?

• What are three bad points of your job?

Please include a sentence which includes your experience and controller type i.e. enroute etc. By all means if you have more than three points you would like to tell me please include them.

Thanks very much, I’m very much looking forward to the challenge of becoming an Air Traffic Controller, but want to do as much as I can to ensure I don’t leave a good, comfortable career due to a case of ‘the grass is always greener!’

Please PM me if you feel it is more appropriate.

Thanks again

TDG

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

You can't simply list three of this and three of that.

I was an ATCO for over 35 years and I enjoyed every moment of it. Full stop.

[Slylo Green]

As HD said there are too many things to list, the job in whole is my favourite part. Don't really have a least favourite.

Tower and Approach valid 3 years.

[elandel]

As HD says - I dont find any bad points about the job - thats why thousands of people appl each year - its not a gimme so get your application in!
The only time I get fed up at work is when management start to interfere - but I'm sure you get that whatever job you do.
30 years valid at a large airport in the south east.......

[Dan Dare]

Aerodrome ATCO

Good points

1. Job satisfaction
2. Lifestyle
3. View

Bad points

1. Managers
2. Managers
3. Managers

[Occams Razor]

Tower and radar valid, achieved in the last couple of years.

It's the best job in the world.

[Glamdring]

Aerodrome & Approach ATCO

Good Points...

• Job Satisfaction
• Pay
• Time Off

Bad Points...

• Managers
• Shifts
• Managers

[BigDaddyBoxMeal]

Good points:

• Pay
• Time off
• People (some of the people, some of the time )

Bad points:

• Hours of boredom
• Little job satisfaction
• Lack of mobility/development opportunities

Aerodrome and Approach Radar valid ATCO for a "global leader in air traffic control and airport performance" at one of its smaller operations.

[TDG]

Thank you for your replies.

A common theme of all the responses is that everyone loves the job itself which is very reassuring.

I appreciate you're all probably very busy which is why my questions were so brief. Thank you for your time, it sounds like it is a great career.

TDG

[Tarq57]

Aerodrome controller. 33 years. Have also done approach and area.

Good points:
-Brilliant view.
-Good interactions with flight crew and colleagues.
-Job satisfaction.

Bad points:
-Poorly designed equipment-and placement, which is branded "worlds best", or "industry leader" or similar.
-Having to do night shifts.
-Management "consulting" on what changes are going to happen, and then pushing their agenda through anyway.

(Nah...that doesn't happen anywhere, does it? )

[eastern wiseguy]

Just about to retire after over 35 years(27 years Tower and Approach)

Like

Job satisfaction
People
The sheer FUN that they pay me for this

Dislike

Morning shifts.....that's it

[chevvron]

Good points - too many to mention.

Bad points.
1. Lack of investment.
2. Management reluctant to embrace new technology due to its cost.
3. Airport authorities who won't pay for decent equipment and the qualified personnel
to operate it.

[cottam approach]

let's not forget being an ATCO gets you loadsa birds

[Raven30]

let's not forget being an ATCO gets you loadsa birds

I look forward to that!!

[WorkInProgress]

Quote:
let's not forget being an ATCO gets you loadsa birds

Valid for 10 yrs up north (mad for it and 2 Rwys). Not wanting to upset any lady atco's, but this must be when we r on night outs on the raz!! Lol.

[kcockayne]

opinions on ATC.

My contemparaneous colleagues & myself often used to say , even before we'd retired, that we'd been extremely lucky & enjoyed the golden years of ATC before the regulators (SRG) struck with a vengeance; & before the days of SRATCOH (which were, for us wef 2004) & EFPS.

Nothing has changed to force us to change our opinions!

In fact, the malaise continues, & deepens, from what we're told.

The best parts of the job ?

1. I never worked a day in 36 years (whilst in ATC).
2. I loved every minute of every one of those days.
3. I was, effectively, my own boss & made my own decisions - despite the teamwork involved.
4. The teamwork.
5. The characters I worked with (ATC & flying).
6. The freedom of the job, the time off, shift work & the pay.

The worst parts ?

The Management - even worse today, thanks to the items in my first paragraph & to the complete lack of CHARACTERS in ATC together with the awesome experiences they had accummulated (2nd World War, Battle of Britain etc.)

Would I do it all over again ?

You bet your arse I would ! - regardless of the worst parts of the job.

[On the beach]

Beats working for a living.

[makosa]

Good points:

- Time off
- Salary
- Job is like a hobby


Bad points:

- Working early shifts, weekends
- Equipment getting old...
- Sometimes some routine