ATCA

[rowlyc]

Hi, there is an ATCA job going at my local airport. I have no experience but am extremely keen to learn and always had a huge interest in Air Traffic. I currently work in HMRC in a boring old desk job and I'm reasonably educated. Is that enough to apply? What's sort of competencies are required for ATCA's? There's not much to go on in the application form, other than if I have experience. Is there any ATCA out there who would swap email adds to give me an idea of what to expect?
Thanks.

[chevvron]

If I were you, I wouldn't tell them I work for HMRC!!

[Andy Mayes]

Good luck, I have so many questions about tax and pension contributions that it would be handy if you got a job where I work! Purely selfish obviously!

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

ATCA, or ATSA, posts vary considerably depending on the employer and ATC unit. At a major NATS unit ATSAs hold responsible positions. Their duties are fully detailed and may vary from Lighting Operator, working with the controllers to decide routes for traffic, to liaising with adjacent ATC units... taking clearances from the parent Centre, etc. At the better non-NATS airfields they may have the opportunity to train as a controller. At smaller airports they may be little more than general clerks.

If you apply for a position make sure you know what you will be required to do so that you don't end up more bored than you are now!

[rn750]

The key question is how much do they get paid??

Ta Adie

[reportyourlevel]

At a major NATS unit ATSAs hold responsible positions.

At smaller airports they may be little more than general clerks.

Unnecessarily pompous and not very helpful. How long have you been out of the game?

[rowlyc]

It didn't actually say how much the pay is. I'm currently on 19500ish and don't really want a pay cut, but for a job where I'd be happy it might be worth the risk!Any ideas on areas I should focus in on in the application form, safety, statistics, etc?
Thanks for the posts so far.

[Brian 48nav]

reportyourlevel

Nothing pompous about HD's post at all! Get a life!

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Thanks Brian. Try to help and you get insulted.

[reportyourlevel]

You imply that NATS ATSAs are responsible and important, but those of other ANSPs are only lowly clerks. Agreed the jobs are probably very different but you did nothing to address the OP's actual question.

[Daermon ATC]

Originally Posted by reportyourlevel

you did nothing to address the OP's actual question

I beg to differ. HD informed the OP that there will be no standard reply, no size-that-fits-all. Otherwise after getting the first detailed answer the OP could believe it was 100% relevant to his/her job application.

Thus the OP now has knowledge he/she didn't have before and therefore HD's post has provided a useful information.

[throw a dyce]

Rowlyc,
If you are keen on ATC and aircraft that will soon come through at an interview.Why don't you ask them for a visit.Quite often it's who you know,so go and introduce yourself.
Ps Offer to do their tax returns;just a thought.good luck

[Glamdring]

If you do visit, take biscuits

[LEGAL TENDER]

The best thing about being an ATSA in NATS these days is the VR money

[Nimmer]

Mate apply to NATS for an ATCO position. An ATCA job is dead mans shoes!!!

[Minesthechevy]

I'm wading in here to defend HD.

I, too, am 'out of the game' - does that mean that only current salarymen are entitled to an opinion?

HD said that <<s they may be little more than general clerks>> MAY is not the same as IS. Based on my own, admittedly limited, experience of non-NATS airfields it is a sound observation. There's not a lot wrong with being a clerk, but if you go into a job expecting something other than the reality it's a waste of life.

My advice to the original poster is to investigate avenues to being an ATCO - there is marginally more job security in it.......

[chevvron]

I know that age discrimination is not allowed nowadays, but the OP is 32 years old, so NATS would be 'reluctant' to select him for ATCO training.

[Cleared For A Coffee]

It does make me laugh when I see comments like HDs. I happen to know somebody who used to work at one of the bigger NATS units as an ATCA, and the person in question, by there own admission, done little to absolutely nothing and got paid a very decent wage for it.

I know ATCAs at some of the bigger non NATs units who do a hell of a lot more for a lot less money.

Believe it or not, there is a whole world out there outside of NATs...

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Been there, done that, got the tee-shirt and the scars.

[ATCNetwork]

I have been watching the Railways series on the BBC recently visiting the major hubs to the lonely manual junction stations in Scotland.

Would be fascinating to see a similar documentary on ATC. I remember before starting my training being asked to visit some towers/Approach/ACCs. The difference was an eye-opener even 20 years ago.

To the OP Try it! Ask for a visit and see if for yourself. They are usually very open to this. Better than asking a forum and deciding whose differing opinion is the right one. You will see the current situation and you will soon realise what you like or not. And might make you be sure you are making the right decision in a career move.