ATC Assistant
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ATC Assistant
Hello all,
I am currently undergoing ATC basic training. I will eventually continue on with ADI, however I would like to take a break for a maximum of 9 months (for personal reasons). In this time I would like to get a job as an ATC assistant after finishing the basic course. My question is whether having the basic course on my CV would help in any way in doing that.
Cheers
I am currently undergoing ATC basic training. I will eventually continue on with ADI, however I would like to take a break for a maximum of 9 months (for personal reasons). In this time I would like to get a job as an ATC assistant after finishing the basic course. My question is whether having the basic course on my CV would help in any way in doing that.
Cheers
In my personal opinion, once you start Student ATCO training, it's not a good idea to take a 'voluntary' break in it, especially if you're with NATS. I don't know their policy on this but I would guess you'll have to do the basic course (or at least part of it) again in order to assess what you can recall from it.
Last edited by chevvron; 21st Nov 2013 at 13:14.
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What part of the country do you normally reside, when not on your basic?
Chevron is right, when you go to an employer looking for ATSA employment they may not look favourably on you wanting to disappear to do your ADI, albeit you are paying. In my experience people have got the ATSA vacancy with a (Student Licence) ADI rating under their belt.
Chevron is right, when you go to an employer looking for ATSA employment they may not look favourably on you wanting to disappear to do your ADI, albeit you are paying. In my experience people have got the ATSA vacancy with a (Student Licence) ADI rating under their belt.
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Thank you for your replies. It seemed like a good idea to go for an ATC assistant job since I will have to take that break in between anyway. Also, having no experience in an airport, I thought it would be helpful.
The maximum break between courses is 9 months as one of our instructors mentioned.is that true?
The maximum break between courses is 9 months as one of our instructors mentioned.is that true?
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I am residing in London, however relocation is not an issue. Even Europe sounds good. Should I at least be barking up the Europe tree, if UK is a no go for ATC assistant?
Cheers
Cheers
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It may be worth checking with SRG as to how long is permissible between a Basic Course and starting a Rating Course.
9 months which your instructor mentioned is what is allowed between finishing a Rating Course and commencing a UTP (The 9 Month Rule) but I have never heard your question asked before so I would check before potentially requiring resits.
I assume you are a self sponsor.
9 months which your instructor mentioned is what is allowed between finishing a Rating Course and commencing a UTP (The 9 Month Rule) but I have never heard your question asked before so I would check before potentially requiring resits.
I assume you are a self sponsor.
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These days the rules about ATC training are complex and designed around a more or less continuous course of training. Unless your reasons for wanting to take a break are compelling, you will be far better off - for continuity of all the stuff you need to learn if nothing else - to try and do the rating training immediately after the basic.
I'm guessing that Slylo is asking who is sponsoring your training because of the need to do the practical training within a fixed period following the classroom parts. Do you have somewhere lined up to do the practical training?
I don't mean to be a miserable beggar but there are a lot of hurdles to becoming a controller today (certainly far more than in the past) and doing anything a bit 'non-standard' may not fit the rules and will simply create hassle for you.
I'm guessing that Slylo is asking who is sponsoring your training because of the need to do the practical training within a fixed period following the classroom parts. Do you have somewhere lined up to do the practical training?
I don't mean to be a miserable beggar but there are a lot of hurdles to becoming a controller today (certainly far more than in the past) and doing anything a bit 'non-standard' may not fit the rules and will simply create hassle for you.
Without putting a dampener on things, I think you might really struggle getting a 'temporary' ATCA position. Presuming your a self funder, if I were you I would complete the ADI course as well before trying (and I stress trying) to get a position as an ATCA.
Don't presume that if you have a student license units will be falling over one another to employ you as an ATCA either, because there is a lot of competition in the same boat as you out there. I would hope that whichever college it is that's training you has explained all of this already.
Don't take this as negative feedback, just some honest opinion based on personal experience from when I started out.
Don't presume that if you have a student license units will be falling over one another to employ you as an ATCA either, because there is a lot of competition in the same boat as you out there. I would hope that whichever college it is that's training you has explained all of this already.
Don't take this as negative feedback, just some honest opinion based on personal experience from when I started out.
AeroTOR, why not take the exams for a FISO licence; some of your Basic Course training should help you pass. You might be more likely to get a temporary/part time post as a FISO rather than ATSA and when (not if) you return to ATCO training, you'll have some 'live traffic' experience. You'll also need an A/G Certificate to train for the FISO validation.
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I saw that in the FISO examinations they test you on law,nav and met. Since I am already tested on these during the basic training, would I be exempt from taking them?
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To put it simply yes having the basic under your belt will help but only being available for 9 months will almost certainly rule you out. It will take a month or two to train you and why would an employer bother to only get 7 month productive out of you??
Some FISO airfields use 'freelancers' for part time/leave/maternity cover.
FISO validation requires MER of 40 hours U/T with not more than 4 hours per day counting towards MER, so it's possible to validate in (tongue in cheek) 10 days.
FISO validation requires MER of 40 hours U/T with not more than 4 hours per day counting towards MER, so it's possible to validate in (tongue in cheek) 10 days.
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KEEP GOING
My advice,based on a friend,is to carry on.she waited between courses and then missed job opportunities that were taken by her friends on the basci course.you are also in the mind of training and i reckun that will help you hugely.
