Is it worth Applying?
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Matty - your desire to do tower work is eminently sensible.
Area is a dark art practised by strange looking folk who mumble a different language as they enter the building, disappear for weeks at a time, and only then are they allowed out for a quick gallop around in the sunlight before they are despatched back into the gloom.
It's true that the majority of aircraft in area do go faster than 220kt, but that's only cos' if they don't the one behind will catch them up and cut them up.
Equally you can play that game in the tower at Heathrow or Gatwick.
At most (if not all?) NATS airports, the approach function is being centralised to Swannick, so if you want to do approach radar, it would have to be at an airfield where the atc is not provided by NATS.
It appears that you'd be happier doing tower work, but if you get the opportunity to choose during training, consider the options carefully:- you may want to opt for area and look 50 at the age of 25!
Area is a dark art practised by strange looking folk who mumble a different language as they enter the building, disappear for weeks at a time, and only then are they allowed out for a quick gallop around in the sunlight before they are despatched back into the gloom.
It's true that the majority of aircraft in area do go faster than 220kt, but that's only cos' if they don't the one behind will catch them up and cut them up.
Equally you can play that game in the tower at Heathrow or Gatwick.
At most (if not all?) NATS airports, the approach function is being centralised to Swannick, so if you want to do approach radar, it would have to be at an airfield where the atc is not provided by NATS.
It appears that you'd be happier doing tower work, but if you get the opportunity to choose during training, consider the options carefully:- you may want to opt for area and look 50 at the age of 25!
Join Date: Dec 2000
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When I joined NATS xx years ago all I wanted to do was to work at Gatwick or Edinburgh Airfields.You guesed it I got a posting to Scottish.I had no idea what an ATCC did.
Although airfields may sound more fun at a centre you get to do "pure air traffic control" you will get a lot more radar time( if that is what you want )
and you do not have to worry about tractors grass cutting near your runway threshold as an a/c is on short final 
and you cannot get in contact with the
bl**dy tractor!!!.
It is horses for courses but Area (north of 55N can be really rewarding and I would reccomend it to anyone )
AyrTC
Although airfields may sound more fun at a centre you get to do "pure air traffic control" you will get a lot more radar time( if that is what you want )
and you do not have to worry about tractors grass cutting near your runway threshold as an a/c is on short final and you cannot get in contact with the bl**dy tractor!!!.
It is horses for courses but Area (north of 55N can be really rewarding and I would reccomend it to anyone )
AyrTC
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Matty
In response to your earlier question about tower/approach training....
Normal doesn't really come into the equation for postings... It's all dependent on what vacancies are available at the time that you leave the college and nothing more sinister than that!! Few (if any) controllers go from area to tower/appraoch, and it's probably more money related I'd say than anything else.
Is it better to be in area in the long run?? Well that depends on your priorities. Where do you want to be based? Does being the top of the ATCO2 as opposed to the ATCO3 matter to you? For me, it's a case of being able to change between the two disciplines of visual controlling and radar controlling, it's nice to have a variation and expect different things when you go to work. Some prefer the darkened room and a permanent life of radar. It's your call...... or possibly that of those choosing your fate at the end of the aerodrome course
In response to your earlier question about tower/approach training....
Normal doesn't really come into the equation for postings... It's all dependent on what vacancies are available at the time that you leave the college and nothing more sinister than that!! Few (if any) controllers go from area to tower/appraoch, and it's probably more money related I'd say than anything else.
Is it better to be in area in the long run?? Well that depends on your priorities. Where do you want to be based? Does being the top of the ATCO2 as opposed to the ATCO3 matter to you? For me, it's a case of being able to change between the two disciplines of visual controlling and radar controlling, it's nice to have a variation and expect different things when you go to work. Some prefer the darkened room and a permanent life of radar. It's your call...... or possibly that of those choosing your fate at the end of the aerodrome course
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Matty,
As my colleauge Callyoushortly has said, it depends where the places are. Obviously you get more of a choice if you do the Approach course than the Area course. I for one would certainly not give up working in the tower, even though I do really miss radar.
As an example, on our Approach course, there were places at Heathrow Tower (2), TC Heathrow Approach (4), Edinburgh (2 - 1 of those is Cally herself, methinks), Farnborough (2) and one at Aberdeen.......that's as far as I can remember, anyway.
If I remember rightly, all the area bods off our course went initally to LATCC, no choice.
Gonzo.
As my colleauge Callyoushortly has said, it depends where the places are. Obviously you get more of a choice if you do the Approach course than the Area course. I for one would certainly not give up working in the tower, even though I do really miss radar.
As an example, on our Approach course, there were places at Heathrow Tower (2), TC Heathrow Approach (4), Edinburgh (2 - 1 of those is Cally herself, methinks), Farnborough (2) and one at Aberdeen.......that's as far as I can remember, anyway.
If I remember rightly, all the area bods off our course went initally to LATCC, no choice.
Gonzo.
I'm Just A Lawnmower
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Matty
We are all a load of whingy, moaning bug*ers but when you look at things, you don't find that many controllers going for a career change. If it was as bad as some contributors suggest, folk would be quitting by the busload.
Sure, there are problems but there are not many jobs where there aren't.
To pinch a quote from Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy: "The hours are good. Most of the minutes are a bit lousy though..."
Go for it mate
We are all a load of whingy, moaning bug*ers but when you look at things, you don't find that many controllers going for a career change. If it was as bad as some contributors suggest, folk would be quitting by the busload.
Sure, there are problems but there are not many jobs where there aren't.
To pinch a quote from Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy: "The hours are good. Most of the minutes are a bit lousy though..."
Go for it mate
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Hi Matty.
I'm also considering a career in ATC (although I am still in my last year of compulsory education).
If its the job that you want- then theres only one thing- apply for it! I'm unsure what the pay is like, but I think its somewhere around the £30-40K mark for controllers (somebody please correct me if i'm wrong).
Personally, I am undecided about a career in ATC. This isnt because of the company etc, but its either ATC or business management for me (i know what the most interesting one is! Although business pays alot better).
Well, thats my twopennieworth!
Cheers,
Louis Coke (Coke611)
I'm also considering a career in ATC (although I am still in my last year of compulsory education).
If its the job that you want- then theres only one thing- apply for it! I'm unsure what the pay is like, but I think its somewhere around the £30-40K mark for controllers (somebody please correct me if i'm wrong).
Personally, I am undecided about a career in ATC. This isnt because of the company etc, but its either ATC or business management for me (i know what the most interesting one is! Although business pays alot better).
Well, thats my twopennieworth!
Cheers,
Louis Coke (Coke611)
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Matty - don't go for the RAF - and I say that with sadness as I spent 6 brilliant years there,and don't regret a minute. But, it ain't what it was - more work less staff etc... sure, you can cadge fastjet trips if you want to or get to sleep in a smelly tent in Afghanistan, if you want to, but you won't have a recognisable qualification at the end of it - despite all the ***** they tell you in their careers propaganda.
As for Airfield or Area ..... I would suggest do airfield, and get those ADC/APR licences tucked in your back pocket, because if you do transfer to Area (not impossible, but getting less likely as privatisation takes a hold) then you will be one of the few who will have the flexibility of choice to leave it as you get toward retirement. The Area job pays better, is harder IMHO, has more security, but limits you (certainly in the UK) to three (reducing to two) locations. Whichever one you work for the senior mgmt have screwed it up, but at least the acidic black humour keeps us smirking.
Wherever you end up you'll find a good bunch of people with a pretty lively attitude - the important thing is strike up friendships across the Airfield/Area spectrum and then we can all go out and get pissed !! Which helps us forget what's next to fall apart .....
As for Airfield or Area ..... I would suggest do airfield, and get those ADC/APR licences tucked in your back pocket, because if you do transfer to Area (not impossible, but getting less likely as privatisation takes a hold) then you will be one of the few who will have the flexibility of choice to leave it as you get toward retirement. The Area job pays better, is harder IMHO, has more security, but limits you (certainly in the UK) to three (reducing to two) locations. Whichever one you work for the senior mgmt have screwed it up, but at least the acidic black humour keeps us smirking.
Wherever you end up you'll find a good bunch of people with a pretty lively attitude - the important thing is strike up friendships across the Airfield/Area spectrum and then we can all go out and get pissed !! Which helps us forget what's next to fall apart .....
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Matty,
The posts so far should have basically answered your questions for you. As with all jobs and all locations there are plusses and minuses, in the end it's your call and yours alone. Despite inept management, it is a highly rewarding way to earn a living. As one colleague of mine put it ...."ATC isn't a job to me, it's a hobby. After 10 years there hasn't been a day I didn't look forward to coming to work." My advice (somewhat biased, perhaps) is follow your heart and go for it.
Best of luck !
The posts so far should have basically answered your questions for you. As with all jobs and all locations there are plusses and minuses, in the end it's your call and yours alone. Despite inept management, it is a highly rewarding way to earn a living. As one colleague of mine put it ...."ATC isn't a job to me, it's a hobby. After 10 years there hasn't been a day I didn't look forward to coming to work." My advice (somewhat biased, perhaps) is follow your heart and go for it.
Best of luck !
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Come on down. The doom and gloom fraternity are partly right, in that teh firm is run by some persons of rather dubious ability, and true, there is only a 1 in 4 chance that you will end up at an airport [and that will probably be around London], but the electric hat wearing bretheren are as good a bunch to work with as I've come across in civilian life, and they aren't armed. 
The pay may not look good alongside consultant Gyneocologists, and the perks aren't as good either, but you only work 6 days out of 10, you don't need to mortgage your parents whilst training [NATS pays you] and by the time you qualify, your license will be good anywhere in the EU. Better than Dixons or flipping burgers for the clown.
The pay may not look good alongside consultant Gyneocologists, and the perks aren't as good either, but you only work 6 days out of 10, you don't need to mortgage your parents whilst training [NATS pays you] and by the time you qualify, your license will be good anywhere in the EU. Better than Dixons or flipping burgers for the clown.
