Is it worth Applying?
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Is it worth Applying?
Hello all.
First, a little about myself. I am 18 years old (less 1 month), have just completed AS level courses in Maths Physics and Geography, and got 2 C's and a B respectively. I intend to contine on and complete the A2 course (giving me a full A level in these subjects). After completeing this, next year i intend to apply to become an Air Traffic Controller.
Now my question is this. Although i dont believe everything i read in the Newspapers, everybody seems to be saying that UK ATC is almost at breakdown, mostly in the En Route sections, is it worth going for it? I mean i know ATC is a stressful job, but if there is so much more traffic this will add significantly to the stress involved, and one mistake picked up by the press would basically end your career.
At least thats the way it seems to me.
Opinions would be welcomed, and before you all start thinking i wont be able to cope with the pressure, its not that, its that i dont want to be getting into something without realising fully what the situation is.
Many thanks
Matty
First, a little about myself. I am 18 years old (less 1 month), have just completed AS level courses in Maths Physics and Geography, and got 2 C's and a B respectively. I intend to contine on and complete the A2 course (giving me a full A level in these subjects). After completeing this, next year i intend to apply to become an Air Traffic Controller.
Now my question is this. Although i dont believe everything i read in the Newspapers, everybody seems to be saying that UK ATC is almost at breakdown, mostly in the En Route sections, is it worth going for it? I mean i know ATC is a stressful job, but if there is so much more traffic this will add significantly to the stress involved, and one mistake picked up by the press would basically end your career.
At least thats the way it seems to me.
Opinions would be welcomed, and before you all start thinking i wont be able to cope with the pressure, its not that, its that i dont want to be getting into something without realising fully what the situation is.
Many thanks
Matty
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Simple. If its what you wanna do, then hurdles can be overcome, so do it. Its only a job like any other at the end of the day, but the stakes are higher, as is job satisfaction, comradeship, etc.
But then, what do I know, I ******ed off to Maastricht......
But then, what do I know, I ******ed off to Maastricht......
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As for beleiving what you read in the press :-
if it's the scare-mongering stories of daily near misses in the skies above us.........ABSOLUTE B*LLOCKS................we (probably) have the safest skies in the world.
but if its the stories about NATS being on the verge of bankrupcy and probably in the worse heap of do-do it's ever been........BELEIVE IT...........
As for en-route being in a mess, that's not quite correct.............IT'S THE WHOLE ORGANISATION............you just have to thank all those old codgers in the houses of parliament (and the management) for allowing PPP.
If that hasn't put you off i suggest you get your application in
if it's the scare-mongering stories of daily near misses in the skies above us.........ABSOLUTE B*LLOCKS................we (probably) have the safest skies in the world.
but if its the stories about NATS being on the verge of bankrupcy and probably in the worse heap of do-do it's ever been........BELEIVE IT...........
As for en-route being in a mess, that's not quite correct.............IT'S THE WHOLE ORGANISATION............you just have to thank all those old codgers in the houses of parliament (and the management) for allowing PPP.
If that hasn't put you off i suggest you get your application in
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Why don't you apply at Eurocontrol, to work in Maastricht as an ATCO... the training is in Luxembourg for the first 9 months ( and they are fun months, as I remember )... good salary from the start... and the weather is the same as with you guys :-)
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Hello Matty,
On a purely PERSONAL level:
If you want a nice car, nice house, and cheap holidays then yes you should do it...
However, if you cant cope with not having a social life with anybody outside of work, feeling tired all the time, and working when everybody else is off enjoying themselves (eg bank holidays, chritsmas etc), feeling totally undervalued in your job...
then stick to the 9 to 5!!!!
On a purely PERSONAL level:
If you want a nice car, nice house, and cheap holidays then yes you should do it...
However, if you cant cope with not having a social life with anybody outside of work, feeling tired all the time, and working when everybody else is off enjoying themselves (eg bank holidays, chritsmas etc), feeling totally undervalued in your job...
then stick to the 9 to 5!!!!
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All I can say is that I used to work in a so called 9-5 environment. Ended up with the usual weekends off and 20 days holiday a year.
Although I work for a private company, when I did work for NATS as an ATSA and then subsequently became an ATCO , I enjoy lots of free time (Far more than all my non ATC mates), and love going into work.
There aren't many of my friends that can say that.
As for the stress levels. I have just bought a house. Theres not much more stress than that, that I have encountered in the job.
If you aren't up to it you will soon find that out during the training (Although quite abit different from the live traffic)
I say go for it . I started in my late twenties and wish I had started at your age.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
Although I work for a private company, when I did work for NATS as an ATSA and then subsequently became an ATCO , I enjoy lots of free time (Far more than all my non ATC mates), and love going into work.
There aren't many of my friends that can say that.
As for the stress levels. I have just bought a house. Theres not much more stress than that, that I have encountered in the job.
If you aren't up to it you will soon find that out during the training (Although quite abit different from the live traffic)
I say go for it . I started in my late twenties and wish I had started at your age.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
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Yes, Bern Oulli, I really enjoy sitting at home on my Norman Bates on my day off when all my mates are working, and not having anybody to go down the pub with cos they're all up early the next day... yeh great life.
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Matty - yes, go for it.
Barny has it about right, the views of atco - matic et al are unrepresentitive of the profession.
There's no doubt that the training is hard work and highly competetive, and it's definately not the sort of work you can do if you don't enjoy it.
But once you're fully validated and working, there are few professions which match the pay and conditions and time off. Its also one of the few jobs in which you can't take the stress of the job home with you - it ends the moment you walk out of the door.
I'm not sure which side of the job you want - area or airfield work, personally I enjoy the airfield side and couldn't stand the prospect of being stuck inside an area control centre. Working at a non NATS airport, I also do approach procedural and approach radar work which is a nice variation of the task.
Equally, there are many other atcos who have the opposite view.
Each functions has it's own traits, which can make one a busy as the other.
The only thing to bear in mind, especially if you opt for Eurocontrol, is that once you've committed to area control, it's very unlikely you'd have the opportunity to retrain and work at an airport in the future as a tower/approach atco.
I trained with and worked with NATS, and subsequently left to work at another airport in the UK.
Personally, I can't think of another job I'd be as happy in, or one that has the long term security and conditions that we enjoy, and I consider that to be one of the most important factors in anyones career.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Barny has it about right, the views of atco - matic et al are unrepresentitive of the profession.
There's no doubt that the training is hard work and highly competetive, and it's definately not the sort of work you can do if you don't enjoy it.
But once you're fully validated and working, there are few professions which match the pay and conditions and time off. Its also one of the few jobs in which you can't take the stress of the job home with you - it ends the moment you walk out of the door.
I'm not sure which side of the job you want - area or airfield work, personally I enjoy the airfield side and couldn't stand the prospect of being stuck inside an area control centre. Working at a non NATS airport, I also do approach procedural and approach radar work which is a nice variation of the task.
Equally, there are many other atcos who have the opposite view.
Each functions has it's own traits, which can make one a busy as the other.
The only thing to bear in mind, especially if you opt for Eurocontrol, is that once you've committed to area control, it's very unlikely you'd have the opportunity to retrain and work at an airport in the future as a tower/approach atco.
I trained with and worked with NATS, and subsequently left to work at another airport in the UK.
Personally, I can't think of another job I'd be as happy in, or one that has the long term security and conditions that we enjoy, and I consider that to be one of the most important factors in anyones career.
Good luck whatever you decide.
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Goatgruff-I want to do tower work, but after talking to a family friend in ATC he said you dont really get much choice, if they think you would be better at area control, you will end up there? is this true?
Excel- I dont believe those stories of regular near-misses, however one alledgedly "senior" ATCo said that the whole System over Britain was due to collapse within the next 3 years, just about the time i would be completing my training and starting out for real.
As for Eurocontrol at Maastricht, i feel that a lack of Language skills (altho i got a "B" grade at GCSE in french, i can barely string a sentance together in that language, and are hopeless at any other language ) would be a hinderance, perhaps learning some new languages would help?
Thanks for taking the time to reply peple, i really appreciate it.
Matty
Excel- I dont believe those stories of regular near-misses, however one alledgedly "senior" ATCo said that the whole System over Britain was due to collapse within the next 3 years, just about the time i would be completing my training and starting out for real.
As for Eurocontrol at Maastricht, i feel that a lack of Language skills (altho i got a "B" grade at GCSE in french, i can barely string a sentance together in that language, and are hopeless at any other language ) would be a hinderance, perhaps learning some new languages would help?
Thanks for taking the time to reply peple, i really appreciate it.
Matty
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Been reading this thread with interest and thought I'd look into "How to become an ATC" myself.
Was disappointed to note that NATS only offer training to those under the age of 30, which stops me in my tracks as I am already 30.
Oh well, back to Web developing then
Was disappointed to note that NATS only offer training to those under the age of 30, which stops me in my tracks as I am already 30.
Oh well, back to Web developing then
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MME
If it is your lack of foreign which is putting you off Eurocontrol, don't let it. I know of plenty of Brits here who speak only English. It is true that a knowledge of French, German or Dutch would help on a social level, however it would have no impact on your working life.
If it is your lack of foreign which is putting you off Eurocontrol, don't let it. I know of plenty of Brits here who speak only English. It is true that a knowledge of French, German or Dutch would help on a social level, however it would have no impact on your working life.
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Matty
Go for it !!!!!
We all moan about Management, equipment, hours etc. etc.
I have just done 32 years as a Controller with Nats. OK they are a S**t outfit. But the guys you will meet and work with are fantastic. It is hard work training. When you finally get validated and are sitting on your own up to your arse in alluminium you will think 'What the hell am I doing' Go for a beer after work.
Good luck !!
Mr G.
Go for it !!!!!
We all moan about Management, equipment, hours etc. etc.
I have just done 32 years as a Controller with Nats. OK they are a S**t outfit. But the guys you will meet and work with are fantastic. It is hard work training. When you finally get validated and are sitting on your own up to your arse in alluminium you will think 'What the hell am I doing' Go for a beer after work.
Good luck !!
Mr G.
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Hey Matty,
Don't let the b**tards put you down mate. ATC is one of the besr careers you can get into. The people are great, the money is not quite as great as it once was, but still competitive, and the hours can be a refreshing alternative to the 9-5.
It's true, 2 dozen drunken monkeys on acid could probably do a better job of running the company than Rupert and Cheese'n'Ham, but you just have to rise above the bull****.
If you think about the negative aspects, nights, days off at funny ties, earlies at weekends, they all have their upsides too.
Early starts mean early finishes, nights give you ample opportunity to catch up on the latest bestsellers, and do you realise how cheap it is to go to the cinema during the day midweek, when every other fool is at work!
The company itself is in deep doo doo, but that isn't going to affect you, the job still needs to be done, and we still need new guys to do it. If Nats collapses, we're re nationalised; where's the problem there?
As for starting 'live' in 3 years, don't be too hasty. After completion of the college course, you'd do support duties at Swanwick (which is probably where u'd end up) for about a year to 18 months.
So total time from start to validation is around 3 1/2 to 4 years.
Don't let any of it put you off mate, it's a sound career choice
Don't let the b**tards put you down mate. ATC is one of the besr careers you can get into. The people are great, the money is not quite as great as it once was, but still competitive, and the hours can be a refreshing alternative to the 9-5.
It's true, 2 dozen drunken monkeys on acid could probably do a better job of running the company than Rupert and Cheese'n'Ham, but you just have to rise above the bull****.
If you think about the negative aspects, nights, days off at funny ties, earlies at weekends, they all have their upsides too.
Early starts mean early finishes, nights give you ample opportunity to catch up on the latest bestsellers, and do you realise how cheap it is to go to the cinema during the day midweek, when every other fool is at work!
The company itself is in deep doo doo, but that isn't going to affect you, the job still needs to be done, and we still need new guys to do it. If Nats collapses, we're re nationalised; where's the problem there?
As for starting 'live' in 3 years, don't be too hasty. After completion of the college course, you'd do support duties at Swanwick (which is probably where u'd end up) for about a year to 18 months.
So total time from start to validation is around 3 1/2 to 4 years.
Don't let any of it put you off mate, it's a sound career choice
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Matty
I came into this job, like you're looking at, straight after A levels. It's what I'd always wanted to do, so I went for it. Here I am 3.5 years later fully valid in a tower/approach environment.
If you think you want to do it, then I'd advise you to go for it. There's no better job (IMHO)!!
Might be worth you getting a look around a tower if you haven't already done so..... that'll make your mind up if anything!!
Best of luck
I came into this job, like you're looking at, straight after A levels. It's what I'd always wanted to do, so I went for it. Here I am 3.5 years later fully valid in a tower/approach environment.
If you think you want to do it, then I'd advise you to go for it. There's no better job (IMHO)!!
Might be worth you getting a look around a tower if you haven't already done so..... that'll make your mind up if anything!!
Best of luck
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Matty,
Go for it!
I've been in ATC (Australia) for 24 years, and despite all it's frustrations (shift work, weird management decisions etc), still enjoy the job.
Will you ever become browned off? Certainly. But if you get stuck into it, the options are always there to go either overseas or bail out completely.
Interesting to see recent applicants for ATC in Brisbane included many kids of controllers who would "never" recommend the job to anyone!
LLZe
Go for it!
I've been in ATC (Australia) for 24 years, and despite all it's frustrations (shift work, weird management decisions etc), still enjoy the job.
Will you ever become browned off? Certainly. But if you get stuck into it, the options are always there to go either overseas or bail out completely.
Interesting to see recent applicants for ATC in Brisbane included many kids of controllers who would "never" recommend the job to anyone!
LLZe
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Callyoushortly: I have spent a day in Teesside Tower, lookin round and generally making a nucence of myself and i really do fancy tower work, is it possible (or usual) to go into this straight from training, or is it more common to spend X years in Area Control? or is better to be in Area Control in the long run?
Also, this is the longest topic i have ever created so keep them replies comin people!
Many Many thanks
Matty
and i really do fancy tower work, is it possible (or usual) to go into this straight from training, or is it more common to spend X years in Area Control? or is better to be in Area Control in the long run?Also, this is the longest topic i have ever created so keep them replies comin people!
Many Many thanks
Matty