Gloucester or Swanwick?
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: London
Joined: Dec 2024
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From: West Midlands
After you finish in the college (at Whiteley one year, can't speak for Gloucester) and get posted to unit (which might not be immediate due to holding) you get a pay rise up to the trainee pay point and get shift pay, which is total about £39k at the moment for Swanwick, and will increase slightly in the new year with the annual pay rise. Anticipate that it will take about 18m to 2 years from finishing in the college to validating at an Area unit and you *shouldn't* be disappointed.
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: London
At some point soon after finishing you'll get posted to a unit, and once posted you'll get your pay rise; the quoted figure is current for Swanwick+Heathrow, everywhere else is varying degrees of slightly less.
Joined: May 2025
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From: UK
Sorry to rake up an older thread but I've been unable to find an answer searching around elsewhere.
Is it possible to be streamed into Tower/Aerodrome training whilst on the Swanwick course still or is it ONLY Gloucester now that offers this? I know its 100% Tower/Aerodrome at Gloucester but is Swanwick 100% Area now or more akin to 90% Area - 10% Tower etc?
Is it possible to be streamed into Tower/Aerodrome training whilst on the Swanwick course still or is it ONLY Gloucester now that offers this? I know its 100% Tower/Aerodrome at Gloucester but is Swanwick 100% Area now or more akin to 90% Area - 10% Tower etc?
Joined: Nov 2005
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
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From: Wildest Surrey
At what point do NATS select who goes to which college?
Long time since I did any of that; I did ADV/ADI in the first year, ACS in the second year and APS in the third year so all of us who graduated after the 3 year course could have been posted anywhere, the final selection being made at the beginning of the third year.
Last edited by chevvron; 16th May 2025 at 13:09.
Joined: May 2025
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From: UK
Cheers. Do you know if its possible to be re-streamed once on a course? Just concious that I'd ideally much prefer to be airport based but it appears there are only Swanwick courses available within the next few months.
Last edited by NATSTrainee21; 16th May 2025 at 14:01.
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From: Wildest Surrey
I understand you get no choice, NATS decide where you will do your rating courses not you.
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Southampton
Chevvron, a lots changed, as people have already alluded to here, some people are being offered courses in Swanwick or Gloucester which does give a choice in some form...
Highly unlikely you'll get re-streamed. Have you asked the question if there are any Gloucester courses coming up?
Highly unlikely you'll get re-streamed. Have you asked the question if there are any Gloucester courses coming up?
Joined: Nov 2005
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,458
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From: Wildest Surrey
Chevvron, a lots changed, as people have already alluded to here, some people are being offered courses in Swanwick or Gloucester which does give a choice in some form...
Highly unlikely you'll get re-streamed. Have you asked the question if there are any Gloucester courses coming up?
Highly unlikely you'll get re-streamed. Have you asked the question if there are any Gloucester courses coming up?
Joined: Nov 2005
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,458
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From: Wildest Surrey
Joined: Jul 2023
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From: Nats
Yeah of course. But NATS trainees sent there to do ADI & APS can also be sent to TC. The question asked was based around going to Gloucester to end up at an airport. I was just adding that TC is also a possibility as a NATS posting with APS.
