Air traffic controller's assistants
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ATCA's
Hello.
Im currently 16 y/o will be going to college in Sept to do a BTEC in travel and tourism. I'm aiming to become an ATCO but I dunno if I'll get the qualifications and it will be awkward going Bristol>Bournemouth all the time. So I was thinking of going in as an ATCA at EGGD, because I know they eventually train some of their ATCA's to be ATCO's. (I use the phrase ATCA, VATSIM thing). What are the qualifications required and also minimum age requirements to become an air traffic control assistant?
Thanks.
Dan.
Im currently 16 y/o will be going to college in Sept to do a BTEC in travel and tourism. I'm aiming to become an ATCO but I dunno if I'll get the qualifications and it will be awkward going Bristol>Bournemouth all the time. So I was thinking of going in as an ATCA at EGGD, because I know they eventually train some of their ATCA's to be ATCO's. (I use the phrase ATCA, VATSIM thing). What are the qualifications required and also minimum age requirements to become an air traffic control assistant?
Thanks.
Dan.
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I'm also a VATSIM "controller" - wouldn't relate any terms or whatsoever with real controlling though. They are two different ball games - but still good for keeping interest - and basic skills I suppose too.
- After all, there is real ATCO's using the VATSIM too.
I think the main idea of going to Bournemouth for the college of ATC, is that you stay there in rented accomodation, rather than commuting. I am in Glasgow, so therefore I wouldn't fancy commuting
.
I don't know the exact age requirement, I would be interested in this too. Also, as for education requirements, NATS ask for Highers/A levels (or equivilent - NVQ/SVQ is ok!) completed to exam level ie: you don't need to pass; as long as you have evidence you sat the whole course.
(NOTE: The scottish Higher has a D grade - which means you passed all internal assessments, but failed the actual exam. I'm guessing this is what they mean by study to exam level)
So ATSA, or ATCA (you say tom-ate-toe, I say tomato type thing), would require less than that - just the aptitude to learn ATC and perform to a satisfactory level - and show the potential to be a fully fledged ATCO eventually.
RE: The age thing - because of the shift work ??? I thought any age restiction would be to ensure a standard level of maturity is met. There is a set age restriction for ATCO's as we know (for NATS), but if the ATC at an airport is "independant" of NATS = EG: Prestwick, then wouldn't that be at their own discretion ?
PS: Your BTEC would be at the same level or above the level of an A-level/Higher, so I expect that would count as your period of study through to exam level. It is also a back-up to fall back on if you don't pass the NATS assessments - even if you fail the NATS course after that then there is still the chance of employment - hey, you did do well to get that far, so you must still be of use to NATS even before you start the course.
A borderline fail/pass would get you a ATCA post with NATS I expect, or a job as a blip-driver. (There is the VATSIM thing coming in
)
All the best,
Andrew
- After all, there is real ATCO's using the VATSIM too.
I think the main idea of going to Bournemouth for the college of ATC, is that you stay there in rented accomodation, rather than commuting. I am in Glasgow, so therefore I wouldn't fancy commuting
.I don't know the exact age requirement, I would be interested in this too. Also, as for education requirements, NATS ask for Highers/A levels (or equivilent - NVQ/SVQ is ok!) completed to exam level ie: you don't need to pass; as long as you have evidence you sat the whole course.
(NOTE: The scottish Higher has a D grade - which means you passed all internal assessments, but failed the actual exam. I'm guessing this is what they mean by study to exam level)
So ATSA, or ATCA (you say tom-ate-toe, I say tomato type thing), would require less than that - just the aptitude to learn ATC and perform to a satisfactory level - and show the potential to be a fully fledged ATCO eventually.
RE: The age thing - because of the shift work ??? I thought any age restiction would be to ensure a standard level of maturity is met. There is a set age restriction for ATCO's as we know (for NATS), but if the ATC at an airport is "independant" of NATS = EG: Prestwick, then wouldn't that be at their own discretion ?
PS: Your BTEC would be at the same level or above the level of an A-level/Higher, so I expect that would count as your period of study through to exam level. It is also a back-up to fall back on if you don't pass the NATS assessments - even if you fail the NATS course after that then there is still the chance of employment - hey, you did do well to get that far, so you must still be of use to NATS even before you start the course.
A borderline fail/pass would get you a ATCA post with NATS I expect, or a job as a blip-driver. (There is the VATSIM thing coming in
)All the best,
Andrew
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Thanks
Thanks Andrew. My BTEC is apparently equivalent to 3 A-levels and yes ATC do accept them. A fellow VS ATCO eh!? Where do you control and whats your rating? I control Bristol Radar all the time, Im STU+, Also Im Dan Adams, you'l probably know me for being the most short tempered 
.
Thanks for your info.
Dan.
.Thanks for your info.
Dan.
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cool
Ello, Rightey o, I like controlling more too! Much better. Though listening on my scanner the Bristol initial departure levels appear to have Changed, I will be starting a new topic to make sure these are permanent as Im getting no E-mail reply's from the guys at Bristol ATCU. doh! lol.
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ATCO1987 -
From my own experience of what the ATC people think of VATSIM, it isn't good to email direct to them asking questions about procedures and so on. I expect that the people on the other end of the email may tire of answering our questions all the time .
Those that know fully of the online simulator (which has members of over 50,000 by the way - had more than proon at one point) are tolerant, but some are sick of being pestered.
When you say a new topic, I'm hoping you mean on the VATSIM forums, as compared to here, as it may be frowned upon.
What do the ATCO's think of being quizzed for our V irtual A ir T raffic SIM ulation needs ?
I would ask the other more experienced virtual ATC within VATSIM who have contacts/friends who do it for real anyway.
From my own experience of what the ATC people think of VATSIM, it isn't good to email direct to them asking questions about procedures and so on. I expect that the people on the other end of the email may tire of answering our questions all the time
.Those that know fully of the online simulator (which has members of over 50,000 by the way - had more than proon at one point) are tolerant, but some are sick of being pestered.
When you say a new topic, I'm hoping you mean on the VATSIM forums, as compared to here, as it may be frowned upon.
What do the ATCO's think of being quizzed for our V irtual A ir T raffic SIM ulation needs ?
I would ask the other more experienced virtual ATC within VATSIM who have contacts/friends who do it for real anyway.
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ATSA Roles
I have heard on the rumor mill (but belived quite genine), that both Swanwick and Bournemouth will shortly be recruiting externally for Aircraft Control Position Operators (or "blip" drivers). This is an excellent job, and gives you an insight of ATC Operations and procedures, and puts you in a very good position to apply for an Ops Room Assistant at a later stage.
With regards to pay, you can expect to start off on about £15k (although Swanwick also offers about £3k Unsocial Hours Payment, due to the shift pattern).
I would certainly recommend the job to anyone interested in developing a career in ATC.
With regards to pay, you can expect to start off on about £15k (although Swanwick also offers about £3k Unsocial Hours Payment, due to the shift pattern).
I would certainly recommend the job to anyone interested in developing a career in ATC.
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ATSA vacancies at West Drayton
There is an EXTERNAL recruitment being done at the moment for ATSA 1 simulator drivers at the London Terminal Control Centre.
Suggest you phone the human resources dept at West Drayton for more details.
Good Luck.
Suggest you phone the human resources dept at West Drayton for more details.
Good Luck.
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ATCO1987, If you really want to be an ATCO I wouldn't go round describing yourself as short tempered. ATCO have to be cool, calm and collected under pressure, surely? and certainly the ones I listen to are. You won't want to get yourself a reputation even before you write your application 
TV
(SLF and simmer)
TV
(SLF and simmer)
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Hello,
Im only really short tempered on VATSIM because obviously it isnt real life and you get a lot of muppet pilots come on who dont have a clue what theyre doing, I'd be fine in real life because everyone understands hehe.
Dan.
Im only really short tempered on VATSIM because obviously it isnt real life and you get a lot of muppet pilots come on who dont have a clue what theyre doing, I'd be fine in real life because everyone understands hehe
.Dan.
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And frankly can you blame them for not understanding sometimes? In what might be their fourth or fifth language, poor radio quality, and some ATCOs giving three or four instructions at once.
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Oh yes they are! I had a newbie today who didnt know what "pass your message" meant. In real life you rarely get pilots who actually dont know what theyre doing and think they can do what they want. This happens on VATSIM unfortunately.
Dan.
Dan.
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Although we are not all amateurs !
We have real pilots that fly online too
I'm sure our real world counterparts get their fair share of "dummies", but that just takes the biscuit !
We have real pilots that fly online too
who didnt know what "pass your message" meant
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Indeed Andrew lol. A lot of the dimwits in real life are foreigners who struggle with english, though most are pretty good anyway. You'll always get the odd one no matter what theyre nationality!
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In real life you rarely get pilots who actually dont know what theyre doing and think they can do what they want.
'Pass your message'
'Report field in sight'
'Say again'
and especially:
'Stand by'
These people are not idiots. They are usually low hours ppl's or learners trying their best with an alien language and confusing procedures. And, believe it or not, there are hundreds of them about! And they have to be dealt with calmly and helped as much as you would any other pilot, in fact, they probably require your help more than most.