away from home....
 

I will enlighten you, because there is at least one on every course.
Someone who thinks they are going to breeze through the training, or that it seems to be their given right to achieve a validation.

Hang ten is right - some people never realise just how good we have it. A good job that folks don't mind getting up at silly o'clock in the morning to do.

At Swanwick, we still get nobbers coming for validation training who think that it's going to be a doddle - It's usually easy to spot them. They turn up on their first day out of the college with the brand new MGF or Civic TypeR and a massive mortgage.

Anyway - reading this thread, it seems that those of you bound for the sept 6th course are suitably excited and chuffed at getting to this stage so I wouldn't expect any of you to be categorised as above.

One last thing - although the course has changed recently, the academic side isn't really as intense as you are probably expecting. If you give yourself some time (an hour?) each evening to review what you have learned that day and then study a bit harder closer to exams, you will be fine and have plenty of time to compete for the f@t B'st@rd bar of chocolate in the Seagull pub quiz.

Good luck to the lot of you.
PS: from my original course, one left halfway through 2nd day at CATC; one was a numpty and got nowhere; one left to do some airport ops stuff; One removed self from training at APC radar and another resigned from unit. I think everyone else is a valid ATCO somwhere - NATS or otherwise.

bono estente
 

To pick a well-known Monty Python line...
Enjoy the course and the job. But most importantly of all, don't muck it up by spending all your time down the pub/chasing the holiday makers - the decision makers at HR think you are worth the money and effort to give you the biggest opportunity of your lives.

Many of us weren't so lucky and had their hopes and dreams dashed by not spouting the right corporate garb. I'd (still) sell my granny to be in your postition, even though I was told I wasn't committed enough to the cause......(despite being in the application cycle for four years, calling HR every few weeks, visiting numerous towers (even RAF ones), writing letters & emails to controllers, posting on pprune etc etc..... :ouch:

Like a lemon, still not bitter.
WF :{

VectorLine has reminded me of a "curse" at the college......the curse of buying a new car.

Don't do it while you're there. It's a curse I tell you. It seems that just about (!) anybody that buys a new car when they get down to Bournmouth befalls bad luck. You've been warned!

er..... I bought a 2nd hand clio the other week even before I got the call to go on the Sep 6th course! Hope that doesnt mean Im under the curse... you got me worried now!!:* :sad:

No, you'll be fine. Only if you buy one during the course.

The curse is real, and it is absolute. Beware! I had to replace my car under insurance, and I was lucky to survive in ATC in one form or another. That's my excuse anyway. :D

It's those buying flashy,
"I'm an air traffic controller with loadsa money and a love for adrenaline", cars that get the chop.

mps - Don't worry, I don't think you'll stand out too much in your clio (unless it's one of those faster b@stard ones!! :} )

good luck all

VL

Mps,

I bought a car a few days before I started, so I think it only counts if you buy one while you're there!

Sheesh, I just got a new one last week, glad to see I should be safe! :O

ha ha! indeed the car curse - along the same the lines as getting a nice long rental agreement. murphy's law...

thanks to vectorline for clearing up exactly what i meant - no-one in particular.

take it easy. h10. :cool:

On the subject of bad luck charms, you guys entering the college will soon realise that while we are not all a superstitious as controllers we do spend a large amount of work time trying hard to fend off bad luck and praying for good luck!!!!!

There were guys on my course who swore the had to have the same outfit down to socks and underpants on for assessments!!

But good luck to you all at bournemouth its not all that bad once you have passed!!!!

So everyone should have recieved the info pack by now!

Anybody notice that it doesn't really tell you anything!!

So does anybody know the REAL format of the course we're all about to undertake (or have I missed a section in the intro pack)

:ugh:

Common you people at the school - Spill the beans!

TFB



:ok:

Well done on getting through guys, now the real fun begins. ;)

If anyone has any questions and are in Bournemouth next week then mail me back and i'll be happy to attempt to answer them, over a beer of course!

If not, then if i'm not working, sure i'll see you at the meet and greet ( meet and greet: excuse for a piss up on a college work night! :yuk: )

Good luck!

And I do know of someone who has been through 2 new sports cars (Birmingham made) while training and is now at Swanwick!
:8

But the one who turned up on day one not only in a new car but with a "personal" number plate like ATC1 - he was an absolute cert not to finish. And Lo, it came to pass....... He didn't, obviously.

On the structure of the introductory course - completely different from anything anyone prior to 200 course did, so ignore their comments. Also, changed in some detail since 200 course, in the light of experience.

Extra-curricular work - as someone wisely remarked, do as much as necessary. In that context number 200 course set a very high standard for 201 to meet. I shall look forward to seeing if you are likely to come anywhere near it in a week or so's time!

bern,

Wasnt that the infamous pink Fiesta?!

Er... its a 1.2, 0 to 60 in half an hour!! But it does the trick and Im happy with it!!

Looking forward to starting now, think im going to B&B it for a week or too and hopefully end of sharing with a few on the course.:ok:

hi guys,

Looking forward to meeting everyone on the sunday eve.

Does anyone know if we have to stay on site for the week or can we commute to/from Bournemouth?


p.s: We'll knock the socks off course 200! :ok:



All the best
James

The bad luck doesn't just apply to failing your training. It extends to major injuries during the traditional football game between the new course and the course ahead or falling off your mountain bike in the New Forest; getting pregnant (or married or BOTH!); coming down with an evil illness that could lead to medical recourse.............and that was just on our course ;)

Or of course having your new car damaged by running into a deer in the New Forest......

Fletchers Left Boot Affirm. If my aged memory serves me right, didn't it get totalled down Matchams Lane or somewhere nearby? And didn't his gf have a matching one?

To all the other posters heading for 201, I'm impressed by the enthusiasm demonstrated so far. It bodes well.

hee hee,
the many tales of bornemouth..... looking forward to it now, although i think i just heard something on the news about an incident at the airfield today. very sad.

7 days now!!!!
C

HANG TEN.
QUOTE:

ha ha! indeed the car curse -

HOWS THAT SHINY NEW TOYOTA COROLLA WORKING OUT FOR YA??? :ok:

Hi everyone

I'm on the 6th Sept course too and am really excited about getting started!! This time next week, eh?! I've kept an eye on pprune for ages but have only just got around to registering now - all info has been fantastic so thanks!

I'm B&Bing it for the first wee while on Westby Rd tho I haven't been down to visit. I'm told Bournemouth's a fab place to live and that the reason there are so many failed controllers is cos the pubs and clubs are so good!!

See you in the New Place bar Sunday night...

Kate :D :D

Kate..
are you the infamous Kate, Mr C from HIAL has been telling me about? hee hee... oh the stories if you are! :O :cool:

(only kidding)
see ya next week all.... 18:44 thats = to what, 2 pints by now?

C

Good luck to you all. Know two of the course from our happy flying days on the sunny Scottish Islands :cool: - you deserve the chance and I really ( :ok: ) look forward to training some of you on Tay Sector if you end up in God's Own Country :E

So, when's the next party ..... and we can come down on the ryanair and Taceval you .... ?

No no no .. not Jumpin Jacks .... :}

i scratched it! not happy... :{

PH-UKU,

TacEval's are allowed as long as you bring down the warrior and take us flying!!

Jumping Jacks...intrigued - dodgy night club to be visited once then consigned to the bin (i wonder???)

:ok:

Jumpin Jacks is a very cheesy night club by Bournemouth Pier.

so to be avoided then???

sticky floors and all that!

:ok:

didn't see that there...
saw hot rocks restaurant (nice foooood! yummy) and the IMAX place with the red panda and KFC and the usual holiday maker food.... hmmm
in fact apart from pubs, cant remember seeing any clubs.... i see an exploration evening needing to be planned....

C

Talking of dodgy clubs, If anyone remembers Berlins i've been told it now has a Pole for dodgy ladies to dance around!!! :rolleyes:

had my best nights out in bournemouth at Berlins. Nice and cheap and always seem to get in free.
Can't wait to start now. Am spending saturday night in bournemouth, staying at a mates house. If anyone wants to meet up for a pre sunday drink send us a message. will be spending sunday looking for somewhere to stay for the week after. does anyone know whether we start getting accomodationn money starting this coming weekend or the weekend after? would be nice to have somewhere to dump all my stuff while we're at New Place.
also the curse had better not be right - i just bought a car (not brand new though):bored: :uhoh:

Jumpin Jaks dodgy? surely not...Haven't been there for a while, Toko and Walkabout seem to be the place of choice at the moment, at least for the area courses.

Accomodation expenses (WAP) has to be claimed through expenses forms (no receipts necessary) and usually takes about 5 says to come through (forms collected each Wednesday at college). As far as I know you can still claim an advance against WAP payments, and then write this off against a future WAP claim...if that makes sense?

Hello everyone,

Boy was my day visit to Bournemouth eventful. Went looking at a few places to rent which were, well lets be honest, you wouldn't let your worst enemy stay there and they wanted 75 sheets a week:yuk: ! Think Im going to B&B it for now til I find somewhere suitable or meet up with a few on the course to share etc.

And... having only had my car for a week, a woman in a 4x4 with bull bars decided not to use her brakes at the roundabout and pile into the back of me!:ugh: :{ how unlucky?!!

Still, she accepted the blame but its the hassle of getting it in for repair now! Just hope my time as a TATC is trouble free!

Only 3 days to go.....yippee:E :ok:

Oh oh! THE CURSE STRIKES BACK!
Hope your ok mate.
see ya sunday
C

Anybody still looking for accommodation??!! If people would like to share or can reccommend a B&B, please PM me!:ok: :E

I got into a lovely place in Christchurch. The name and contact number were on the list the college sent out, on the first page if I remember correctly. The name was 'Michael Dewey'. I visited last Thursday and got myself a lovely en-suite room, off road parking and only 5-10 minutes from the college. They had another two rooms available last week so if you give them a call I'm sure you'll get something sorted. They are on holiday unitl the 3rd so you may not get through until then.

If you want any more info, PM me :)

Guys

My final post on this board!

Leaving tomorrow at 6.30am to drive down, see you all on Sunday.

Chris - see you at the pad!

TFB

2 days and counting.....................:ok: :E

Well, I've just arrived at New Place after a 36 hour journey (darn Seacat! :mad: ). I'm just taking advantage of the BT Openzone internet access before I go to bed, I'd go to the bar to see you all but I'm too tired!

New Place is a nice setting, I can't wait until tomorrow.

Good luck!:)

Well

Hows day one folks?

Enjoying it?

Scared?

Excited?