Civilian ATC at Military airfields
 

Hi all,

Does anyone know if any of the civilian contractors that provide ATC services at Military Aerodromes are recruiting licenced and previously valid ATCO's, but are just not advertising?

I'm looking to do something different from "sausage machine" ops!

Cheers!

Serco do ATC at Wattisham and Middle Wallop. The money is good, and I know that at Wattisham, when the army go on holiday, so does ATC, so the time off is pretty good. As to recruiting, I don't know about current vacancies, but it's always worth registering your interest if that's what you really want.

I've know idea where you work now, but if you're bored with civil op's, the military airfields offer no more variation, in fact Wattisham and Middle Wallop are less exciting than grass growing or paint drying.

Why not try a regional airport, where you get to "mix it" properly? or is that too scary for you to contemplate...?:E

Try EGBE, only sausages in the Baps
[email protected]
:D

Niknak,
You cheeky swine! ;) What-a-shame's plenty busy thanks. At least you didn't say as boring as Sudoku though :bored: , that would have been a real insult. It's great fun mixing Apaches, Alberts and SAR scrambles with the odd FJ PD thrown in for good measure. Come visit sometime!

Best Regards,
LXGB

:ok:


"Tora Tora Tora!":yuk:

niknak,
Clearly you have never visited the place ;)

RAF Woodvale, near Blackpool

Maybe also Boscome Down?

(both run by Vosper Thornycroft I think)

Boscombe Down remains an RAF ATC unit; BAe Warton (staffed by civil controllers) is the next best thing. There's also the JEFTS at Barkston Heath.

One of the best things about working at a military unit as a civilian controller is that you don't have to salute anybody!!!

:hmm:

Ops and Mops,
Don't know what your background or expectations are, but Gibraltar is very short right now. NATS take over from SERCO on 1 January (despite threats from Gisajob :p ). Pay is good, but traffic levels are very low, and 80% of that is civilian. Have a word with NATS if you're interested.

Hi all.

Thanks for your replies.

At the moment I work at a pretty busy Regional/International Airport but am looking for a change of emphasis. Although I still enjoy my job, working at a military airfield is more my kind of "thing" having been in the RAF (although not as a controller!)

The ideal scenario for me would be somewhere like Warton, but I believe it is very much "dead mans shoes" to get in there.

Before I put pen to paper, does having both civvy Tower and Approach Radar Tickets (Sorry ADI and APS!) but no Approach Procedural affect my options?

radarman

Gib sounds very nice, however just how low are the traffic levels now?

niknak
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt, book and DVD. Time to stretch the old horizons a bit! :p

Cheers!

Don't know about Warton, but as as far as I know, at the military ATC units, you would probably need to hold (or eventually acquire) the civil approach procedural rating because these units all operate an 'approach' service albeit in accordance with JSP552.

Some of them still even provide QGHs!!!

Forgot previously, also to mention Wyton, which is another military unit staffed by civil ATCOs.

Easiest way to find out is to write to the SATCOs or ATS Managers at the units concerned.

:ok:

If you're so keen, why not apply to the RAF for one of their 'aviation officer' posts which are advertised in Flight from time to time; may even be in RAF News, available at most newsagents. You get commisioned as Flt Lt RAFRO and as far as I know, you hold an RAF C of C rather than CAA Licence, but prior military experience is not required.
I did 20 odd years military ATC on a civil licence, and can verify that most of the time it's more exciting; the problem with standard RAF airfields is just that; they aim to be as standard as possible between units so that when you're posted, you take the minimum time to go solo.
By the way niknak, I thought SERCo had lost Wattisham just as they lost Gibraltar (but not to the same provider) and what about Netheravon?.
radarman; I'd be interested to know where you get your info about Gib; as far as I know there's a queue of NATS controllers champing at the bit to go there!

To become an AvO Air traffic Controller:

Re: Civilian ATC at Military airfields
 

Just to bump this back up again and to confirm the current contractors for addressing letters, can anyone confirm or deny the following?

Barkston Heath : VT Aerospace
Wattisham: Serco or VT Aerospace now?
Wyton: VT Aerospace
Middle Wallop: Serco
Warton: BAe Systems
Woodvale: VT Aerospace

Also any "inside info" (via PM if you so wish) as to who may be looking for controllers would be a bonus! :ok:

Re: Civilian ATC at Military airfields
 

Middle Wallop and Wattisham are Serco.

LXGB

Re: Civilian ATC at Military airfields
 

Barkston Heath is Babcock (http://www.babcock.co.uk)

Re: Civilian ATC at Military airfields
 

How about one the other way around... ATC at Newquay Cornwall Airport (a.k.a. RAF St Mawgan) is provided by the military

Re: Civilian ATC at Military airfields
 

:ok: :D

You have made a military controller very happy with your comment, I am off to cry in a dark corner of the Approach Room following such kind words from a civil controller.

We love you all too! (Heathrow Director excepted, if he is still alive.)

Re: Civilian ATC at Military airfields
 

Latest List
Barkston Heath : Babcock (Aerodrome ratings only)
Wattisham: Serco
Wyton: VT Aerospace
Middle Wallop: Serco
Warton: BAe Systems (prefer ex-mil ATCOs)
Woodvale: VT Aerospace but they subcontract to Serco
Netheravon: VT Aerospace
Gibraltar: NATS
Llanbedr: Serco

Re: Civilian ATC at Military airfields
 

I thought that Llanbedr had closed and Netheravon hasn't had actual ATC (as opposed to AFISOs) for a few years?:confused:

Re: Civilian ATC at Military airfields
 

Thanks, I think you are right