yep, I figured but thanks for the heads up. I’ve been wondering how long they were furloughed to but then the Govt extended the scheme til Oct... so who knows now!

Most people who have been furloughed were initially furloughed until May 31st. nothing heard yet about going back or extension of furlough so who knows!

I've been waiting since last July to apply. its a pain to see this happen:(

If nats decide to cut their workload (which is inevitable really) I’d have a solid plan b if I was you.
and if you come up with a plan b feel free to share it with me

NATS has already said it will need a smaller workforce in the future. Traffic levels are not likely to return to pre-covid levels for a number of years, if ever.

Unfortunately, that means there is not going to be any new ATCO courses for a long time. Years, most likely.

I am doing Business and Maths at University. Just wanted to work in air traffic

Job cuts
 

I am an assistant at Swanwick and growing more concerned by the day. I feel the cuts will be heavy and was wondering if they could legally offer assistant jobs to ATCO’s through redeployment on the basis of more flexibility

lets hope they do. it gives hope they'll recruite ATC again

Watch them give it to the trainees currently waiting for OJT and or D2 sims - can't imagine them starting their actual training any time soon.

Furloughed
 

my feelings are anyone still furloughed at the end of June will not be needed and redundancy beckons

I think you're probably right, maybe one small wave now to keep us going, and a large one when this package expires.

I appreciate that this is a difficult time for everyone in the industry and there is a lot of worry and anxiety about jobs, but it seems like there is a lot of speculation and conjecture taking place. Some of it may well turn out to be correct, but I think it would be more useful if comments were based on solid information as opposed to feeling, as it just serves to spread anxiety in what is already a difficult time.

Hi, Justbeingnosey, I’m just being nosey here, too, but looking at your posting history it seems your son was a trainee assistant at Swanwick 10 years ago.

Did he sort you out with a career change in your fifties? Or are you just LARPing?

Sign
 

Just using the sign in. Don’t have a hissy fit

About 60% of the company are furloughed at the moment. So this is an unnecessary fallacy.

Will ATC survive

Worth a read for all prospective ATCOs

Has anyone had any recent communication with Nats ? Since my last post in March ( those whose stage 3 was cancelled )

TBH NATS have not even replied to my emails since Novemeber. So i will be suprised to see someone have an email from them

Oh really damn, i last spoke to them middle - end of March

When you sent your email who did you sent it to. I sent mine to general email for NATS

Hi all, I really want to become an ATC. To get myself prepared for this, I'm planning to form a study group. Drop me a message if you are interested to join. Let me know if you want to create an whatsapp group or telegram group.
cheers

what are you going to study?

Im intrested but wouldn't be better for NATS to tell us about them re opening its recruitment before we start studing for anything.

I am interested in joining the study group. Happy to PM my phone number for setting up the group on WhatsApp or Telegram :-)

It's a nice idea to do a study group, but the application process doesn't reward prior knowledge - it's really based on aptitude and personality. You could have read every book on air traffic control and still fail the process, while someone with no prior knowledge at all could pass.

Also bear in mind that things are very uncertain in the industry at the moment - I'm currently awaiting a start date for training (it was supposed to be in April) - nobody knows if/when it's going to go ahead, given the current situation.

liamdavis What are you going to study? Tried to PM you but your inbox is full, you need to delete all messages (sent messages too) as we are allowed only one message at the beginning (if nothing has changed).

"liamdavis has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space."

Assessment reschedule
 

those who’s assessments were cancelled and due to reschedule has there been any update ? I was last told September possibly, but I am not sure if this is 100%

I was supposed to have a Stage 3 Assessment back in March but haven't had any communication with them since they said it was cancelled.

Same mine was in March they told me possibly September

Nats have a voluntary redundancy process open at the moment. Although that's not affecting operational jobs at this stage, I'd be surprised if ab initio recruitment is going ahead at the same time.

And with that there is a pause on external vacancies. The training college and its trainees are also under review.

yes but what are they reviewing? It’ll be the number of trainees they will need from the college over the next few years

I took it as meaning current college trainees (and those due to start - e.g. me) are at risk. I hope I'm wrong on that one, but I can't say I'm confident...

Trainess that have just finished at Global ATS have been posted and joining units. I know that one of those is joining a unit in November.

Have they had good postings?

I only know that 1 has been posted to Farnborough. Aside from that I dont know.

What do you define as "a good posting"?

Only 4 have been given postings, the other 9 of us are in airport holding for potentially up to a year :(

As in, the unit the said trainees wanted to be posted at

Where did the 4 get posted?