Can anyone give an idea of the likely progression in terms of salary after the 1-3 years on the job training/validation?

Depends on where you're sent after the college. NATS band their units from 1-5 and the the Band 5 units will see you on over £100k within 10-12 years of validation depending on a few other factors. I don't know what the other units top out at, but it's certainly not a bad salary wherever you end up.

Ab initio recruitment has started back up as it appears management is finally realising retirements don't stop because of covid. Best of luck all, despite all the issues it's still a great career and will set you up for life.

Hi AustralianSam,

Could you possibly expand more on your recent post? I.e what you have heard, sources etc?

All things R.E NATS have gone quiet for a number of months now. I’m hopefully for some positive news in the not too distant future.

Regards,

Niall

The application websie is back up for new TATCs, and they're also recruiting for experienced controllers for all NSL airports per LinkedIn and the job vacancies page. Obviously can't share anything internal, sorry if that's what you're fishing for 😂

I can't post URLs unfortunately, but theyre easy enough to find on the NATS website.

When I go to the application page for TATCs it says 'Application window currently closed".

I've just seen that myself - should have clicked through to confirm! Sorry for being misleading, it appears just experienced ATCOs are being recruited for now :(

It's still a positive sign that recruitment is starting up again. Hopefully it will filter through to trainee's soon :)

Have the trainees that were let go during Covid all now restarted training? There was a plan to restart them in 3x cohorts throughout this year?

Some are back and some aren't, those i have spoken to who haven't started yet were 'fresher' trainees i.e only a few months into their courses before COVID and they're yet to receive an official restart date, but they are certainly going back at some point (my guess is still early 2023)

But there are definitely trainees back as we speak. How many, i don't know.

Little snippet of info from the NATS instagram today:

"we do not have a date for when we will be recruiting controllers again. It will most likely be 2023 at the very earliest."

A somewhat negative outlook :(

Hello all - long time reader first time poster.

I was offered a role on the Trainee Air Traffic Controller back in early March 2020 - obviously we all know what happened next.

Are many of you in the same situation as me? Last I heard from NATS was back in September when they emailed to say they 'are now beginning to plan when we may be able to begin returning those that are waiting to join, on a phased basis.'

If any of you are in the same situation, have you been offered training dates yet? or do you know of anyone who has?

Cheers
John

Hi John,
I'm in exactly the same position and haven't heard anything since September, unfortunately. Just waiting to hear and keeping fingers crossed.

Cheers

Same boat here, last email in September, nothing further heard :)

Hi John,

I am also in the same position. Last email in September and I was initially offered the position in March 2020.

The only person I have heard of returning is somebody who was cut after they had commenced training, they have just been invited back to start in January.

Fingers crossed we all here something soon. I am hoping this side of Christmas but who knows.

I'm still waiting to apply for ATC, I got an amazing opportunity in airside operations at my local airport now so I'm going to wait a few years to get experience and let the inevitable backlog of applicants calm (and to save up to cover the year of low-ish pay ;))

Any rumours as to when NATS may reopen applications for trainees?

The ones who had just started training in early 2020 but were then cancelled have now restarted (or at least some of them have). Then I presume there are still a few more people who were accepted but never got the chance to start a course, but after that the pool of applicants will be empty.

I'm not sure how often they start new courses, but they could need people fairly soon? Next autumn/winter maybe?

TATCO Training Start
 

Hi all,

Just thought I’d chip in with some info if anyone is still following this thread.

I passed selection and was “offered” a place back in March 2020.

I’ve now been given a start date of 6th June based at Whiteley (Course 311), and have received contracts etc.

If anyone else is in the same boat, it would be good to hear from you.

Thanks,
Allan

*I’m also aware of a Global course that starts on 3rd April*

Thanks for the update :ok:

If you were originally offered a place in March 2020, you are probably one of the last of the "old" cadets to be recalled. Hopefully this means they will open up recruitment again soon!

IT'S OPEN!
 

I got the official NATS email saying that the applications for trainee air traffic controllers, I won't be going for this one, I'm going to wait for 2024 when I have more experience in the airport

Recruitment open!

https://krb-sjobs.brassring.com/TGne...s=1474720_5722