Yeah I got the impression that this current merit list wont be waiting around for as long as we did. They're still filling a couple of spots for the April intake and sounded like they're not to far off getting on to the latest list.

A glowing example of AsA pushing the problem somewhere else.

AVV - I was reading on another forum that in previous years, trainees doing sims were mainly doing it without an instructor during periods, forced to teach themselves.
Is this still happening?

TAAATS,

Thanks for the clarification! Any word of the number of ATCs AsA still need? They do claim to be only a handful short of where they should be, but from what I've heard this handful is more likely to be 100s = (in reality - but obviously reality has never been with them!)

Never heard such BS. When was it reduced before? Ab initio training in the college/academy is mostly 1 instructor/2 students. When staff have been available, it's been one-on-one. Sim time has increased and the course which came out on Friday had more sim time than any previous course.

newstarters
 

hi some great info (and conflicting views lol) on here.can any of the newstarts tell me what hours you are in the college from? i start in march and know that you have to be in at 9 on your 1st day but im in the belief that after this its from 730am to 230 pm with time after that spent self learning or in the sim. if this is the case im guessing living close to the airport would be a better option.....thanks

1208PUNK

We had a start time of 0900 listed in the letter of offer, but the joining instructions we received with the pre-course study material had a time of 0830.
At this stage, College hours are 0730-1530, but sometimes you get out of there earlier.
On Fri we thought we were done by 1315, but then realized we had a Nav Class starting at 1430.
The Class timetable comes out in 2-week blocks, but is changed daily, so you're never quite sure what is ahead. (Possibly part of the training?:})
I reckon living closer to the airport is probably the better option.

Good luck with your new career.

Man it was hard to find an accomodation in brissie!

"if you are not good enough, you will be cut"

Is that true?

Had our corporate induction today.
Finally got to check out the Ops Room and the tower simulator in action. Pretty impressive.

New expressions learnt today:
"timeframe of discretion"
"legacy issues being addressed robustly"

New TLA learnt today:
ALARP
We need to keep incidents "As Low As Reasonably Possible"

Most interesting fact learnt today:
The ARFF no longer have tabletennis tables, pool tables or volleyball courts as too many injuries were sustained in down time.

To my surprise, there actually was some valuable info provided, as well as lunch, dinner and 2 standard drinks.

Sounds like a relaxed day. Though I am alarmed by those quotes!

ALARP - As Low As Reasonably Practical

Just asking one last time if anyone else is starting on the 1st march course that i haven't contacted to pm me. We are probably going to get together for a beer or something before we start.

perkybog - if you read this, can you please pm me, your pm is disabled (i think your in our course too) :)

Hey enemymig do you think its essential to have a laptop for the course? Ive always been a desktop man but thinking I'll prob need one.
Sound like you're happy about the new job, it's good to hear some positive stories.

You say potato, I say tomato.....
Thanks jrbridge, I stand corrected

fivel

Not at the moment, don't know about later, but don't think so.
There are computers available upstairs for all your online modules, checking emails, payslips, reference material etc (can't login to AvNet from home,anyway)

And just what were these "legacy issues" being "addressed robustly"?
Anyone for wankword bingo.

They were referring to the period in the 80s and 90s, when privatisation of AsA was being considered. The orginisation was being run lean, with little in the way of investing in upgrades or assets.
Funding is now being heavily invested in labour and capital works programs, with the view of "providing the platform for next generation aviation services"

The organisation is not being run lean anymore. It's being run cheap.

Don't believe everything they tell you.

Ahhh Nihilism...."There is no truth"

This class three medical certificate is become very annoying to get in a rush. I've been bumped forward and so don't have any of the info, but still be asked to get on top of it.
Applied through CASA to get and ARN by emailing them a application and scan passport photo- they have emailed back confirming its being processed.
Earliest I can get a DAO is mid Feb.
Ive been told by the DAME's secretary that I need to see my GP to get an ECG and breath test before I see him. Is this correct?
Then I'm gonna have to get it all processed in a couple of weeks.
My advise to people on the merit list is to apply for an ARN now before you get contacted by ASA.

Can anyone detail what they did. Don't really have time to make any little mistakes.
Cheers in advance

please keep these gems coming! :)

now it is the management from the 1980s (20+ years ago!!) whose fault it all is! Priceless.

Fivel, when I emailed my ARN application, I only had to wait about 3 days before I rang them and they emailed it to me. The letter came in the mail the next week. As for the DAME I saw, he (well mostly his nurse) did eveything that was required except for the eye test which I did a couple of days later and that was it. This was in the last two weeks and the DAME seemed to think there was enough time before march 1st.

Mikethepomme, I'm new to these forum thingies but I will endeavour to pm you when I get home. Too much effort from a mobile!

Certainly is, although a lot of effort is put into avoiding it. That said it does happen & not infrequently.

No, just be aware who it is doing the talking & realise they have a reason for saying it.

I'm aware that management communicates in 'corporate-speak' and that everything they say needs to be taken with a grain of salt (if not several).
I understand that we are employees of an entity that, at the end of the day, is profit driven, and has its own agendas.
I get it.
I'm just not that interested.
I'm embarking on an amazing new career with a bunch of really good people, and to be honest, I reckon I've been pretty lucky to be given this opportunity.
I'll worry about field-training when I come to it.
I'll stress about the angst that pervades the workforce once I'm rated and working as a professional.
For now, passing the college phase and obtaining the best result I can is plenty.

I think that is EXACTLY my point????

Next we'll be hearing that controllers need to pay AsA to work in a tower so they can gain their ratings. Much like some pilots at particular airlines do!
Then it'll be the Israelification of AsA and somehow it'll be linked to the GFC! Bloody brilliant!

Some people just need to stay off the herbs and have a good lay down! :)

Well said enemyMIG - I'm with you

Thats the attitude to have enemymig, worry about politics later. focus on your training. believe it when you hear that the college is only 50% of it. the field training is a killer, and once you get past that, the challenges don't stop. everyday something new that you haven't seen pops up. you have to keep fighting though, over time the experience comes. keep your head down and work hard and you'll get there. enjoy the college.

Wow I just got through reading this whole thread. It was like reading a book, with it's fair share of heroes and villains.

Thanks to all for some great advice! Its been interesting seeing people go from waiting 'patiently' to looking for the closest chair to the air con.

I am applying for the 31 Jan applications, so I was wondering if anyone could take a guess of how many people are still on the merit list? I.e. how many people are in front of me before I have even started the long wait.
Any guesses of how long that wait might be? My guess is 12-18mths.

I know no one can answer those questions accurately, just looking for an educated guess.

Sounds about right.
I was 15 months from application to bum on seat, others were quicker, some are still waiting.

Luca brasi

I, like enemyMig, was waiting 15mons and some on our course applied in 2007.
So be prepared for a wait.
but even after only two weeks, I can tell you it is worth it.

My Boss told me she was contacted on friday afternoon 22/1/10

So im expecting some sort of correspondance from ASA this week i guess

Same here, wednesday and thursday last week mine were contacted. They did say in the email before christmas that they would try to give 2-3 months notice so assuming a june start rather than april but you never know. Depends on the position in the merit list too I'm guessing

I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of you made the April intake since they still had places to fill just before Christmas. Lucky buggers, we had to wait a bit longer.

Blippy did you apply June 09?

Blippy, I'm on the December OOM and haven't been asked to update my references yet either... I had put down Melbourne as preference...

try not to think about it. thats easy for me to say now i had the call.

but it will happen.i was worried about not getting a job after being on the list, but turns out everyone got a place. the same will happen with you guys more than likely. just be patient, youll get a random unknown number one day and a lovely lady will offer to change your life. might be tommorow, might be 6 months. just have faith it will happen.

good luck

Does anyone know if 17 year olds are allowed to apply under the assumption that we are in our final year of schooling and turn 18 at the end of the year?

So I were to be accepted, I would be on the earliest course next year? (To which I would then satisfty the requirements?)

@ Firebathero - prob best to email ASA directly to ask that question so you don't get conflicting answers. Remember you can only apply twice though.

@blippy - could definitely be completely wrong about this, but I was under the impression that there were only 1 or 2 tower intakes as a kind of trial because it's not usually done. I got offered the choise of March tower (as I believe everyone in the march intake was) but decided not to accept. Mainly because I'd prefer a big city at the moment and didn't want to be in a Tower with only a few staff. I like the idea of going through with 8 in your course and continueing on into the workforce with them. I'm sure there are many good points to go to tower concidering I hear a lot of older controllers try and get certain towers.

Oh and in March they have Melbourne and Brisbane people starting together