The last hurdle: CASA
 

I GOT IT...... Class III medical. All done....
Planning for house move and road trip.
Melbourne: here we come!

So Ask23 how long did it all take from the time you received acceptance to obtaining your medical clearance?

Good luck with the move to Melbourne.

CASA medical
 

Did not take long at all, about 2 weeks after completion of all medical tests till the result via the phone today. But: I called them often, about every second day and that seemed to have helped.
I already had an ARN before acceptance and I don't know (anymore) how long it took to get one of those.

Confirmed that one of referees has been contacted, hope to hear this week or next.

Good luck. Don't be surprised if it takes another couple of weeks, at least, before you hear anything though.

For those that are about to do their psychometric testing, let's hope ASA don't see this ABC News, Chimps vs Humans - YouTube

Those guys will work for peanuts :\

Melb testing taking place this week.
 

There is another lot being tested this week in Melbourne as far as I know. I was originally supposed to tested with this lot, but managed to get my way in to being tested last month. Another lot to be tested in December as well.

Well after nearly 90 pages I'm curious to know...Who checked out? Who didn't?
Who still thinks its a great job with great pay and conditions? Who doesn't.
Who still thinks they work for a great company? Who doesn't?

It's a hard row to hoe and after nearly 30 years in Oz and Os I'm still not sure whether I'd a been better off paying more attention at school and doing something else.

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum, and have only just completed the online assessment last Saturday. From the look of things, its back to the waiting game again. Would like to ask a couple of questions, and appreciate any input from you all:

1) Should I get through this stage and got an invite to phone interview, what sort of questions are asked during the phone interview?

2) Any idea why there seems to be recruiting quite a number of ATC trainees, as well as experienced ATCs according to seek.com.au? I can only speculate, and would not like to think the actual job conditions that turn peeps away. Perhaps the training is so tough that the drop out rate is high? Anyone care to share their thoughts?

Cheers...

cwl103, initial pay isn't terribly inviting if you've been working for a few years elsewhere & have the usual financial commitments.

Historically roughly 50% who start training gain a rating.

Our age profile is fairly top heavy so retirements over the next few years will put quite a dent in the numbers.

for etz

For some figures for course figures. Of the 36 on my course, 10 checked out. 3 of us are now in the Middle East, one is a sim support person, 1 has quit entirely, 1 left for the middle East but is now back in OZ, 1 is in NZ and the other three are still on the exact same groups they checked out on in the 90s.

Make of that what you will.

(edit. forgot one guy)

You can always get someone else to do it for you like some of them have !!!:eek:

Got the email this morning, and made the booking for phone interview next week!:ok: Got a few days to get myself ready, so appreciate any tips and help i can get from you guys.

Phone interview..
 

From what I can remember of my phone interview it was not much of an interview. I think it is more of "this person passed the online test, therefore we just want to speak to them and make sure that they come across well". Mine only lasted a between 5-10 minutes. Don't stress about it.

Has anyone had a phone interview and not progressed onto the assessment stage? I don't recall anyone posting on here that had that happen.

Phone Interview
 

I agree with EnglishCurryClub, the phone interview is the easiest part of the application process. Mine also took only 5-10 minutes and were basci questions. In addition to confirming you're a living, breathing human being, i'd also imagine they are checking out your English language skills.

Time since testing
 

Over 6 weeks since I did my testing and I'm still waiting. They know how to keep you frustrated. I appreciate that they need to go through a process, but it doesn't make the frustration any easier.

Originally told that we would be notified 4 -5 weeks after testing and now I'm just going stir crazy.

I was told 4 weeks and it took 6. If it's any consolation, they seem to let the unsuccessful candidates know the same day as the successful ones. So if you miss out, you won't be left hanging. I actually started to dread weekends when I was waiting, because I knew it was another 2 days when I wouldn't hear anything.

I have spoken to my referees, and all is good from the feedback that the referees gave AS and also what AS said to my referees. I just want to know. The answer isn't the problem, although I would prefer a yes to a no, but it is the time waiting that is the killer. :ugh:

Hey, was just reading through several pages and was just curious if anyone has chosen/been invited to the 23rd of January Assessment day in Melbourne?? Im from Sydney and will be making the trip down.. from what I gather too from reading, is that you either have what they want or you don't...

Hi Alex, I've also been invited to attend the assessment day in Melb on the 23rd... although being in Melb will make my trip a bit easier :)
Hopefully it won't be that bad and we'll get an offer in no time!
See you there

23rd of January Assessment day in Melbourne
 

Hi Alex, if you are coming down for an assessment day, you might be best coming down the day before. The assessment days are full on, you will leave exhausted. You certainly do not want to arrive tired, having had a stressful day getting out of Sydney.

The assessment days are good, my best advise is to be rested and on the day be prepared to think quickly and be definite in your responses. Most of all, have fun, take it seriously and enjoy.

Enroute 64
 

I'm in, rang late this afternoon, I'm in.

Enroute 64 - starting February 27th, now just have to earn some cash between now and then.

Congratulations. Are you sure it's 64 though, because enroute 63 starts in May?
See you down there.

Hang on, I take that back Tower 63 starts in May, enroute might be different. I assume the posting at the end will be Melbourne.

Now you have all the fun of the medicals :ouch:

Yes definitely Enroute 64. already started the process for getting the ARN & medicals. As soon as I'd spoken to A.S. I figure with everything shutting down over the Christmas period, I'd better make a start as soon as possible.

Help!
 

Just wondering from anyone who has done testing what it's like. I have lived in America for a decade now so I'm not as familiar with things that may seem standard to everyone else. Is this going to be a disadvantage for me? I took some ATC classes in uni so I have some prep.

Really just need any advice or guidance I can get.

Thanks.

No, you should be right with the tests. Basically you need accuracy and speed for the tests and the ability to be confident with what you say.

One thing you should consider, if you feel that the testing day was relatively successful then apply for an ARN. If will just make the process quicker if you get the ok.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority - Aviation Reference Number (ARN) FAQs

Just be prepared to be patient.

Sorry Kim, this applies to Australia, not sure of the process in the US.

As long as you have the right to work in Australia, the selection process won't go against you. I'll resist the urge to say, living in the states might lower your IQ and go against you... oops :):):E

Seriously though. It's been said in this thread and the NATS and Eurocontrol threads, either you've got it or you haven't. ECC and I are both in our mid 40s and start training next year, ask23 is in his 50s and also starts training next year. In the US, and some other countries, we wouldn't get a look in. If you've got what it takes here, then you've got a chance.

Go for it.

Thanks for the advice ECC and Steve. I will choose to ignore the remarks about America only because I was born and Aussie and should be exempt from American ignorance.

The link helps for CASA so I will see what I can do. It's hard searching for these things from America.

I'm just doing what I can and understand that's how the process works. American ATC a bit rough at the moment because it's only open to very select people.

Will be heading out in April so wish me luck!

Thanks for the advice. Will look into the CASA link. It's been hard because I can't find too much info here for aviation related things in Australia.

I'm ready to do what I can when I head over in April. :ok:

If you guys are really in your mid-40s and 50s the chances of you passing the course are close to nil. I'd think long and hard before giving up your jobs. I'm not aware of anyone that age ever passing before. I know of several ex-RAAF controllers in their 40s who came back to the job but weren't able to pick it up again. Aptitude is only one of many attributes that you need to consider. You will not be able to learn and pick up skill in Airservices time frame. It is a skill for young people to acquire, and most of them find it difficult.

Knackers, I've just finished a science degree, so I'm used to studying. My current job is filling shelves in a supermarket, so it's not like I'm throwing away a well paid job for a career change. You may well be right, but there's three of us that are going to try damn hard to prove you wrong.

I'm definitely aware of at least one mid-40s person passing the ab initio course before, in 2006/7, and they're still here.

Wow mid 40s and 50s? Good luck to you guys! On my ab intio course there were two gents in their 40s, one of whom was already a flight information officer and neither of them made it in the end. Just a heads up, doing a university degree is nothing like what you may expect with ATC training. I'm not saying you have to be smarter, but it is the pace and volume you must learn at which may catch you out. There is very little time for consolidation (this comes once you're validated!), and they require very high grades in assessments. Like you say in most countries you wouldn't even get a shot, I'm sure you'll make the most of it. There are a lot of cranky people on sites like this and in the field, but don't let them put you off, it's a great career and they've just been doing it too long ;)

Thanks for that Knackers, I generally find the young, ignorant, self defeatist, self absorbed and lazy, but I imagine you wouldn't be one of these.

Everyone is due their opportunity, we must have had some value of else we wouldn't have gotten to this stage. You remind me of the story about the young bull and the old bull sighting a whole lot of cows in the lower paddock.

I think the fact that Airservices are taking people well out of the 'ideal' age bracket says more about the company's present staffing position than anything else.
Aside from the fact they are less likely to get through training (and they are less likely), how much dollar value do you realistically get from someone with an initial rating mid 40's then already at 50 by the time they reach a reasonable level of ratings and experience.
They're arent exactly grabbing people from the young, uni-qualified, career minded pool they say they are looking for. Beggars cant be choosers I guess....

"how much dollar value do you realistically get from someone with an initial rating mid 40's then already at 50 by the time they reach a reasonable level of ratings and experience"

That thought occurred to me too when I was applying. One of the guys at Brisbane Centre retired recently after about 40 years service. They won't get half of that out of me.

ECC, while I wouldn't put it quite as bluntly as Knackers, the truth is that the older you are the harder it is to pass the course & gain a rating. Doesn't mean you can't or won't, just that you're really pushing it up hill.

Well I want to hear from those that did leave a well paying job (young or old) and chose to change their career ...

How did they cope with the training period and it's reduced income, and how long did it take them to return to a "livable" income? Are you better off for the switch?

Any career jumpers out there?

VB