The theory phases usually run 7am-3pm, and you generally finish up on the dot. I guess the instructors also want to get out of there.

For those newbies starting over the next couple of months, and will be looking for a house to rent, we will have one available around mid Dec as my course is coming to an end.
We currently lease a three bedroom house in Tullamarine about 6 minutes drive from AirServices @ $330 p/w.
If interested PM me

Cheers :ok:

I also have a 2 bedroom unit in Maribyrnong which will be free in Jan, rent is $350 close to shops and public transport, about a 20min drive to the city or work.


As to the question regarding finish times, the college is open from 7am to 7pm with courses starting and finishing between those times, usually rotating every couple of weeks (or for tower guys 7:30-2:30 or 10:00-5:00 generally finding out the friday before). In the first 10 weeks we did work 7am-3pm but can't say if that's the norm (or that you should expect it)

Hi again everyone,

I completed the on-line testing last month and received an email stating I'd have a phone interview in the next month or so. If successful there, I assume the next step is a trip to MEL for more testing and an interview. Is this incorporated into one stage? ie...living interstate will it mean having to make numerous trips or can it all be done in one hit so to speak?

I'm sure its somewhere in the thread here but would anyone have any clue about the timeframe for someone like me who is yet to be interviewed before my course will begin next year, should I manage to get through. I have the opportunity to apply for a neat little job where I am now (not a career though) but am reluctant to begin something new if its not going to be anymore than a few months until I would need to relocate to MEL if successful in getting on a course.

Just trying to come up with some sort of plan is all!!

Thanks

Dreamer
- the testing and interviewers will usually come to your state, not bring everyone to Mel.
- do not put your life on hold waiting for AsA. Make AsA your Plan B. Lots of time can elapse between being interviewed and being coursed. The needs of the 'business' can change very quickly indeed- if there is any event which diminishes air travel (think SARS, terrorism etc.), AsA could potentially stop all recruiting in the blink of an eye.

That's my advice, anyway.

I don't agree with Ferris as there seems to be a real commitment within the organisation to change for the better. A change of the recruitment strategies and fixed course commencement dates. A realisation that errors were made and finally an acknowledgement that it is critical to get the right applicants, the best selected and not to p**s people off by not making decisions and endless delays. I guess only time wil tell...

To Dreamer 84.
I think Ferris's point is that you shouldn't hold yourself back in your current job, based on an ASA opportunity which is anything less than guaranteed. Whilst it is unlikely that ASA will suspend recruitment or 'scale back', it IS possible, and until you have a start date/paycheck, then you should strive for advancement in your current role.
The exception to this would be if the 'opportunity' at your present employer can be delayed without negative ramifications, or if the work involved is undesirable.

Can anyone tell me what the process is if one is accepted into the tower stream of training? Do you (eventually) get posted where they send you, or do you have a say? I could work in most places, but some- such as WA would be impossible to accept when one has extended family commitments. Any advice on Tower vs Enroute appreciated...

Back when I finished 3.5years ish ago, we bid on our towers. Got to put down 5 prefences. Generally most of us got one of those 5, but not always. Ultimately you will be sent where they need you. WA is a risk you run if you go for tower.

well, looks like the PR department is getting its message across :mad:

Wow - that is quite a variation in timeline and amazingly enough the first time it has been mentioned in this thread!

What sort of things lead to a 18 to 29 week blowout of the time budget ... is it simulator availability, lecturer availability etc ... is it the same material spread over a longer period so you are revving furiously in neutral on occasion or ... are there factors from the class' end that support the best or worst case scenarios or is it all in the hands of the gods per se?

Thanks!

Warren the funny thing is we cant see how they could have ever fit it in to the 44 weeks to begin with. At our current rate we progress through one exercise a day and with the limited resourses (instructors) there is no way to go faster. They did add "combined opps" to the end of the course recently which could account for some of it. But I recon they knew our course was going to be longer before we even signed the contract.

@ dreamer. I hope sunnySA is right. It took me over a year from the application due date to me sitting in ASA college. And there were several times where I got the email "just be patient we will contact you in a few weeks" and then waited over a month with no contact. Friends started to think I was lieing about my new job. For me it was worth the wait though, I just hope they improve the process not to discourage others.

I agree with SunnySA. They seem to be streamlining the process and assessments that are taking place now are for early 2011 commencement. From my readings here I had actually banked on it taking at least 12 months and am more inconvenienced by the early commencement! Still, the inconvenience will be worth it............right??

Especially if you go for Tower :ok:

Hi enemymig

Am still trying to ascertain whether enroute or tower is the better fit (for my circumstances. there has been some helpful advice (thanks) suggesting that with tower you 'bid' on approx 5 positions, and that most get one of those five.

Can you shed any light on this? (such as whether 'Melbourne' includes avalon/essendon/moorabin, or whether they are seperate bids).
Is this still the current process?

Can an applicant change there preference from enroute to tower, and if so up to which point in the training?

Is it more difficult to secure a training slot for tower or enroute?

Thanks for any help/advice you can give.

G'Day Gumaaark

The 'bid' process is still effectively the same. You get a basic list of positions on offer and you choose from them.
As the list can change, you might as well throw in a couple of places you'd like to work at that weren't options, however, we all ended up with placements that were on the original list.

Positions are at individual towers, ie Melbourne is a separate position to Moorabbin.

Before you start training you will find out which stream you're in, you can't really change once you've started (so choose wisely!)

When I applied, AsA were only offering Enroute, but I received a verbal offer for a Tower position which started a couple of months prior to the Enroute position.

I jumped at it and have never looked back.

Whilst sunnySA might be putting forward a "glass half full' approach, a "streamlined" approach to recruitment and reduction in "waiting" times will be a benefit to all. From what I heard, some of more recent delays have been whilst the recruitment processes were streamlined. Fingers crossed for those who have applied and good luck to those who have been selected.

Tower boys like emenymig love to talk up the tower, kinda an overcompansating thing
But enroute kicks towers arse. They dont find out where theyre going till almost the end of the course and pot luck whether they get what they ask.
Spose they have a higher pass rate... but thats just cause they seperate everything visual so its as easy as 1 2 3.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Years of neglect will not be overcome this year or next. But I believe that the changes being made will be a change for the better.

If you want to work internationally anywhere you will likely need enroute experience for most well paying places. For when the rose tinted glasses fade in 5 years.

Aaaah fivel

All true, I'm afraid, glad you mentioned that there is an end to our course... :E