Further agreeing with Hempy and Fuji, except less experience being rated (1 year), the more you know of your AIP the better, espeically when during a sim run or exam your instructor questions you about something and you are able to quote a reference explaining how you are doing it. Even now being rated, working at a 1-man tower I often read through the AIP during lull's, it is probably the most important document for us, along side MATS of course.

Also, once you are in field training, your OJTI will contstantly be asking you where a rule comes from or what the pilots should be doing and makes it alot easier if you are familiar with the documents.

Ruth,
You shouldn't need to pay for anything up front, the DAME and DAO will bill it all to Airservices. In fact, Airservices booked my DAME appointment for me. If there's any problems someone at Airservices will get in touch with the DAME/DAO to reassure them that they're footing the bill. The Medibank Health Solutions thing is for your drug and alcohol test and my DAME was able to do that as well.

If you do end up paying for it yourself, I think you're looking at about $700 all up.

Medical costs.
 

Things have changed a little bit Steve, we now pay for everything and get reimbursed when we start. Ruth, my costs came to a total of about $500.

I paid for my things myself knowing I would be reimbursed because I had such a short time frame to get my medical and everything done before I started the course. By the time they rang and asked whether I had done the medical yet and offered to pay for it on their account it would have been too late for it all to be completed and get everything back from CASA.

Ruth, it depends on which doctor/DAO you go to, some are more expensive than the others. My costs came up to around $700, but Airservices had that paid back to me the week after I started without any issues.

Ruth,

They don't advertise it this way, but if you think of it like this it may help you understand where you are at (from the organisations perspective)

ASA consider that you have essentially applied to go to college for a year and study for a Tertiary qualification. Like any Tertiary courses it has entry requirements, and because the ATC course (Dip.Av.) is both vocational and federally regulated it has a medical as well as an aptitude/educational entry standard. They will meet your costs but they don't consider it their responsibility to organise anything.

ASA is not the ADF. You haven't been given a job so much as been given an opportunity to train for which you will get paid. After you pass the theoretical and practical competencies required to satisfy both the Diploma and Licensing regulations you will be offered permanent employment.

The course is hard...4-5/10 smart, fit people with aptitude either fail or withdraw. A lot of self motivation is required to get you through it because you WILL face personal challenges that will have you asking yourself what the hell you are doing there. Trainees draw that motivation from various places; love of aviation, the money, the uniqueness of the environment... whatever it is, if you don't have enough of it you will not succeed. ATC is a responsible job, you CAN kill people if you have a bad day...possibly a whole lot of them. Ask yourself if you have that motivation now, because if you don't you may as well stay at home.

Hi Ruth, just wondering when did you attend the assessment day?
Thank you!

So, only one move instead of two :ok:

Make sure you keep onto CASA about your medical. If you don't have it by your start date, they won't let you start.

Congrats!

I'm still waiting on the outcome from my assessment day – the suspense is killing me!

Pre-Employment Medicals
 

Hi, would anyone know of what would the Airservices Australia Pre-Employment Medical Check and Police Checks entail? This is in regards to positions (Support) other than ATC or ARFF. What type of tests would designated doctors carry out?

Need your help please....:)

You'd have to ask someone at Airservices, Ruth.

Just got my 'application outcome' email – no ATC for my future it seems. Oh well, on to the next thing!

Thanks everyone here for the very useful information and supportive messages.

Al

Anybody heard anything regarding the experienced ATC positions? My status online still says "Application under review" but i have had no communication.

I did the online tests mid december and haven't heard anything since for the experienced controller positions.

Hey bud just to let you know. So far all the SA guys that I know off that applied has been rejected except one who had a connection that side. It's weird I'd say. Hope you come right mate. Let me know.

I know a few guys who have received the rejected email, my application still says "application under review".

Haven't heard if I passed the tests or not!

Thanks for the info waxo, that's very strange indeed.
I have yet to even do the online testing, I assume/hope they are processing the applications in the order received as I applied in the last week. I will let you know if there is any progress:ok:

Wow its taking a while for some people to hear back!!

I had my online testing and interview before christmas last year. At the time I was told to expect a call back in mid-february once the interview stage was complete. There were over 200 applicants for the experienced positions so it maaay take longer than they thought!

Here's hoping people hear back in the next month or so.

Course dates 2013/2014
 

Hi All,

first post in this forum! Thinking of making the switch from flying to ATC. Does anybody know what the course dates are for 2013/2014? not saying ill actually get on but I need to see out my contract and dont want to get ahead of myself...

Accommodation
 

For those that are starting the course in February and asked about accommodation, there is a room for rent in the house that I am in. You'd be sharing with me currently 3 months into the academy and a professional female who works in the city.

Anyone who is interested feel free to PM me. Rent is $120/wk +bills but, bills arent very much and the house is kitted out pretty nicely. Suburb is Westmeadows, quiet and a 10-15 min drive to college.

Cheers

no news at all... still waiting

Movement Monitors
 

Has anyone had any feedback as yet regarding these positions?

Nope.... Some have done online testing and telephone interviews and others have heard nothing yet...... (Apologies, i see you are asking for the movement monitor positions, have no idea about those)

Movement Monitor
 

Hi Tom 86,

I received an email form Airservices on 21 January as per below:

Thank you for your application to the Movement Monitor roles.

Due to the holiday period the evaluation process has been delayed.

The applications are currently being shortlisted.

We appreciate your patience and we will be in contact shortly.




Kind Regards,

National Recruitment Team

Hope this helps.

I understand that a dozen or so interviews will be conducted over the next couple of weeks so I'd guess those applicants have been contacted.

Movement Monitors
 

Thanks jcr737

Same message rcvd by me, nothing heard since then.

Movement Monitors
 

Tom,

Same here. Fingers crossed something soon. :)

Tower or Enroute??
 

hi everyone,

I am in the process of completing my application for ATC. One question i didn't expect at this stage is whether I would prefer a role as a Tower or Enroute controller. I am aware of what the differences of the roles are, but I haven't been able to find much info on which role is more enjoyable. Has anyone had any experience on both to shed some light please?

I've only worked en-route but I don't think you can really say one is "better" or "more enjoyable" - it comes down to personal choice. And that's why there is no info. Which is better, shiraz or stout?

Some points to ponder:-

You aren't locked into one or the other for the rest of your career. A bit of extra training and you're ready to change streams. No guarantee you'll get your preference or you might opt to take the next available course regardless.

With en-route you're choices are Melbourne or Brisbane (plus approach units), but then you can get a change of scene by moving between groups in the same centre.

With tower your choices for location are more varied, although that does mean you could end up being sent to any one of 27 towers. And if you want a change of scene it could mean moving a considerable distance.

Controlling a primary capital city tower is very different to controlling a procedural tower, which is very different to controlling a GAAP tower, but they're all tower controllers.

Controlling arrivals is very different to controlling a large procedural or oceanic sector, which is very different to controlling low level sectors, but they're all en-route controllers.

Each has it's good and bad points, challenges and rewards. But what those actually are comes down to each individual controller.

no online test for experienced ATC
 

A mate of mine received an email today stating he did not make the short list...thanks for applying....didn't even get to online testing :eek:

For better or worse Australia can be quite particular about who it lets in to work. If you don't meet those criteria no amount of suitability for the job will help. Not saying this was the case with your mate but it's a possibility.

Hi le Pingouin, thanks for your take up. You make some good points. I suppose in either there is scope for a change of scenery which is good to know.
I know that with enroute you're locked into one location for the first 5 years. Would you know with tower controlers how long people wait to be transfered to a preffered tower? Im guessing this may be a 'how long is a piece of string' type question, what have you seen in your experience?

You'll still be looking at 5 years. And then to be able to move on, there has to be enough other controllers at that tower for you to be released. I also work en-route and love it. I guess one of the other big differences is, with enroute there's a good chance you'll never see the planes you work with. I'm lucky that I do arrivals into Melbourne so I can sometimes see my sequences come in to land.

hey guys,
I have received an email yesterday, about the experienced controller which told me that I have not meet ASA's requirement.
I have working as a tower controller at an airport which has 700+ landing and take-off, using Euro-cat, 4 years working experience.
And I just wandering, why not even let me attend to online test?
:ugh:

Silicon r u a saffer?

Just curious.....

Airservices Australia Psychometric Testing
 

Silicon I have 13 years working experience and worked at various airports that use eurocat and that are busy. I have a commercial pilots license and an instructor rating for both jobs and 600 flying hours. And I also didn't get it. I suppose with so many applicants for not that many posts they can pick and choose as they want hey! Sorry to hear hey. Maybe next time!

Medical Class 3
 

Hi all!
I've just recently applied for the Air Traffic Controller.

Should I wait for them to inform me to get the Class 3 Medical Certificate or I should just get one first just so it doesn't delay any other application?

And can anyone let me know what is my next step after the application lodged.

Thanks :)

ArthurLee- I'd go back through this forum and have a read. Its been asked and answered pretty recently.

the same email i got today mate....:O i thought that they'll give us a chance to get the online test. but i wonder that the quota been enough at the moment.:ugh:

Skyfall....check ur mail over next few days...they have come back again and offered tests to my mate who was previously told he didn't make the short list....maybe just tidying up? Good luck!

Hey guys
I'm starting at the academy next week. Just wondering if anyone else is in the same boat. Pretty nervous to be honest as I haven't studied since I left High School so not really sure what to expect. If anyone else on the same course needs somewhere to stay for a week or 2 just let me know, I have a spare bedroom at my place and I am 8 minutes away (did a time trial) from the academy.

Guy