so does Barry Hall :ouch:

so does Scott Stevens. (Pardon the little light hearted thread drift.):ouch:

YouTube - Scott Stevens Greatest Hits!

Too much padding
 

Wussies the lot of you!
YouTube - Hurling-A Real Mans Game!!! Music Video by Adam Tuohy

Hurling looks like a combination of hockey and baseball, very cool! Understand that half the ATC theory test is hurling questions. :eek:

There is a big game coming up next weekend . Munster final Clare V Tipperary . Don't miss it. You will be asked questions afterwards. Now. Back to the thread. Who needs info on living and working in the Emerald Isle?

I have also been told that I have been short listed and am expecting a telephonic interview shortly.
Can alyone tell me about the equipment used on area. How long are the shifts, and what type of breaks does one get. How often does one work night shift and how much time does one get off in a month?
Assuming I get offered a salary that reflects my 8 years of area experience, would I be able to live comfortably with descent accomodation?
Thanks!!

In Shannon it is a 5 on and 3 off system, and for arguments sake starting your shift cycle on a Monday:

Monday: Late 1 - 1130-2115
Tuesday: Swing 1 - 0830 - 1635
Wednesday: Dog - 0800 - 1300
Thursday: Night 1 - 0000 - 0840
Friday: Night 2 - 2100 - 0815 (This actually starts at 2100 on thursday night, but as it finishes on Friday it is counted as friday's duty)
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Rest
Monday: Rest

There are some alternate cycles of all days, but only a few people doing those, and also there is about once about every 8 cycles a 5 on 3 off of with a Late followed by 4 x Swing X - 1000-1935, but the above is the core roster. As regards breaks, the agreed max for sitting in position is 2 hours with a 25 minute fatigue break. Leave outside of Summer Block Leave is virtually non existant, and with those leaving, and those on maternity leave it is only getting tighter.

The atc system is from Thales, it has had its moments of sitting down, more so in DUB recently, not for a while in Shannon. It is similar to what Oz, and NZL have. It takes a while to get used to but it is workable.

Houses for rent are available, and it is getting cheeper to buy here with the economic down turn. There are plenty of options depending on whether you want to live in the cities or out in the country. Look at
Daft.ie : Property for Sale in Ireland, Overseas Property, Property to Let, Houses to Rent, Accommodation Sharing, Parking Spaces in Ireland (Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Belfast)
Houses for Sale Ireland. Property, Homes, Ireland. Irish Property, Overseas Property - MyHome.ie
for some ideas. Health insurance is expensive enough, as is buying and running a car, but it is doable.

Assuming they give you credit for the full 8 years experience you should enter the salary scale at point 8, on roughly €75k inclusive of shift allowance [overtime and bank holiday pay is extra] You could sign up for a call-in scheme for €4k a year plus 2x time for hours worked, in exchange for one call-in duty a month (to a max of 8 duties worked pa). For info, €75k is more than twice the average industrial wage.

Interest rates are running around 5.5% though house prices are dropping rapidly.

Dublin roster is also a 5/3 cycle, core twist is 2 late duties, a day, then either early/night rotation or two early duties. Here's the most regular example:

15:00 - 23:30
14:00 - 23:00
08:30 - 18:00
06:30 - 14:00
23:00 - 07:00 [or 07:00 - 14:00]

There are a lot of variations on that cycle, but the basic structure involves late starts working towards early starts.

30min fatigue breaks are required after a max of 2hrs in position (all radar plus AMC are fatigable though SMC is probably the busiest position of all)

ATC system
 

We are now working in a stripless environment and have been for a few months. It's working really well. Most of the time we work 2 person sectors . Before stripless came in , the planning controller was often times distracted and inundated with duplicate and triplicate strips, sorting them out and filling the bins with unnecessary waste.
Thankfully , that is all in the past and now we have two pairs of eyes and ears fully trained and focused on the sector suite operation and radar picture . Radar screens are in in both positions. The planning controller generally pans out on an extended range and alerts the executive(radar ) controller to potential conflicts and monitors times and time restrictions as well as the usual co-ordination functions with adjacent units and sectors. Its a safe and comforting set up now with the strips out of the way. I think most of the Shannon controllers feel the same way. It is also an example of how management are improving and moving the system forward and improving the operational environment so '' ALL CREDIT TO THE LADS''.
But before I get carried away ,like all management, they make a fair balls up of other things too. Single person operations are also planned in the future but I think alot of controllers find the prospect daunting. It's great piece of mind to have your colleague by your side for cross reference.

but at 6ft4 I am a bit tall for a prop.

You not 6'4", you no taller than me.

Like the scotty stephens video, is that how he got 'The Contractor' role?:E

Man your log- in must take ages!

Hi to everyone at this forum!

I am experienced ATCO applicant with IAA with 5 years of area control experience. Today I had an interview by phone. They told me that they will be in contact in a couple of weeks. Has anyone else had an interview and has any idea of the further stages of the recruitment process?

abbreviate ock1f
 

why didn't he just call himself T-SEX
BOOM BOOM!

expatco
i don't think they have a set format to the recruitment process. they seem to make it up as they go along. just keep the pressure on. posting here helps. Hope you can speak English cos that helps too. The last guy they hired couldn't.

2 itsnotme

I have got ICAO level 4 certificate. So I hope I can speak English but the more one works in an English speaking environment the more his speech becomes more fluent;)

Is that last guy still working for them? What was his recruitment process?

If I got ACC rating, I don't think that I would have to undergo rating training. So I think that next stage may be a final interview in the IAA premises (not on the phone) then medical examination. And finally, on-the-job training. Am I right?

expatco
 

aaaahhhhh no.
You will have to do the course in the classroom and simulator.
You will do about 2 weeks general famil, then a month in the sim, then OJTI for around 180 hours.

2 divingduck

Thanks for the reply. I have made that conclusion after reading this Irish Aviation Authority - Student Controller Programme . And what is the salary during this process? Will I be paid as indicated here Irish Aviation Authority - Commonly Asked Questions until I get my endorsement?

divingduck....i'm surprised you needed ALL that training!!!! you might wanna have a look at your location too...all BUT desert!!!!:ok:

No.
I'd love to know

Dub Acc
 

Good people of Dublin can one of you confirm the Approach Radar service for EIDW is done from what might be known as the "Dublin control centre" and that this would be a single Unit Licence endorsment separate from EIDW tower( ie you dont do tower and approach radar)

Cheers
:)

Ocean Wun Zero,
Numerous ATCO's have Approach and Tower. Others have Tower and Area and some have Tower, Approach and Area. One or two have either Area or Approach and Surface Movements. Some have Approach and Area and some have Tower only. Better flexibility on roster and good for Controllers to have somewhere different to go. All are seperate endorsements on you're licence. Hope this is what you're looking for.