N.A.T.S. Aerodrome Pay, Perks and Benefits?
 

Hi All,

Due to my present "Location" I'm interested in finding out what a licenced/qualified A.T.C.O. could expect to earn annually in any of N.A.T.S. Control Towers Nationwide?...... (Particularly the London Airports)...... also any Benifits/Perks they recieve? e.g. Bonuses, O/T, Stocks and Shares, Social Memberships, etc. Thanking you in advance....... I'll gladly pay you Tuesday! :{

Isitgiroday.

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....... Thanks for replying Evansb........ I'm starting the college course in Hurn in October and one aspect I'm trying to factor in when choosing which control tower I'd like to be posted to is the Pay/Benefits at the 15 Airports versus the Cost of living, Mortgage prices etc. around the different regions of the U.K. If anyone would like to divulge some figures it'd be greatly appreciated!

isitgiroday.

reality check
 

I think youve got a few other things to worry about first mate. like getting through the law exam then the first set of summatives then getting through the multitopic then the second multitopic then the next set of summatives then the third set of summatives then the 2 written aerodrome instrument papers and all the time retaining the information that is hurtled at you at a thousand miles an hour so you dont trip up in the oral board. go sick for three days at the college and your probably getting recoursed. if you get through all that and do well then NATS will decide(not you) wether you will get do approach or a london airport. granted they will take into consideration your preference(to an extent). when/if you do eventually get posted you've then got to work your backside off, regardless of whether you get a band 1 or a band 5 unit, just to get validated.
if your one of the privileged few that make it that far then you can rest assured you'll be earning well above the breadline. dont go to the college thinking they're doing you a favour because you'll last about 5 minutes. it also sounds like you've been told that your doing aerodrome in October. 2 things to add to that, firstly you might not be starting in October they may decide the week before that they are putting someone else on the course in your place and youll be put back to the next course. secondly you are not guaranteed aerodrome 'at all' they can chop and change area/aerodrome split right up until the end of induction! the area course is just as demanding and just as difficult. at the end of it, if you go in with the right attitude and remember that out of all the people that apply 97.8% of applicants don't make it to the college, you will be fine and can look forward to a fantastic rewarding career that pays very very well. as regards the pay, benefits, stocks, etc etc, thats a long long way off. :ok:

sardines....
 

......"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea". - :ugh:

Thanks for the re-assuring posts Yahoo and Zooker, now I know how that Crystal Palace fan felt back in 1995.. lol. I look forward to your p.m. Yahoo.

Cheers.

Sorry, you won't get to choose! You may get asked if you would prefer London airport or approach course after aerodrome, but again, the outcome rests with management.

Having just finished the at the college, with aerodrome & approach ratings, I have to say I agree with Cantona, it's very hard work to get through, and a lot of focus required on each phase / test etc etc. So, with my recent experience I'll be another to add to the already mounting posts re our friend zooker out there, ignore his input and pay attention to those of us here putting INTELLIGENT & EXPERIENCED advice.

As someone else said, you may be asked where you'd like to go but the ultimate decision is management's based on where there are training vacancies and on how you shape up at the end of the course.

As regards the London area towers, I'd request either Stansted or Gatwick ~ very pleasant areas (ignoring creepy Crawley...) and somewhat higher pay bandings than Luton and London/City where (excepting Luton itself) house prices are equally expensive.

Whilst Heathrow's pay banding is the highest, you won't be selected for that unit unless you perform outstandingly well on the course, and whilst the job itself is fantastic, the location does have a downside in terms of where to live (house prices/ambience) and travel hassle to/from work.

Outside of London, assuming you leave DAT&S with both ADI and APS ratings, if I was asked to choose I'd opt for Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh in that order (job interest, place to live, ease of commuting, etc).

If you like real outdoor pursuits i.e. not simply careering around bridle paths in Home Counties South on a BMX-style bike, Aberdeen is a pretty good bet (fantastically interesting and varied job with a range of mountain-related orienteering-type activities close at hand, not to mention golf, gliding, sailing and snorkling [the latter with a wet suit, of course...]).

But house prices are not that cheap in the City itself (cheaper out in the 'sticks').

Good luck with the courses & exams!! ;)

Cantona, you should be ashamed and are obviously wrapped up in your own self importance:= Good luck with your future employment Itsgiroday.

Heathrow. Aim High

Or Area. Aim Lo... :E

I love the way Zooker tries to change the subject yet again..... Did I ever mention post college stuff, no, just that I am qualified to give most recent and informative info on college as are a few others posting, of those he is not!

There's nothing wrong with someone starting out in a profession and wanting to know where he might be best placed in the future for pay, lifestyle, etc! Indeed, much better to get the question from someone who has at least got through a few hurdles and has a start date. The chances of validating somewhere (not necessarily at the first unit of posting for some, and admittedly it used to be the case that area trainees had an aerodrome rating to fall back on - quite a few of my colleagues at my first unit had been to area or TC first) were close to 50% back in my day, for those who got through the front door of the college. Someone who hasn't yet been through the testing day would have had about a 1% chance of validating....

Anyhoo, can't help you with NATS pay these days but regardless of what some of the doom and gloomers say, some people do get their first choice of posting. I did! It's not common though. A simple way to help is to phone the Manager ATC of the unit you'd eventually like to join, and ask for a visit. I did! :ok:

Good luck with your training. Don't forget to have fun while you're doing it.

whats the QNH today at the aerodrome you work at zooker? how high does that make you?

What you really want to know....
 

getting back to the orignial question:

1. think about £14k initially (then it goes to £16 - 18k [after college], then £21-25K [post validation till three year point] then main scale ATCO depending on unit your posted to.

2. Benefits - not many to be honest except O/T (no jump seats etc unless its off your own back)

3. O/T as NATS are short staffed there is plenty of O/T

4. Shares ain't many going about, although you may get some if they offer another option.

5. Social is going to the pub after shift!

BUT this is all dependant on 1. Passing the college....2 Validation.

To be honest Cantona was harsh in what they said but an awful lot of that is true.

TFB :ok:

As has been said before you will have little to no say about which airport you will be posted to after the college.