NATS ATCO Questions
 

I have some small but important questions...

Do you struggle working nights? Do you struggle with the shift patterns and running a family? What is your spare time like, do you find your sleep becomes messed up?
Also, when you get given a location to work in, let’s say London, do they move you around to a different location much in your career?
What is the typical dress code?

Thanks people.
Hektor

I hate nights, some people love them. Generally very quiet, you get all day to yourself which is great but the feeling of the second night working the 6-7am rush is not great.
Shift patterns are amazing, I love it. Walking round Tesco with the place to yourself, doing whatever you want through the week without being confined to Sat/Sun like most of the unwashed masses.
Sleep is never an issue, except maybe before a night shift if theres outside noise.
You remain "mobile grade" with NATS so they CAN move you anywhere, but in reality once your valid unless you seek to move you will stay put. Dress code is informal unless you work at Swanwick where sandals and bermuda shorts are the uniform.

They must have surfed their way from West Drayton; no change on that front then......:E

Thanks General_Kirby,

How many nights would you say you work in a month on average?


Hektor

Hektor

Nights are up to the individual, some people like them, some don't. I actually quite like them, I almost feel that although my shift pattern is 6 on 4 off, the day of my first night shift is an extra day so I consider that I actually work 5.5 days on/5.5 days off.

The 6th day in the is not allegedley a day of, it's a sleep day - I only sleep til about 1030/1100 after a night shift, therefore although it is technically a sleep/recovery day, I don't feel I am using it as such.

Sleep patterns, in my experience, do not get too messed up - it depends I think on the idividual. If you are a 'morning' type of person i.e. you don't need to keep hitting the snooze button when your alarm goes off, then I think you are better equipped to cope with shift patterns that include nights.

There are plenty of people who like to do permanent nigts - they tend to do approximately 6 a month. If you are not one of these and just end up doing the odd set of nights to suit the roster, chances are you will do 2 a month at the area units, maybe more at an airport.

Dress code is informal, airport guys tend to be more smartly dressed than area, though it is personal choice.

If you get posted to Manchester or Prestwick, you get a one off clothing allowance to cover waterproofs for Manchester and warm clothing for Prestwick; as the company has finally come into line with the EU ruling that it is 'Grim oop North'

Reproduced from my roster,

Day one - mornings 0630-1300
Day two - mornings 0700-1400
Day three - afternoons 1300-2000
Day four - afternoons 1400-2200
Day five - nights 2200 - 2359
Day six - 0001-0700
2200-2359
Day seven - 0001-0700
Day eight - off
Day nine - off
Day ten - off

I make that 7 days on and 3 days off. Done 3 or 4 of these recently. Will vary according to area/airport and watch requirements/your validations.

HAHAHAHA.....a grim up north allowance sounds great!!!! So we at the ice station will need a massive allowance then.......it would be so good if it wasn't so funny!!!!:ok::D

This begs the question.... what do you get if you get posted to Aberdeen? Full scale arctic survival kit, a winter fuel allowance and weekly food parcels flown in by chopper?! :}

Well we just get on with it.Unlike the wet blankets in the south that can't cope with a quarter of a inch of snow.:eek:
Tesco on line does a very good line in food parcels.:p
ABZ was the warmest place in the country on Friday.Barby was lit,shorts, flipflops and stubby coolers all going.:cool:

I shall find out soon, and will let you know :)

I am off to having my continental breakfast now.

regards

Ivor

Ah ok, thanks. Thanks for your explaining.

Yahoo Registered, why you so depressed? Lack of sleep? What kind of health issues?

Thank you kindly,

Hektor

If ever there was an anti social shift pattern it is that. :ok:


I love my shifts...been doing it since 1978.

Ah well, whatever keeps ye grumpy!:}

9-5 non-operational? Sounds alright to me, might try it out next year.

Shifts are only one thing amongst many........:p

Thnak god for that, I thought it was just me.:uhoh:

Ok my friends I will try and be an ATCO.

I will order an interview with NATS and read some threads provided by this forum. Do you have any other advice for someone like me?

Should I try another way to be an ATC without using NATS? Maybe sponsorship?

Hektor Gonzalez

Further fuel for the debate from Min Stack on the pension thread

I would echo that shift work does lead you to spending much of your time feeling like a zombie, so its just as well we don't have to mix much with the great unwashed at the shops, golf course etc. Its not great for family and friends, who stand little chance of understandding either.

Nights and young children are difficult , especially as you get older! However I get to see my children a lot more than a 9-5 job , which is great. Nights leave me feeling tired for all my days off then you are back on earlies again!

Autothrottle - you might want to think about visiting your GP. Even our shift patterns shouldn't be leaving you tired through days 9 and 10.
I must admit that days 7 and 8 are a bit ropey for me, but my last two rest days are fine. I see we're the same age and if I felt tired all the way through my rest days I'd be worried.

Mind you, when I worked at Belfast City, we had no proper shift pattern, it was ad hoc month to month somtimes doing six 6am starts in a row with only minimum SRATCOH breaks afterwards. That was knackering!

I have just been "red carded" by my GP after 30 years of night shift working. It is his contention that anyone over 50 should not be doing night shifts as part of a regular rotating shift pattern as it is injurious to your health. I have certainly found that it has been more and more difficult to get over the effects of night shift working after the age of 48. NATS are sympathetic to the situation however service delivery is paramount and therefore the aim is to get me back on nights as quickly as possible.