ATC Providers other than NATS
 

Good morning all, I've been searching pprune and google but not really sure where to look. Basically, are there any other major ATC providers in the UK other than NATS? Or do NATS control all of the ATC in the UK?

I am currently researching the possibility of ATC as a career but my eyesight is -4 in each eye. It's good enough for a Class 1 but according to NATS (if I have interpreted their information correctly) anything greater than -3 is 'unfit', unless I am over 26 years old in which case it is 'borderline'. I am therefore researching to see if any other ATC providers have lower eyesight standards.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Dan.

There are other ATC providers in the UK, at some regional airports for example. However, ALL UK Air Traffic Controllers have to hold the same licence and the medical standards are exactly the same for them all.

Your best bet would be to talk to the medics at SRG who are most helpful.

Good luck...

What HD is saying is it's the regulator ie CAA not the ATC provider who decides medical standards.

Other ATS providers
 

NATS runs the area control part of the airspace in the British Isles. They also run the Aerodrome and Approach Control functions at most of the big busy airports, I'm sure someone from NATS can spell out which airports they do and do not 'run', but you are looking at Heathrow and Gatwick for starters.

After that the mid-size regionals such as Coventry, Liverpool and Leeds Bradford are run by private companies. Sometimes the ATC is run by one provider (SERCO used to be a big employer, but I think that they don't do an awful lot in the UK now.

One way of pursuing things is to check with a local Aviation Medical Examiner (the CAA Medical Branch will be able to tell you who is in your area) exactly what state your eyes are in and if you are fit enough for a Class 1, otherwise there is no point going further.

Then you could think of what is termed 'self-sponsorship' which is where an ATCO trainee does the same as most of the pilot community already do, and pays for their own training by taking out a loan to fund it, paying off the loan once employed.

Good luck, it is difficult to get in but if you are determined you will get there.:ok: