Selection and selection
 

Afternoon all,

Some of you will recognise the name; others will not. To let you know a bit about me: I have previously applied to NATS, and failed selection. I have every intention of applying again, and will do when the time is right. However, I amn't looking for advice on passing the selection process; unlike many numpty's, I have the ability to read the big obvious thread at the top of this sub-forum that contains much invaluable inforamtion about the NATS process. More cube practise and I should be ok.

The issue I have is this: I know exactly what I want to do in ATC. I would love to be an approach controller; don't mind which position (preferably a London one (not London Belfast though...) although Beggers cannot be Choosers), but that is where my heart is set. Having done at least some homework, I'm aware of the fact that I really have very little choice in the matter, and assuming I pass selection and the medical, I go where the company puts me. I have been informed, however, that el Candidate is provided with a choice. My question is this:

Is this "chioce" really paid attention to by the Company, and is "Approach please" really a valid option?

Best regards,
Adam Arkley

I think you already know the answer to this question.

Yes, you will be asked what your preference is and there is a chance that you would get that option.

However, you should continue with the application on the basis that you may get sent anywhere in the UK and with any discipline. Don't build up hopes and you wont feel let down!

Good luck with the next attempt.

What the hell is a "London Belfast" one?

AJ,
you've hit the nail on the head......
"more cube practise", (practice??) is required. :ok:
Why?
Because, allegedly, joining NATS is like joining 'The Borg'.
You will be 'assimilated', and "resistance is useless". :E

P.S. '7of9' will not be there to mop your fevered brow! :}

eastern_wiseguy,
<< What the hell is a "London Belfast" one? >>

Apparently, a fairly bad joke... Think London Oxford and you may get it then.

Zooker,
A shame. I could use some attention after those flipping tests! And please, it's Adam! J is my middle initial.

Someone_Else,
Aye, I'm not afraid of being sent "elsewhere", but my order of preference would be Swanwick based Approach position, TC/AC, Other Approach position, Aerodrome. I know it's possible that I may end up controlling Gibralter or something awquard (sp?) like that, but hey. I can live in hope.

My question was less "do I get a choice," and more "is Approach a valid option?" I have only heard previously that the choice lies between Area and Aerodrome, but I may be misinformed.

I am sure that NATS posts people where they are needed. Lets face it, the people doing the postings are normal people who simply want to do their job and go home..

When I got through the interview process I wrote to ATCHQ and asked if I could please be posted somewhere in southern England as I had a young family and family ties in the area. I then wrote (honest!) "I suppose I had now better start bag-pipe lessons". Result was I was posted to Heathrow, which was my ultimate ambition...

Good luck with getting through the nausea first. Thankfully they never had that nonsense in my day or I'd be sweeping the streets..

I'm afraid NATS barely care about their current controllers so don't really care about new ones that "want to do approach from Swanwick". You go where you are put!

The amount of money they are spending on you in training gives you little voice in where you're going to go unfortunately!

Hi,

I also would like to do approach and be based at swanwick, although I'd be happy with wherever I get based as long I get to the job I have always wanted. To do approach apparently you start off on the aero course then 1 intake in 4 gets offered the approach course. As I'm guessing its an add-on to the standard aero then you may have some option to request it as I think the majority of people doing the aero couse want to be tower based. Well this is what I'm hoping at least.

lemony,

This is along the same lines as what I heard, but then it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense in some ways. Sure, it works if you go somewhere like Birmingham or Farnborough, where the approach units are "in house," but where does selection come from for the Swanwick positions?

Well to answer that question, yes there is an 'Approach Only' option, you would be destined for TC and live out your days working either LL,KK,LC or Essex.

You would still require the ADC option at college as that gives you the background required to operate APC.

I may be wrong as things change all the time down there in gods green land but the quickest way out of the college is to do ADC and then sent to one of the London ADs, you would effectively do the one module then go to one of the above airfields (after 3-4 months I think). Tacking on APC would be next (adding another 3 or so months)

If you ended up doing TC then the ADC part of your student licence would eventually lapse.

Then the long un is Area.

I don't know where the selection comes from to be honest, but then where does the selection for aerodromes come from? If they need people on approach they will run the course, then allocate people completing it to where they need them. It will be the same course for all approach as it should cover the same stuff, just the validation will be different between units.

<<I don't know where the selection comes from to be honest, but then where does the selection for aerodromes come from?>>

It comes from NATS knowing where staff are needed and allocating them accordingly. I don't know how it works now but yonks ago postings often depended on how well one fared on the course. The bright boys went to busy places and those less able went to quieter ones. It didn't always work out though because nobody can tell if a student will validate anywhere until he/she starts live training.

Although HD it seems our potential colleague has already decided that he will be a Sky God and the rest of the hard working approach controllers in backwaters like Belfast are below him.

I do so hope he gets to broaden his horizons.:hmm:

I hope the controller you meet in your interview (if you get through) is in fact one from Belfast. I agree with eastern wiseguy... what a snobby comment to make! Have had no complaints with Belfast controllers at all and in fact most of them could probably outdrink the whole of England :ok: Brilliant laugh

Heh, what an assumptive bunch you are.

I have no recollection of prioritising any approach controller over any other. I even went and re-read the thread, and still couldn't find any. My "London Belfast" comment was more about the increasing radius in which airfields can be called "London ..." This is particularly derived from the recent addition of London Oxford to the bunch. I was simply emphasising my desire to control one of the Swanwick positions; this is mainly due to the area. I prefer living in the South, what little of my family remains is in the South, and I would prefer to stay here. That does not, however, dismiss the fact that should my application to NATS be successful, I would be happy to go where the Company puts me.

Snob? No. Sky God? Never, such things don't exist. I have maximum respect for anyone related with Aeronautical bits, be it a Ballooner, Glider, SEP, MEP, Multi-Jet or Space Shuttle pilot, or an Air/Grand Operator, AFISO or ATCO. My horizons were well broadened after my visits to Farnborough and Swanwick, where I have seen what controllers of many types have to deal with. Perhaps the most eye-opening portion of my time was spent set at London Information with a loveley woman, lsitening to the co-ordination of a PC12 with Dublin. At about the same time, traffic levels were deemed high enough to split the two FIS positions. The handover was seemless, and I was amazed at the simplicity that was shown of such a complex entity.

Whilst your targetted comments may have been intended light heartedly, I for one do not take kindly to that sort of accusation. I would never speak of any controller in such a manner.

Kindly,
Adam Arkley

Eastern , Sir HG,

Down boys, I don't think the poor young chap was in any way being snobby, or pretentious. Surely he only mentioned Belfast in a humorous way: well I thought it was funny! Please put your delicate egos and slight paranoia carefully back into their silk-lined, lead cased boxes!

Indeed Eastern, how dare you call Belfast a backwater!!:E

Regards, ADIS:)

No-one has respect for Redhill controllers, though ......... :)

Actually I know an AFISO from Redhill. Not quite ATCO but hey.

Done now?

It is their controllers that need to put down their copies of " Pushing Tin " and " Top Gun". :ok:

Adam

The good news is that a posting to Swanwick (in whatever capacity) is the most likely outcome of joining NATS. Avoid Aerodrome and it becomes even more likely!!

I am interested to know why you would want to be an approach controller ahead of a TMA or Area controller. No agenda or judgement attached , just interested in the thinking behind it.