kpnagidi

They're running 3 sim shifts at the moment - 0700, 0930 and 1100. You'll probably be 0900 during your first week doing "corporate induction".

Thanks Knackers, appreciate. How many hours then a day while there?

I think that you're on the ATC award, so about 7 1/4 hours per day. Some might be longer or shorter, but averaged out over a couple of months. Basically 2 hours in the sim or classroom, 30 min break, then back into it, 5 days a week. No weekend work - yet.

Thank you Knackers, appreciate. :ok:

TCU's
 

Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Cairns.

There you go: Facilities | Airservices :)

Currently the TCUs are at the airport location, except for Canberra Approach which is Melbourne. The plan, I believe, is to relocate all TCUs to Melbourne or Brisbane Centres as part of the new OneSKY program, except for Perth which is a joint ASA/RAAF TCU.

and Coolangatta Approach (or whatever name it has now) is in Brisbane.
Decision (or lack thereof) from the Board on transferring TCU Units to Brissy or Melbourne due out today.

So they have open bids for intl ARTCC controllers, anybody know if they'll open up a bid for intl tower controllers? I'm in training now at Houston ARTCC in Texas, but have 3 towers ratings. I dont think I qualify for the ARTCC bid because I'm not rated.

You could do worse than contacting recruiting and expressing interest. I have no idea as to future plans, other than the workforce isn't getting any younger (lots of us are 45+) and shall we say the college is going to struggle to keep up with the demand with ab initios. i.e. you might have missed out this time but the chances are there will be further opportunities.

FWIW in Melbourne I work with a number of international en route recruits from the last lot about 7 years ago (several from the UK, several from South Africa & one from New Zealand). There was also one from Iceland but he went home after a couple of years. The situation is similar in Brisbane. Melbourne and Brisbane are the two en route centres FWIW.

Hi all,

Valid controller here who has been offered a place with ASA...en-route in Melbourne. If any kind soul who has made a similar transition from the UK be kind enough to PM me as I have some Qs regarding training/work etc that I would really appreciate being answered!

Thanks

Why not ask the questions here for everybody's benefit? I have also been offered a position by Airservices and would probably also be interested in the info.

Good point, WhichWayIsNorth: some of us would be avidly reading both Q&A's!

1. Depends on your group/unit, and what roster line you are on (dependant on endorsements). Evens out to 9 x 8 hour days a fortnight..

2. Most groups/units have a leave planner, but this is normally allocated at least a year in advance. Not many issues with being able to take your accumulated leave at the moment.. You just need to get in early! Most groups also use a points system for popular times (xmas, Easter, school hols etc) to try share those around

3. Overtime availability also dependant on your group/unit.. Mine has been surviving on it for years! Some are a little better staffed.

Re superannuation. Employer contribution is compulsory. Employee contribution is voluntary. Employee may salary sacrifice up to $35,000 per year which is taxed at a lower rate. Above that it is taxed at the normal rate.

Ok fair enough, here are some Qs:

1. Training- How tough is it? Was it difficult to adapt from one method of working to a new way? What are the methods/ systems used….I'm from the UK and we use Strips, Radar Screen & a telephone panel and the primary technique used to control is the strip scan….are there similarities or would it be starting from scratch? Can someone explain the Eurocat system? Is there a decent pass/validation rate or are there numerous fails? Time to initial validation? Any tips/pitfalls to look out for?

2. Sectorisation- I have been offered en-route in Melbourne. Any insight into the sectors & style of controlling required? What are the busy times for the sectors…how complex are they?

3. Working life- what is the shift pattern, time off etc? Is ASA a good company to work for? Is there a social scene with folk from work?

4. Visa- the initial visa & contract runs for 4 years….this concerns me slightly….how does this work? Do we get PR after the 4 years & do ASA offer a permanent position at the same time? Anyone ever been turned down?


A bit of a barrage of Qs but if anyone could answer some of them I'm sure it would be helpful for folk looking in! Thanks in advance.

I'm an Aus controller (in Melbourne) so can't answer from a UK perspective but I'll answer what I can. I do work with a former UK controller FWIW.

1. I don't think there were too many lost due to failing on the previous experienced courses six or seven years ago. Not saying the training is soft (I don't think it is) but as an experienced controller you should have the necessary skills and mainly need to learn a new system and our idiosyncrasies.

We have electronic strips on screen instead of paper - scanning the display is the primary separation tool rather than the strips. There's a route function that displays the planned route of the aircraft and a time of passing function that displays how close they'll get and the estimated time. Strips are more a means of data entry and checking that separation.

These are sector boundaries to give you an idea of the sizes - the circle around Melbourne (YWE/ELW/WON - bottom right) is 100NM to give some perspective: http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/.../australia.pdf

See the sector FOR (bottom centre)? That would be larger than the entire UK. Not much traffic however :) Here's some more perspective: http://www.britzinoz.com/wp-content/...aus-europe.jpg

ML ATSC 2000

The consoles haven't changed significantly from the above pic. On the lower left is the voice switch (intercoms and frequencies), centre is the main display and right is the auxiliary display (you can see some strips displayed there).


2. You could be doing anything from arrivals to radar en-route to large mainly ADS-B surveillance sectors (where you'll still need procedural skills) to mixtures of the preceding to sectors that are mixes of G, E, C and A and abut procedural towers and military airspace.

Morning, midday and evening are the busier times around the cities but early morning for the big ADS-B sectors due to international traffic. If you're controlling around Perth there is a two or three hour time difference (we have daylight savings and they don't).


3. Very much depends on the sectors you're working. As a controller with all the ratings in my group I nominally work MMAANNOOO. Those with fewer ratings might work MMAAOO. But that's just my group.

Like any large organisation it has its good and bad points. I enjoy the work, usually manage to ignore the bullsh!t and just get on with it. As much as most of us like to gripe, on the scale of things it could be far worse.

There is some social activity but given the many and varied shifts it can be a bugger to organise anything. Throw in family stuff and it can be rather limited. We don't work in teams as such which does mean you don't see too much of those who annoy you ;)


4. I know a few pulled the plug at the end of their contract but I think that was genuinely personal choice and not leaping before being pushed. I don't know the actual process but as far as I know the rest got PR & continued employment. Not all marriages survived however. My personal opinion is we aren't that flush with staff that we can afford to ditch a rated controller if they want to stay and are performing.

le Pingouin- thank you very much for that detailed response, exactly the type of information I was looking for and very helpful. Much appreciated!

I would love to hear from an ex-UK controller persepective if possible so if anyone is looking in that fits the bill, a summary of your experience would be very welcome.

Thanks again.

Geedub, my offer specifically says "We will fund accommodation in a serviced apartment for the duration of your initial training under direction of the learning academy, as arranged by airservices, and may be on a share basis"

Thanks to everyone for all the info so far. Does anyone know what kind of systems the Class D airports, specifically Bankstown, use? Old school paper strips, electronic strips, radar etc? Thanks again!

I didnt make it this time. Will continue trying to work for Airservices in the future.. good luck to the guys that are still on the run! :-)

BK uses strips for IFR departures and IFR arrivals otherwise its a scratch pad (pen and paper) for the circuits. They have a radar display of sorts (TSAD) which can be used a reference (when to ask an aircraft their position) rather than for separation.

This link may assist http://http://www.alphaflying.asn.au...r/FTTJul09.pdf

Thanks missy. This is exactly the info I was looking for.

Adelaide and Cairns
 

Can anyone tell me if the future of Adelaide and Cairns (and Sydney) approach units has been decided yet?

Cairns and Adelaide to move. Sydney went in the too hard basket.

Cheers topdrop. Any idea of timeframes yet?

"2017" is the rather broad target we've been told.

So did anyone of the international experienced controllers who applied recently hear anything yet?? I've heard nothing so far except that the application has been received..

This year's international intake is on! Anyone join?

Hi Whichwayisnorth,

Could you please tell us when your 457 visa started and which date it expires?


As far as I know, The Immigration Department note that any one, holding 457visa and has been working for at least two years, can apply for PR if his/her employer would like to nominate him/her for a permanent position.


So would you plan to apply for the nomination in two years?

Have,

I am still on the 402. The 457 kicks in once you have completed field training and is then valid for 4 years.

Regarding PR, If you are sponsored you can then apply for PR after 2 years on the 457.

Good luck with the application.

Thanks Whichwayisnorth!

It seems you waited for about 2 years from application to the current course! Quite a long time!


Are the courses hard? Are you an English native speaker? Do you have an ICAO level 6 for English Proficiency when applying the intake?


Thank you again for your wishes! looking for good lucks:)

I applied in July 2014 and passed final interview in Dec 2014. Last email was a few months ago looking at July 2016 intake. Anyone else in the same situation? No offer letter yet or indication tower/radar/en route as I have ratings in all three.

Requested QLD as an area and not fussed on the stream. HR process is a slow one, hope to get at least an offer letter soon so I can start to get excited!

Hello All

I have a few questions if someone on a recent international intake would be kind enough to answer please? WhichWayIsNorth? Big Colin?

I can't guarentee anything but if I apply and get selected then I'll owe you a beer.

Thanks

I like beer. Ask away...

Online testing question
 

Hi all,

I'm a UK ATCO and have just applied for the international vacancy. I have received a confirmation email and it says I have to do the online testing to progress the application, am I correct in assuming they will send me another email with a link and log in?

Many thanks

Hi sr562.

The invite for testing came through the ASA existing applicant log in on the website.

That is interesting. Should there be a mailbox or something on the applicant log in? Mine doesn't have much...it says application under review. I have the option to update my profile or my resume and to log out...thats about it...

I'm fairly certain I received an email informing me to log on to the members page and there was a link from there.

What's a realistic salary for an APP controller for Airservices?

Overseas recruits are allocated a salary based on years of experience, either $96,988, $108,865, $120,740, $131,297, $141,853, $154,389, $164,945, $175,502, $181,440 (or $196,298 if working SYD APP).. Annual increments from your starting salary to the top salary of $181,440 (or $196,298 if working SYD APP). Excludes Superannuation, public holiday and any additional shifts worked.

Thank you for the detailed answer. Do you know if increments start with service date with Airservices or just experience anywhere?