NATS Experienced Controller Programme
 

Hi all,

Does anybody know or has heard about status of the NATS Experienced Controller Programme? Expressions of Interest for this closed 3 weeks ago and I have heard nothing from them.

There was a rumour that this for be for a Hong Kong contract - can anybody confirm?

Any information would be appreciated :)

I've heard that NAT's has reached out to prospective candidates, but no definitive answer on the HK piece.

I was contacted for a video call but it was just an initial part of the process, more info would be given in a face to face interview in the Uk.

KVOK, May I ask when was your video call interview?

ATLATC, sure. It was at the beginning of Nov. 3 weeks ago roughly. A 30' interview.

Thanks.
And no follow-up yet either, I'm guessing?

Not yet, they only said they would advice with plenty of time in advance to be able to arrange for travels easily... Have you been contacted at all yet ATLATC?

KVOK - replied via PM

Answered . :)

Has anybody else got any information about the prospective jobs?

From reports elsewhere it would seem Farnborough are short of controllers and have been since I retired 9 years ago!

I think every airport is struggling for staff in the UK, regardless of ANSP.

Does that also apply to ACC's? Thanks

Hi. Phone interview forseen this month, would be great to know a bit what to expect :)

Because everybody is jumping ship
 

The Germans have caught NATS on the hop ; Gatwick and Edinburgh has taken the legs from beneath them, they weren't tendering properly and still haven't changed the guts of the bargaining team. As a result, they will lose more and the staff can see it and are taking up other options. The closure of Glasgow due to staff shortages, a week or so ago, was barely reported in the press. Heads should have rolled for that alone.

I got out and so have several of my colleagues which has led to an immediate dearth of experience and with the new recruits on DC pensions and reduced salary rates, the motivation is just not there. I was once proud to work for them, but they now have circus performers pushing all the buttons and portray the behaviour of headless kitchens.

Sad really, it's a profession that should never be tampered with financially.

Just to be clear, I wasn't just talking about NATS airports.

The fact that three large airports have recently changed their ANSP doesn't materially affect the total numbers of controllers/potential controllers in the pool.

What does this are myriad factors, such as NATS dramatically reducing the training pipeline a few years ago, providing an attractive voluntary redundancy package, and such changes such as the rehashing of training and retention of those who did not make it through Area/TMA/TC Approach validation, what, ten years ago? Before then, many who didn't quite make it to validation at West Drayton/Swanwick would still have a Student aerodrome rating, and would either stay within NATS and work at an airport, or leave NATS and be picked up by another airport. Airports back then had effectively a 'free' pipeline of trainees, and there was a large pool of them.

Since that pipeline has been turned off, the pool has been reducing in size, compounded by the effect of the closure of Cwmbran.

UK ATC as a whole is in a staffing crisis, and that's before one speculates on the effects of the pension freedoms enjoyed by a large proportion of the NATS ATCO workforce with 15+ years experience.

We live in interesting times.

I haven't noticed any change in motivation in trainees I've met to those I trained with nearly 20 years ago.

Agree with Gonzo.
The pool of ATCO's has changed considerably in the last decade because of the reasons Gonzo cited.
NATS has recruited allot of experienced non NATS controllers recently and yes NATS has lost controllers to ANS.
The recent pay reviews at ANS and Birmingham demonstrate that there is a need for ANSP's to start reacting to the market and review their terms and conditions (that doesn't always mean more money).
An airport mentioned earlier has lost 6 ATCO's in the last year with ATCO's attracted to better pensions, annual pay reviews and overall improved conditions.
Fundamentally there aren't enough experienced controllers to fill the vacancies, and when an ANSP doe's advertise, it can take 3 months plus for the recruitment process (depending on the HR department).
If you find a suitable candidate, they usually have a 3 month notice period. The training (which depending on the unit) can take anything from a few months to over a year depending on the availability of OJTI's who need to ensure their own competency hours are maintained.
ANSP's need to retain their experience, and that starts by looking after the staff they already have.

All professions are tampered with financially, NHS, Police, Fire, care, education, transport etc.
The service provision levels are all affected by the funding that is available, why should ATC be different?

Interesting, but not all that surprising that I (being a current NATS ATCO at Swanwick) haven't heard anything back since expressing my interest for this overseas opportunity. I meet all the requirements, and am obviously known to them. Seems the contact named on the advert is just ignoring my emails too which is nice and professional.

Not sure why they bothered advertising this internally given all the issues explained perfectly by Gonzo. They can't spare anyone!

Here's hoping interesting Asia opportunities come about with other ANSPs!

Ouch. :suspect: