ATCO Options
 

I'm a new visitor to this section of the site and yes I'm on the scrounge for information from you knowledgeable people!!!

Basically I've been looking into the idea of air traffic control for a few years now while at university...I've had all the info from NATS but get the impression that all new recruits are pushed towards Swanwick. My interest in becoming an ATCO is to be able to work at an airport, either the approach or Aerodrome Control.

Basically I'm wondering if anyone has any information about being able to do this with NATS or to widen my options... how do I go about getting an ATC position at a non NATS airport? Is their a self funding route? Do you then need experience before applying?

Any help gratefully accepted.

Thanks & Regards

CB1

ATC Help
 

Go to the website safeskys.co.uk and open up the page 'ATC Career Advice'. Scroll down to 'Four ways to become a UK ATCO'. You can also check out 'Stop Press & Jobs' on the same web site to access latest ATC vacancies.

Good Luck

However, take the info with a pinch of salt... the info on the web site seems very basic to me, if you want to go via route 4, you could also join the RN; then, later, you do not HAVE to go via route 2, you could receive a scolarship from NATS, OR pay your own way.

Personally I would say if you want some adventure before growing old, try the armed forces first, but beware, the actual ATC job is very different from civil ATC and the transition is not always straightforward, nor easy. You could be the best military ATCO and struggle with the Civil courses, or vice versa.

To get a balanced view, look at as many sites as possible, for instance the RAF website (the RAF and Navy run a joint ATC school at RAF Shawbury, in Shropshire), and also the NATS website. Also try looking further afield to Europe etc.

Whatever you choose, good luck!

Thanks for your input, I've made some inquires as to how many ATCA positions there are and how often they seem to arise, I think out of all the options it would get me to the environment I want the quickest..... but I think NATS cadet to aerodrome rating and serving some time with them before moving to a regional airport would probably be the quickest to my overall position A!!

Once again thanks for input.

The prime need within NATS is for Area Controllers .. what will you do if that becomes their choice of career for you ??

Getting the Aerodrome rating, and then spending a little time with NATS to repay their generosity before heading off some other organisation, is a waste of our time to be frank.

I suspect your desires to use the company as a nice cheap way of funding your own goals will come across in your interviews .. at least then we won't waste a stack of time, money, and the input of already hard pressed instructors at the College and at the units, and can hopefully choose a candidate who actually wants to work with us.

Perhaps now it should be time for NATS to bond trainees for a time period after reaching validation ??

well said radar.

unfortunately for cb1, with the new course structure if you get streamed for area now you won't get an aerodrome rating first, unlike previously. just a 10 week introductory course first - all theory.

Thanks for your comments,

just a note, I am well aware as to the lack of aerodrome opportunity with NATS, hence my starting of the thread. (see my first post).

I have as much desire as the next ATCO wannabe to work for NATS. My point was A) I have little interest in sitting in front of a computer screen in a 'warehouse' on the south coast, and B) due to the lack of opportunity to reach a tower how I would get there.

When I stated 'serve some time with NATS' i was refering to a long period, not five years or so... being young I dont feel it would be a problem to move on later in my career.

thanks anyway

:ok: fair enough

I've just done my Basic Course in 5 weeks. What does the NATS trainees do in their remaining 5 weeks out of the 10 weeks?:confused:

I'd like to know what exactly you cover in that 5 weeks, sounds a little fishy to me?? We do a !!!!load believe me!!

Dizzee & Hurn-ia

This is an old chestnut that has been going on for years. The reason is quite simple.

NATS are used to taking people with no aviation knowledge, so they realise the information 'input' to the student is starting from scratch.

The other Colleges however, have found that most of their students already come from an aviation background, and so they already posess a lot of that knowledge. For that reason they've found that they can often compress the period - but you still do a '!!!!load' too (believe me - been there, done it).

Of course - if you don't have this knowledge then be prepared to work even harder on the non-NATS courses, because the standard that everyone has to reach - NATS or non NATS - is identical at the end of that first phase (and of course, all subsequent ones).

Wider Options
 

Hi there CB1

You wish to do tower - good for you. Unfortunatley as has been stated NATS require more Area controllers at the moment.

you said that you didn't want to sit in front of a computer screen (implying Swanwick) what do you think an approach controller looks at??

If you go down the Mil route (been there, done that) you have more chance of getting a Tower/ Approach job but there is no way (currently) this can be transfered to the civilian side [through NATS anyway].

the other option is to self fund - but there are poeple more knowledgeable about that side on this board.

this job is hard whatever route you get into it - so be prepared for a lot harder work than you have ever experienced at Uni (i'd wager!!)

The decision is yours!!
:ok:

The in front of a computer screen was more inrelation to the 'warehouse' comment not the screen!

Doing some in depth research on it all at the mo!