It's positive enough for me
:D

It really is a waiting game for trainees now (i am one of them) - I have recently begun a new career adventure after a heck of a year. Will be keeping a close eye on all things re NATS and training and remain optimistic that training can resume with 1-2 years.

I mean, this can't go on forever can it?

Any updates re recruitment from those "in the know"? Are NATS thinking about when they might start to need new trainees again, or is it still too far off to even think about it?

Would be keen to read any replies to the above post if anyone is able to help?

Don't worry if the news isn't good... we can take it!

No real news just yet other than NATS officially let go of the existing college trainees at the end of June, so it's not looking good for any recruitment in the near future.

I thought the college trainees were already let go last year?

Pretty sure it went like this: trainees were let go in September 2020 - then the union pressured NATS to keep them on through the furlough scheme. The argument was that this wouldn't cost NATS anything, so they may as well do it and see how things play out. Then as of June, the furlough scheme required employer contributions - so NATS formally terminated contracts, rather than pay the furlough contributions. I believe the college trainees all have the guaranteed right to return to training when it does start again - but that this would likely be no earlier than mid 2022 based on current estimates. This is based on bits I've heard through various grapevines. I would also love to know what possible scenarios NATS might have planned for in terms of restarting training - but I honestly think the situation is still too volatile for any meaningful answers. I'd say '2022 at the earliest' is probably the best answer for now.

Thanks for the info :)

So it sounds like a relatively optimistic scenario, the previous trainees may start to be recalled to training from mid-2022. In which case, 'new' trainees could start to be required to start from late 2022 to early 2023. Given a lead time in recruitment of 3-6 months (at least), re-starting the recruitment process may also be possible in mid/late 2022?

They got rid of TATCs @ CTC months ago. They've just had a meeting on Teams to discuss with those TATCs the option to return, through what they're callign cohort 1, 2, and 3. Cohort 1 is destined to return early 2022 (We're talking Feb-Mar), Cohort 2 mid 2022 (Apr - Jun) and Cohort 3 late 2022 (Sep-Nov).

I can't imagine they'd start the recruitment process before mid 2022 - with their aim to fill cohorts for either the very end of 2022 or the start of 2023.


That's as far as we (the TATCs they got rid of) are aware.

interesting.. thank you for this info.

when you talk about cohorts, was this for the TATC’s who actually began their training before COVID interrupted them, or perhaps the individuals (myself included) of whom were weeks away from starting CTC training but never had the chance to begin.

I understand there will be priority list if you like with those who began training and still want to resume, but it will be interesting to know just how many trainees are in this boat and whether those waiting just behind them ‘in the queue’ would be invited to start next year too.

Either way, it sounds like NATS are now finally gearing up for some sort of movement and activity which can only be seen as encouraging news.

Cohorts were for those already at NATS - Cohort 1 are the advanced students, Cohort 2 the foundation and 3 is mine - basic. They were saying at one point you'd not have to start from scratch, just the last milestone - so hopefully 1 and 2 move through quickly and they can look at getting more trainees going.

I can't imagine all 122 are going to return - some have gone to EuroControl, some have got completely new careers. I wonder if cohort 3 will end up getting filled by a mixture of my old course and yourselves - where people don't return. Either way, it's going in the right direction.

Thanks for the reply. 100% agree, the right direction is starting to take an early shape. Encouraging news.

https://nats.aero/blog/2021/11/welco...ots-of-autumn/

Positive blog posted from NATS on their website. OTJ training resuming and ab-initio training resuming as early as Feb 22.

Here we are in early '22 - I hear that some courses are starting up in March/April for those who were already at the college when covid hit. Does anyone know what the general plan for the rest of the year looks like?

Just wondering if anyone has managed to successfully reach through to NATS at all. My last contact with them was September 2020 saying that TATC recruitment was paused. I have sent emails in June, September and October 2021, each time receiving an automated response but no actual response. I have also tried leaving answer messages to no avail. My only successful interaction has been through Instagram messaging saying they will chase up with recruitment and careers but still nothing over a 6 month period with four messages, now my messages are being ignored. I understand the terrible situation the industry is in but I would expect to at least hear something back over this period of time. Any info is appreciated.

Even in 'normal' times, this is how bad Nats are at communication. I had nightmare before joining the college dealing with HR and recruitment. That was 10 years ago, and it hasn't improved. Doubt it ever will!

HR issues aside, are there any updates re potential ATCO recruitment? Airlines are back at 80%+ of capacity this summer, so surely there will be a need for NATS to start thinking about training again soon......

​​​​​​As far as I'm aware, the training has already resumed for those that were in training when it shut down. For everyone else, it'll be an early 2023 start.

Positive news :ok:

If courses are to start in early 23, perhaps recruitment could open in summer or autumn?

Update
 

Has anyone heard anything about the restarting of trainee ATCO’s? Be it resumption of training at the college’s or recruitment of new trainee ATCO’s.

Thanks in advance

Niall

Hi Niall,

I'm one of the trainees that was due to begin training in April 2020, and subsequently had the offer withdrawn. We received an email back around March asking if we'd still be interested, as they're seeing sustained recovery. I suspect it'd be early 2023 at this stage. Some of the trainees who were already at the college pre-pandemic are back already.

I'd be keen to know more if anyone does know anything!