Further agreeing with Hempy and Fuji, except less experience being rated (1 year), the more you know of your AIP the better, espeically when during a sim run or exam your instructor questions you about something and you are able to quote a reference explaining how you are doing it. Even now being rated, working at a 1-man tower I often read through the AIP during lull's, it is probably the most important document for us, along side MATS of course.

Also, once you are in field training, your OJTI will contstantly be asking you where a rule comes from or what the pilots should be doing and makes it alot easier if you are familiar with the documents.

Ruth,
You shouldn't need to pay for anything up front, the DAME and DAO will bill it all to Airservices. In fact, Airservices booked my DAME appointment for me. If there's any problems someone at Airservices will get in touch with the DAME/DAO to reassure them that they're footing the bill. The Medibank Health Solutions thing is for your drug and alcohol test and my DAME was able to do that as well.

If you do end up paying for it yourself, I think you're looking at about $700 all up.

Medical costs.
 

Things have changed a little bit Steve, we now pay for everything and get reimbursed when we start. Ruth, my costs came to a total of about $500.

I paid for my things myself knowing I would be reimbursed because I had such a short time frame to get my medical and everything done before I started the course. By the time they rang and asked whether I had done the medical yet and offered to pay for it on their account it would have been too late for it all to be completed and get everything back from CASA.

Ruth, it depends on which doctor/DAO you go to, some are more expensive than the others. My costs came up to around $700, but Airservices had that paid back to me the week after I started without any issues.

Ruth,

They don't advertise it this way, but if you think of it like this it may help you understand where you are at (from the organisations perspective)

ASA consider that you have essentially applied to go to college for a year and study for a Tertiary qualification. Like any Tertiary courses it has entry requirements, and because the ATC course (Dip.Av.) is both vocational and federally regulated it has a medical as well as an aptitude/educational entry standard. They will meet your costs but they don't consider it their responsibility to organise anything.

ASA is not the ADF. You haven't been given a job so much as been given an opportunity to train for which you will get paid. After you pass the theoretical and practical competencies required to satisfy both the Diploma and Licensing regulations you will be offered permanent employment.

The course is hard...4-5/10 smart, fit people with aptitude either fail or withdraw. A lot of self motivation is required to get you through it because you WILL face personal challenges that will have you asking yourself what the hell you are doing there. Trainees draw that motivation from various places; love of aviation, the money, the uniqueness of the environment... whatever it is, if you don't have enough of it you will not succeed. ATC is a responsible job, you CAN kill people if you have a bad day...possibly a whole lot of them. Ask yourself if you have that motivation now, because if you don't you may as well stay at home.

Hi Ruth, just wondering when did you attend the assessment day?
Thank you!

So, only one move instead of two :ok:

Make sure you keep onto CASA about your medical. If you don't have it by your start date, they won't let you start.

Congrats!

I'm still waiting on the outcome from my assessment day – the suspense is killing me!

Pre-Employment Medicals
 

Hi, would anyone know of what would the Airservices Australia Pre-Employment Medical Check and Police Checks entail? This is in regards to positions (Support) other than ATC or ARFF. What type of tests would designated doctors carry out?

Need your help please....:)

You'd have to ask someone at Airservices, Ruth.

Just got my 'application outcome' email – no ATC for my future it seems. Oh well, on to the next thing!

Thanks everyone here for the very useful information and supportive messages.

Al

Anybody heard anything regarding the experienced ATC positions? My status online still says "Application under review" but i have had no communication.

I did the online tests mid december and haven't heard anything since for the experienced controller positions.

Hey bud just to let you know. So far all the SA guys that I know off that applied has been rejected except one who had a connection that side. It's weird I'd say. Hope you come right mate. Let me know.

I know a few guys who have received the rejected email, my application still says "application under review".

Haven't heard if I passed the tests or not!

Thanks for the info waxo, that's very strange indeed.
I have yet to even do the online testing, I assume/hope they are processing the applications in the order received as I applied in the last week. I will let you know if there is any progress:ok:

Wow its taking a while for some people to hear back!!

I had my online testing and interview before christmas last year. At the time I was told to expect a call back in mid-february once the interview stage was complete. There were over 200 applicants for the experienced positions so it maaay take longer than they thought!

Here's hoping people hear back in the next month or so.

Course dates 2013/2014
 

Hi All,

first post in this forum! Thinking of making the switch from flying to ATC. Does anybody know what the course dates are for 2013/2014? not saying ill actually get on but I need to see out my contract and dont want to get ahead of myself...

Accommodation
 

For those that are starting the course in February and asked about accommodation, there is a room for rent in the house that I am in. You'd be sharing with me currently 3 months into the academy and a professional female who works in the city.

Anyone who is interested feel free to PM me. Rent is $120/wk +bills but, bills arent very much and the house is kitted out pretty nicely. Suburb is Westmeadows, quiet and a 10-15 min drive to college.

Cheers

no news at all... still waiting