the very latest.

Going from bad to worse..

I turned down an offer from Airservices as well, due personal reasons, have been regretting it ever since. Until now...

To add on

Trainees currently on position at various other stations are being told their visas will not be extended and to expect to return home.

Other people in the queue to leave their respective countries and move to ASA, have had their signed offers cancelled at the 11th hour.

On a side note, I've noticed their paid Trainee Technical Officer pathway has quietly slid into the abyss at some point - all references to it in the Careers section have vanished completely.

Hi, I've been reading this thread extensively over the past 18 months while completing my diploma in Aviation Theory. In that time I've only seen one application opening for ATC trainees. I've given my email address to Airservices to be notified of any openings but it's been a long time since I've seen anything. Does anyone have any information about when ASA will be accepting new applications? I also plan on contacting them directly

Hi Cirrus. In a similar position to you. I emailed Airservices last month regarding the fact that there has not been an application intake in quite a while. They replied saying that they hadn't been advised (at the time) as to when the next intake will be. Just told me to keep an eye on the website.

Unfortunately the rate of training has been cut right back, along with a stack of other stuff. There are still courses being run but considerably fewer of them and there are more than enough people already in the pipeline to fill the reduced number of course placements. Sorry I don't have any specific information for you either.

Thanks for that le Pingouin. I assumed that might have been the case. Still needing 80 new recruits a year according to the workforce plan however, but that'd probably put a lot of strain on the training centre.

I thought that might be the case. Thank you to you both for your replies

From the article:

Airservices Australia boss Jason Harfield has insisted the Turnbull government’s scrapping of the 457 visa would have no impact on the safety of the air traffic control system.

During this week’s Senate estimates hearings, Mr Harfield said the changes would impact “just under 40, I think it’s 38” of about 1100 air traffic controllers and the figures included trainees who were not yet fully qualified.

“Some of them were originally on 457 visas but have converted across to a different type of visa,” Mr Harfield said.

“We are just working through them individually, but I can guarantee that there will be no impact to the safety or operations of the air traffic control system,” he said.

The comments came after Senator Nick Xenophon said concerns had been put to him that the changes created “serious implications for air traffic control in this country and that a number of experienced recruits had been told they would not be able to stay as air traffic controllers”.

Under the government’s visa shake-up, announced last month, dumped 457 visas will be replaced by a new type of temporary skill shortage visa.

Air traffic controllers are on the list of skilled occupations that were removed because of the changes.

Pressed by Senator Xenophon, Mr Harfield said there was “capacity in the rosters and we’ve done that assessment that we are able to continue to maintain service provision during that time as we work through all of this”.

The comments are likely to fuel debate about how the aviation sector will be affected by the 457 visa changes, which take effect from March next year.

Regional Express has claimed the changes to the visa program will lead to a reduction in air services as it cuts pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers from the list.

But Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said she had told Rex deputy chairman John Sharp there could be a review in the event of genuine shortages.



Best wishes for those 38/40 colleagues that took the leap, hope all ends up well for them and their families.

Hi all,
Has anyone heard any update or been invited to attend the next round
of Assessment Centres for 2017? And if so what month?

Hi all,
Is anyone on the Sep tower course?

Hi Shep - have PM'd you.

Sent a message to Airservices. They just told me they were reviewing operational needs of course. Might end up just going through Air Force as an ATC and transfer eventually to a civilian ATC.

So have you applied, done testing and interviews or are you just looking at it now?

Hmmmm oh well, I guess we will keep waiting until the day comes. As you say Air Force or ATC in other countries may have to be the go to in a few months if no information surfaces.

Only just applied a few days ago. No testing or interviews done yet

Just don't tell the RAAF that you're applying for ATC as a way to get into civilian ATC....bad form.

Hi shep_001,

Was that Tower course originally booked in for August 2017? And also what month/year did you submit your online application? Cheers.