Life After RAF Being An Air Traffic Controller
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: western europe
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Make your mind up
You need to make your mind up as to what your priorities are:
Your career will go one of three ways.
Civil -
Go to the college at Hurn, possibly get chopped
Go to SCACC/MACC(soon to be SCACC)/LACC or LTCC(Soon to be LACC) spend two to three years training, possibly get chopped. Validate then.
Come into work, spend 90 minutes on console, take your 20 minute break in Starbucks, 90 minutes on, Lunch in the restaurant, 90 minutes on......Speedbird 1234 descend FL250 be level FL250 by GIBSO....Continental 1, descend FL250 be level FL250 by GIBSO....Virgin 5 descend FL250 be level FL250 by GIBSO, Baby 2345 radar heading 080 degrees.....Speedbird 2345 descend FL250 be level FL250 by GIBSO, take a break in starbucks, 90 minutes on, go to car park, get in your M3/T5/Z4/CLK/RX7/AMG (delete as applicable) and go home. Same again tomorrow.
Join the RAF
Go to Cranwell, have your sense of humour removed and be brainwashed into the fact that two winged officers are the master race.
Go to Shawbury to learn ATC, possibly get chopped.
Go to a terminal unit, possibly get chopped, learn how to deal with F15s descending low level ,jets in the radar pattern, emergencies galore, visual circuits, get a suntan in Cyprus/Iraq/Afgahnistan (delete as appropriate), get cold in the Falklands/Scotland/Wales. Go to LACC/SCACC/LATCC for the best controlling of your life, wheeling and dealing. Change jobs every two years so you never get bored. Every year your salary wil go up. Go to the car park and get into your Vectra/Astra/Mondeo (delete as appropriate). Go home and listen to the sound of freedom as the squadron night fly over the top of your MQ.
Join the RN
Go to Dartmouth be astounded by the beauty of the place, get a sense of humour and understand totally that anyone with two wings is just a bloody WAFU, to be used and abused at the PWOs leisure. Go to Shawbury, possibly get chopped, Go to Culdrose, Cottesmore, Yeovilton. possibly get chopped, learn how to deal with F15s descending low level ,jets in the radar pattern, emergencies galore, visual circuits. Go to sea on a ship, visit foreign climes and host cocktail parties, kept awake at night by chains and engine noise, make lifelong friends, go back ashore Go to LACC/SCACC/LATCC for the best controlling of your life, wheeling and dealing. Change jobs every two years so you never get bored. Go to the car park and get into your Subaru/Audi/BMW/Mazda(delete as appropriate). Fight off the women who fall at your feet when they spy your fantastic Uniform. Be proud to be a defender of Britain's interests worldwide, join HMS Queen Elizabeth II as the SATCO on her inaugural world tour!
Your choice........................................
Your career will go one of three ways.
Civil -
Go to the college at Hurn, possibly get chopped
Go to SCACC/MACC(soon to be SCACC)/LACC or LTCC(Soon to be LACC) spend two to three years training, possibly get chopped. Validate then.
Come into work, spend 90 minutes on console, take your 20 minute break in Starbucks, 90 minutes on, Lunch in the restaurant, 90 minutes on......Speedbird 1234 descend FL250 be level FL250 by GIBSO....Continental 1, descend FL250 be level FL250 by GIBSO....Virgin 5 descend FL250 be level FL250 by GIBSO, Baby 2345 radar heading 080 degrees.....Speedbird 2345 descend FL250 be level FL250 by GIBSO, take a break in starbucks, 90 minutes on, go to car park, get in your M3/T5/Z4/CLK/RX7/AMG (delete as applicable) and go home. Same again tomorrow.
Join the RAF
Go to Cranwell, have your sense of humour removed and be brainwashed into the fact that two winged officers are the master race.
Go to Shawbury to learn ATC, possibly get chopped.
Go to a terminal unit, possibly get chopped, learn how to deal with F15s descending low level ,jets in the radar pattern, emergencies galore, visual circuits, get a suntan in Cyprus/Iraq/Afgahnistan (delete as appropriate), get cold in the Falklands/Scotland/Wales. Go to LACC/SCACC/LATCC for the best controlling of your life, wheeling and dealing. Change jobs every two years so you never get bored. Every year your salary wil go up. Go to the car park and get into your Vectra/Astra/Mondeo (delete as appropriate). Go home and listen to the sound of freedom as the squadron night fly over the top of your MQ.
Join the RN
Go to Dartmouth be astounded by the beauty of the place, get a sense of humour and understand totally that anyone with two wings is just a bloody WAFU, to be used and abused at the PWOs leisure. Go to Shawbury, possibly get chopped, Go to Culdrose, Cottesmore, Yeovilton. possibly get chopped, learn how to deal with F15s descending low level ,jets in the radar pattern, emergencies galore, visual circuits. Go to sea on a ship, visit foreign climes and host cocktail parties, kept awake at night by chains and engine noise, make lifelong friends, go back ashore Go to LACC/SCACC/LATCC for the best controlling of your life, wheeling and dealing. Change jobs every two years so you never get bored. Go to the car park and get into your Subaru/Audi/BMW/Mazda(delete as appropriate). Fight off the women who fall at your feet when they spy your fantastic Uniform. Be proud to be a defender of Britain's interests worldwide, join HMS Queen Elizabeth II as the SATCO on her inaugural world tour!
Your choice........................................
A or B
At least you will be reasonably certain your wife will be waiting when you get back home.
(On the basis that the three Navy chaps I know had thiers dissapear whilst on tour)
At least you will be reasonably certain your wife will be waiting when you get back home.
(On the basis that the three Navy chaps I know had thiers dissapear whilst on tour)
Join Date: Jul 2005
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it was also stated that a similar concept should apply for Air Traffickers - but it would require initiative from within the branch to start the ball rolling.
Has anyone bothered yet? If not, you've only got yourselves to blame.
Has anyone bothered yet? If not, you've only got yourselves to blame.
That's my view and I'm sticking to it.
Fred.
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I know of other ex-RAF controllers who have paid the whole lot out of their own pockets in order to pay their way through to civilian controlling.
Me - I put my money where my mouth is and got choice - granted I'm earning less than I was in the MOB but I get to live at home and I know my earning potential will see me earning more than my RAF salary in the next 5 years.
Often one has to step back to then run forward!
FRED
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Beags/ATCO Fred,
Both spot on. In general , the ATC hierarchy only wish to further their own goals and career paths. Initiative and foresight are not words that readily spring to mind.
Small-minded and parochial are words that do. Think 'big picture'.
WJMcP
Both spot on. In general , the ATC hierarchy only wish to further their own goals and career paths. Initiative and foresight are not words that readily spring to mind.
Small-minded and parochial are words that do. Think 'big picture'.WJMcP
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I did 6 years at SCATCC and Bz before PVRing. Offered Pilot training to come back in at age 25. Also sniffed at a forex dealing job in the City. US Bank had done some research and were intrigued by the longevity on display in the ATC world. They figured that the same aptitude/skills were required but dealers tended to burn out in their 30's whereas controllers went on happily into their 50's. They placed an ad in Flight inviting Air Traffickers to apply for the job.
There you go, another career option. Live the dream in RAF ATC for a few years then become a forex dealer and earn megabucks!
There you go, another career option. Live the dream in RAF ATC for a few years then become a forex dealer and earn megabucks!
Last edited by nigegilb; 19th Jun 2007 at 13:06.
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You see, I try and be positive about the Crabs, making them look punchy and a good career choice and all they can do is slate their own Service!
What can I do?
What can I do?
Fred
Just don't go there - you know it will all end in tears.
Can of worms and all that.... It's like the luvvies of the acting word mentioning the 'M' word.Join Date: Sep 2002
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Sadly VL's opinion of ex-mil controllers is prevalent throughout NATS. Even the students on my course at Hurn, with all their extensive ATC experience, would have a laugh at the military's expense.
Then again, I wonder how many of them are still working for NATS?!
Then again, I wonder how many of them are still working for NATS?!
Number 2,
That is a very poor generalisation. You are probably talking about a significant proportion of the NATS population there! (Do you include yourself?) Or have I got the wrong gist of your comment? There are good and bad in every profession, I know some awful doctors! I know some very good ex mil and some poor. I know some poor civil controllers but I don't tar the whole organisation by the actions of the few.
The UKFIR/UIR is a very unique environment, probably in the world. No-where eslse will you get the interaction in such congested airspace and it works very well because of the actions of some very hard working and highly competent cotrollers on both sides of the shop.
There are those who change jobs in any profession, sometimes for financial reasons, sometimes for domestic reasons, sometimes because they have burnt bridges..................takes all sorts.......
That is a very poor generalisation. You are probably talking about a significant proportion of the NATS population there! (Do you include yourself?) Or have I got the wrong gist of your comment? There are good and bad in every profession, I know some awful doctors! I know some very good ex mil and some poor. I know some poor civil controllers but I don't tar the whole organisation by the actions of the few.
The UKFIR/UIR is a very unique environment, probably in the world. No-where eslse will you get the interaction in such congested airspace and it works very well because of the actions of some very hard working and highly competent cotrollers on both sides of the shop.
There are those who change jobs in any profession, sometimes for financial reasons, sometimes for domestic reasons, sometimes because they have burnt bridges..................takes all sorts.......
Last edited by Widger; 19th Jun 2007 at 16:05.
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Of course you could do something completely different like 30 years in the RAF Air Trafficking. PVR at 50 and blow your gratuity in flying training and become a commercial pilot. Worked for me.
On a serious note I would concentrate on actually getting an offer of a place in the RAF. If accepted and you get through the courses then enjoy life but plan to start working towards your civil licences at least 2 years before you finish your service/PVR. Nearly everything you want is available from the AIS or CAA web sites. Did my civil licences (Twr/App) while I was at LATCC (yes that long ago ) but never got around to leaving to use them (well I could see what life was like on the otherside at LATCC and you must never underestimate the simple pleasure of knowing what colour shirt to put on in the morning
. )
On a serious note I would concentrate on actually getting an offer of a place in the RAF. If accepted and you get through the courses then enjoy life but plan to start working towards your civil licences at least 2 years before you finish your service/PVR. Nearly everything you want is available from the AIS or CAA web sites. Did my civil licences (Twr/App) while I was at LATCC (yes that long ago ) but never got around to leaving to use them (well I could see what life was like on the otherside at LATCC and you must never underestimate the simple pleasure of knowing what colour shirt to put on in the morning
. )
To go way back to Trap Ones reply; NATS don't issue licences but the CAA does. NATS might give you an APC (assessment of prior competence) to decide how much training you need to pass an 'approved course', but you'll still have to do a course somewhere even if you don't go to NATS. The CAA will only grant a licence if you have passed the approved coures(s), trained for a minimum period on live traffic and passed an examination of competency.
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I concur with Rickford, play each side for what you can and see who offers what, both recruiting systems are fairly thorough.
Then decide if you like money and never giving an ac RAS, or
Prefer clock-watching and prostituting yourself to the whims of a madman every three years under the guise of "career management".
(with the latter there are some very good parties though!)
Then decide if you like money and never giving an ac RAS, or
Prefer clock-watching and prostituting yourself to the whims of a madman every three years under the guise of "career management".
(with the latter there are some very good parties though!)
There you go, another career option. Live the dream in RAF ATC for a few years then become a forex dealer and earn megabucks!