Rates of Pay: A/G and FISO
 

Does anyone know what the going rate is for an Air/Ground Operator and a FISO? I know that at some airfields, A/G is provided by volunteers but I would imagine that most FISOs are paid.

I don't know about "going rates", but at Sleap the A/G operators get between £3 and £4 an hour, added to your account to be used for flying. So not quite volunteers, only nearly.

Shot in the dark but based on what I know FISO's used to get you're probably looking at £15-17K (approx) full time, obviously becoming someting similar pro-rata for a part timer. . .. .The amount Whirly quotes for A/G is fairly close to the mark for places that pay them in currency (as opposed to flying).. .. .CM

Are there many oportunities to do this on a part time, volunteer basis, or do most aerodromes have enoug people? . .. .Cheers,. .Rusty

Could someone please tell me how you can become an A/G operator and a FISO?

I should have said in my original post that I get £4.50 per hour for occasional A/G work at the moment - and I do it because I enjoy it. I'm just looking for comparisons and wondering, out of interest, what other rates/deals are offered.. .. .To those who would like to do it, there probably isn't a whole lot of paid A/G work out there, but it's always worth asking around at busier airfields. Upgrading to FISO is probably a better bet as an earner but there can't be too many places that employ FISOs - Elstree (?), Barton, Duxford, Fenland, Sywell.............what are the others? I know that Area Control Centres employ a slightly different type of FISO but I would imagine that it's difficult for an outsider to break in there. A/G opportunities sometimes arise for occasional events like fly-ins, air displays and at temporary aerodromes, but it can be a bit challenging for basic A/G bods and I think most of it is done by professional ATCOs for a bit of light relief!!. .. .CAP 452 (Aeronautical Radio Station Operator's Guide)and CAP 427 (Flight Information Service and the FISO LIcence) detail the requirements for A/G Operators and FISOs - both available on the CAA website under the Air Traffic Services section.. . . . <small>[ 15 March 2002, 19:23: Message edited by: Tee ]</small>

Rusty,. .. .About a year ago Sleap were desperate for more A/G operators at weekends. I would think it varies. I never finished training, had too much else to do (like helicopter flying) but even the few hours I did in the tower were excellent experience - go for it if you can.

Tee,. .. .Not sure where you are in the UK, but in the South. .Blackbushe, Fairoaks and Goodwood all employ AFISO's.

...and Denham and Lydd.. .. .At my local field the A/G people get NMW and have to do a whole lot more, such as fueling and fire cover. A very full time job.

When I used to do Air-Ground (until Feb), There was a group of 4 of us, we only did weekends and bank holidays and we would each do a four hour shift, with ocassionally an eight hour one.. .. .We were each paid the same at a rate of £5.50 per hour.. .. .Hope this helps. .. .Cheers

You're all very lucky people if you get paid. My dad's been a FISO at weekends at a club airfield for over 20 years (missed about three weekends during that time), and hasn't been paid a penny !!!!!!!!!!!!!!