Air Traffic Controllers?

Question

I would love to apply to become a trainee ATC but do you have a choice of where you train or do you just have to take where you are given? How likely are you to get a job in your area when you are fully trained?

Answer 1

have a look at www.pprune.org

This is a site for professional aviation people, someone on there will be more than happy to point you in the right directions.

Answer 2

Like the Military, you go where they want/need you

Answer 3

check ukcaa.com/careers. usually it is the local civil aviation authority that gives the training and hire personnels.

Answer 4

You apply to NATS, the National Air Traffic Service provider, not the CAA. Follow the link below.

The College of Air Traffic Control is at Hurn, just outside of Bournemouth.

Graduates from the College are then SENT to one of several designated training sites (Area Control Centres and Airports) where their practical training continues. When they're competent they will be posted to a station where there is a vacancy. Naturally, this will take into account the person's preference but cannot be guaranteed.

At their new station (Centre or Airport) the new Controller will undertake more training to Validate themselves for that site. Many do not acheive the required standard, especially at large airports or Centres, and have to accept a post at a lesser station (small aerodrome). The total time can be about 3 years.

A lot of people apply for the job because they think it's glamorous and that an interest in aviation is good enough. It isn't. Be aware that about 1 in 200 applicants are accepted and the success rate is about 30%.

At the moment NATS is drastically curtailing recruitment in all disciplines because their income is declining (fewer airline flights at the moment and even less in the winter) and their expenditure is constant regardless of how many "customers" use the service.

Answer 5

Q: What's the difference between doctors and air traffic controllers?

A: Doctors kill people one at a time.

Funny joke but serious point - do you really want to put yourself in a high stress job where a simple mistake can have disastrous consequences?  

Answer 6

have a look here (I'm assuming you're in the UK?)

Answer 7

Like any other job ,you get one when a vacancy occurs,but this is an extremely stressful job,you must stay on the ball at all times.