Atc

I know most of you want to be a Professional Pilot but I dont want to be now!

I just spent 2 days with NATs ATC @ EGAA and 2 days with Belfast City ATC who are employed by Belfast City Airport.

It was a huge insight for me as I had been for a couple of hours to EGAA ATC before in December 2002 but I didnt appriate fully what happens. I found it truly amazing and actually quite simple in areas you would think are hard.

For example people tend to think Centre Stations such as Scottish etc who are permanently look at aircraft on a scope is difficult and teadeous etc because they are just blips. I personally found it was far from this and is truly facinating!

The pay is good as well!

During your 18 months (with 6 weeks holiday) in the Bournemouth College you get £18,000 PLUS £100 PER WEEEK FOR ACCOMODATION ETC! and what usually happens is the 4 of your share a £400 a week rental house and you can help each other learn etc!

Then once you do your 18th months and do your training at a real airport (usually ones like EGAA, EGSS or EGGP etc but EGAA is the majority :D) you get £24,000 for a few years then it goes up to a standard pay of £35,000.

You also only need 7 GCSE’s at Grade C or above including Maths and English. Then you have to study through to examination, but dont have a pass, A Levels.

It is EASIER to get into than being a Commerical Pilot and you are more at the fore front of aviation and new technologies being introduced into aviation in certain aspects.

I have also now spoken to a local flying club today and will start my PPL training hopefully in around Feburary as the more aviation experience, no matter in what area, help you secure a place at the College in Bournemouth and when you are nearing the end of training you get 15hrs of flying time FREE to give you the pilots perspective of things!

It takes over your life during the 18months but everyone seems to go home most weekends as NATs do discount deals with airlines etc so flight prices are next to nothing!

Another plus is that for the airport you work you obviously get a full airside pass for the field so you are allowed to go and sit on the perimeter roads photographing aircraft even under the current security concerns 😀

If ATC want a payrise they always get it as if they dont the whole of the UK comes to a stand still and since no one wants that payrises are always accepted!

Anyone else wanna change from Pilot to ATC like me 🙂