IAA Student Controller Program 2020

My brother is in training for NATS in the UK, he's done his first year and now getting on the job training for the next few months. Decent salary and pension if you make it through, positions to applicants is a ridiculously low % mind.

Tristan100 wrote: »

I got my invitation this morning also, for the 24th.
Can someone tell me, if I get a place on the course am I guaranteed a job on completion?

Strictly speaking, no, but they’re paying a sizeable sum to train people because they need them. Barring a massive downturn in the industry, you can expect to be hired if you successfully qualify (not something to be taken for granted, selection and training are very difficult and not everyone who starts training qualifies in the end)

Mckclaudia wrote: »

Just wondering if there’s any practice sites for these FEAST or DART tests????

There is software that claims to emulate the tests for practice purposes, but the overwhelming majority of people who get selected didn’t use it. (Correlation, not necessarily causation)

The tests are designed to test aptitude not preparation, so no prior knowledge or practice is assumed. In a way, preparing for the test could be seen as cheating yourself, because even if your practice gets you through the tests, it will not help you at all during the training, and you could end up getting picked for a training course for which you are not suited and find it very hard to complete.

All that said, one thing that you may find useful for the tests (and which would stand to you if you were selected to train) is getting to know what compass headings look like. There’s a Eurocontrol game for that in the comments of the reddit post linked in a comment above. Aside from that, try to arrive well rested, fed and watered. Good luck!

horsey63 wrote: »

Just a thought, if you were offered to do FEAST by IAA and Eurocontrol in the next four weeks, which one would you pick ?

Probably do the test with the IAA to save the hassle of travelling to Maastricht. You can use the results of a FEAST test taken for one employer to apply at another that uses FEAST. Continue in both selection processes in the hopes that you’ll get an offer from both of them.

Edit: Actually, not sure if Eurocontrol use the Multipass test as well. If so, it might make sense to do it there, and use the results for the IAA

Inquitus wrote: »

It pays very well, starting pay on qualification is @€;75k and it goes up with increments from there

This source is not accurate for new entrants post-2011. The starting figure is significantly lower, though the highest points are fairly close.

I’m sure if you emailed the IAA, they’d send you an up to date pay scale.

NATS is signifcantly, better the student weekly allowance is @ £350-£400 made up of a base salary of @£;17k and a weekly allowance of up to £60. This rises significantly when you graduate and get placed in a permanent job, you also qualify for matched pension contributions while training.

They said we will hear next week via email. The must just be taking the top 10% of performers to the next round or something. I estimate about 300 took the DART this week so maybe 30-50 will make it?

I got through also.

Tristan100 wrote: »

Which airports in Ireland qualify?

I know for sure Dublin & Belfast(but Belfast is NATS, at least for now), and probably Shannon and Cork too, I wouldn't imagine any of the rest do, but I am not an expert in this area.

Another point he raised thats interesting is they are doing away with "Tower" control at London City and doing it purely digitally from a remote location starting in a years time or so, presumably this may be the future to come in other places as well.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39960993

It's also been already installed in Jersey

https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2019/05/21/jersey-becomes-first-british-airport-to-use-digital-remote-air-traffic-tower/

Singapore is also in on the action

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/changi-airport-remote-air-traffic-control-system-trial-9424732

Inquitus wrote: »

Another point he raised thats interesting is they are doing away with "Tower" control at London City and doing it purely digitally from a remote location starting in a years time or so, presumably this may be the future to come in other places as well.

IAA trialled this technology a few years ago, controlling Shannon & Cork from Dublin:

arccosh wrote: »

I wouldn't fully agree with that...loads of ways out of a crappy placement... but what you usually find is crappy placements are handed to the people who would be happy with them. Not all controllers want or have the ability for the higher pressure roles.



Ask your brother about western radar in NATS.... cushy number, will max at about 60-80k. All you do is talk to planes looking for information service, so mostly pleasure flights, parachute jumping, a few flybe flights flying outside controlled airspace to avoid charges and the odd military stuff... 0700-2300 opening hours

He said that's FISO, and you don't need full controller qualifications for the role, also that it would be boring as feck! And would require up-skilling to go into proper ATC.

Inquitus wrote: »

From reading all the blurb on the IAA website all the initial training is in Shannon like the first 12 months odd.

Is it 12 or 16 months in Shannon followed by on thr job training? They really aren't clear on the programme!