IAA wrote: "Students will receive an allowance during training."
Berty wrote: » I wonder what this means: Low paid or worse again.
HigsBoson wrote: » From the site, seems like very good money.
the_big_kahuna wrote: » are there any qualified air traffic controllers who have done the training in Shannon and could give us an idea of what its like? Is it 5 days a week? Allowed home at weekends etc etc? and what the hours are like when qualified etc I'm 50/50 as to whether to apply, mortgage etc being some of the cons! So would love to get some insight if at all possible! Thanks!
danthefan wrote: » Surely you have nothing to lose by just applying? Go for it, if you don't want to continue with the process then don't.
danthefan wrote: » rattrap - thanks for that. Would you be able to give any insight into the aptitude tests that are done?
rattrap wrote: » As far as I know, they're doing written tests before the computerised tests this year. I didn't do a written, and it's been a loooooong time since I did the aptitude test but from what I remember they were mostly to do with spacial relations and field awareness. For example: two shapes would move across the screen towards an intercept point and then suddenly disappear before they got there. You'd have to press a button at the time that you think that they would have intercepted. That kind of stuff. So, it's not a test you can study or plan for. I suppose you can't 'trick' the test. It's being used to find out if you have the innate qualities needed for ATC that can be built on and honed by the IAA for a specific purpose. Sorry, but that's about the only help I can give!
mrgardener wrote: » Hi rattrap, p.c. aside, would there be an age limit on someone starting this? Would someone be looked on more favorably if they were starting at early twenties as opposed to mid thirties (me!). Do you know of anyone who started this career from scratch at my age?
nevevix wrote: » i have to laugh at some of the posts on this thread!!!! hallarious! u cant just decide overnight 'oh i mite become an ATC' when you know NOTHIN about aviation etc etc.. & going 'oh do we get weekends off etc'? COME ON if u really want something u wont care if you have to work nite & day everyday to get there! do u really think they throw u 160k a year & expect it to be easy?? do u even think they would throw u 18k a year & expect it to be easy?? NADA.... They want people who are GENUINELY interested in aviation and ATC. people who are very intelligent with regards to understanding maths & physics. And people who are really really interested in training to be an air traffic controller. it is an *extrememly* tough course and even harder to get into!
rattrap wrote: » This isn't just a course with a qualification at the end. You're guaranteed a job; that is if you successfully complete it. The training program is 9:30-5:30 Monday to Friday. They don't find you somewhere to live and they don't dictate what you do in your spare time (so you can live at home and commute every day or go home on weekends). First 12 weeks are classroom based (something like 8 subjects:navigation, air law, aircraft performance etc) with exams that you MUST pass (70% is a pass for the IAA). You then go onto simulator work. Tower; en-route and procedural. Each of these sections has a written exam and several practical assessments all the way through-again 70% pass. Then it's onto the rating training. This is what tells you where you'll be based. It'll either be Shannon, Cork or Dublin (one of the three state airports-but most likely Shannon). Ratings can be for high level en-route, low level, approach, terminal area, approach etc etc. You should be guaranteed your first rating within 2 years of joining the company. As for needing to be interested in planes...You don't! You will learn as you go. Sure, it'd be an advantage if you really really love the idea of air transport and have wanted to do this job all your life. Air traffic control is about the safe, orderly, expeditious flow of traffic. So if you think your working style and personality are like that, then you've got an advantage. It does require shift work: this means early morning starts (6am in Dublin), night shifts (two in a week for Shannon workers), Saturday, Sunday, Bank holiday work, and of course someone has to work over the Christmas and Easter holidays. As for the pay, if you get the job full time, I have this to say: there was a LOT of spin in the media this year about ATCO salaries. I can tell you that the basic salary for a newly qualified ATCO is around 48,000 basic before tax (don't get me wrong I think this is a great salary-I'm just trying to set the misconceptions straight). Shift gives you 27% and if you work all the hours God sends you on overtime, I'm sure you could make a lot more. Sure, the job is stressful sometimes and yes, it is antisocial, and of course you have the burden of hundreds of peoples lives in your hands every minute, but I don't think I could do anything else.
Grupouva wrote: » 2 Years is a long time to dedicate to a course, but then again thanks to clowen & co ill probably still be looking for work and on the dole 2 years from now. I wonder how many hours a week the course is?
Thargor wrote: » Every blank box has to be filled in even if its nothing to do with you, put n/a everywhere theres a blank and select something random from every dropdown box you're not using.
skitzyspider wrote: » Thanks Rattrap:) Im even more interested in this now..think I might be well suited. What would a typical working week be like for you...hours, shift work etc?
rattrap wrote: » Well in both Shannon and Dublin it's an 8 day shift. 5 days on, 3 days off. In those 5 days you work about 45 hours. In Shannon you work 3 'days' and two 'nights'. In Dublin it's 4 days 1 night...sometimes 5 days. By days I mean during the sunlight hours. So you could start at 6am, 11am, 3pm etc. And nights start somewhere between 9pm and 11pm and go straight through the night til the following morning. Your shift depends on where you work: Dublin or Shannon. Nights are more important in Shannon as the traffic is early morning transatlantic over flights. Dublin is a terminal area only, so very few overflights. I mean at the end of the day, it's shift work and it's variable. One twist may not be the same as the next depending on staffing reqirements!
nevevix wrote: » i have to laugh at some of the posts on this thread!!!! hallarious! u cant just decide overnight 'oh i mite become an ATC' when you know NOTHIN about aviation etc etc.. & going 'oh do we get weekends off etc'? COME ON if u really want something u wont care if you have to work nite & day everyday to get there! do u really think they throw u 160k a year & expect it to be easy?? do u even think they would throw u 18k a year & expect it to be easy?? NADA.... They want people who are GENUINELY interested in aviation and ATC. people who are very intelligent with regards to understanding maths & physics. And people who are really really interested in training to be an air traffic controller. it is an *extrememly* tough course and even harder to get into! google: NATS and play the game and see if u would be any good hahaha
