IAA Student Controller Program 2020

Good to see people are getting contacted again regarding recruitment.

Word on the grapevine is that the two classes that had their training suspended will potentially be back quite a bit sooner than they thought.

Eurocontrol posted projections on traffic recovery that state full recovery by 2023, a year earlier than the previous 2024 model, so staffing will definitely be an important factor.

Great to hear. Is it continuing where people left off? As in proceeding to group interview etc?

From my knowledge, you are placed onto a selection panel after a successful final interview.

You are ranked 1 to however many on the panel, so if there are 16 places then the first ranked 16 are offered a place. If someone does not accept, doesn't pass a medical etc, then an offer will be made to the 17th person. I have heard of a panel of approx 35 people being made in previous years, in order to fill two intakes some months apart. In that instance, the first 15 in class one, then second 15 in class two, with some spares on standby. No idea if that is the case this time. There is currently one class nearing the end of training right now, with another due to start back in August.

I'm not sure how many make it to final interview, but taking a rough guess, it wouldn't be too far off the size of the intended panel and then maybe an extra 10 for standby. You've demonstrated cognitive abiility and ticked all the boxes so far up to this point, so your chances are very good if you get to final interview. I don't imagine they would want to interview say any more than double what they intend taking on, as it would waste time & resources, but I could be wrong. From what I know, I believe the interview is less pass/fail and more just used to rank your position on the panel, so that determines if you get an offer, depending on places available, and potentially where you might be stationed down the line. So if 35 people interview, and someone ranks 35, their chances are lower for a place, naturally.

For the interview itself, be calm, direct & succint, know the company and what they do, and have a general appreciation for what the role of an air traffic controller is, how serious the task is etc, and you will be fine. Be interested but not 'obsessed' with the industry. I have heard previously they want hard workers who can show evidence of problem solving and team work, as opposed to people who follow it as a hobby and just want to work in aviation because they like to look at airplanes. Get a good nights sleep prior and show up 15 minutes early, smartly & neatly dressed. Hope that helps and good luck all.