Air Traffic Control School in The United Kingdom.

Air Traffic Control School - United Kingdom

NATS provides air traffic control services to aircraft flying in UK airspace, and over the eastern part of the North Atlantic.

This year NATS expects to handle some 2.5 million flights carrying around 250 million passengers. Safety is NATS' first and foremost priority, as it is with all Air Traffic Service providers.

NATS maintains the safe, orderly, and expeditious passage of aircraft through UK airspace and beyond – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

NATS controllers are world-renowned for their professionalism. NATS controllers are the raison d'etre of the air traffic service business. They issue instructions and information to pilots by radio to keep air traffic flying safely, efficiently and quickly.

Because it's a 24 hour business you can expect to work in shifts. NATS controllers have to deal with one of the most complex pieces of airspace in the world, and work at some of the world's busiest airports. For those pilots who have flown in Europe you'll know exactly what I mean! To make this happen, NATS offers first class training at their air traffic control school.

Types of Controllers

Area Controllers/Terminal Controllers

Most people assume that ATCOs are all based in airport control towers, but landing and taking off are just a small part of the aircraft's flight. Although some controllers work in airport towers, many more work at our area control centres. These area controllers control the en route stage of the flight, using radar and the latest technology to track the aircraft's exact position.

Controllers at Swanwick, Manchester and Prestwick handle domestic traffic and aircraft flying through UK airspace. Our Oceanic controllers at Prestwick also handle aircraft flying across the Atlantic.

Our controllers at West Drayton are responsible for handling traffic within the London Terminal Control Area.

Learn how at our air traffic control school.

Approach Controllers

Approach controllers take over contact with the pilots as they approach airports. They guide and sequence aircraft into the most efficient order for landing. Learn how at our air traffic control school.

Aerodrome Controllers

Aerodrome controllers take over to guide the aircraft through landing. At the very busy airports, aerodrome controllers are split into air control and ground control, the latter of which guide the aircraft to its parking stand once it has landed. Learn how at our air traffic control school.

Remuneration

Experienced controllers at some of our busiest units can earn in excess of £75,000.

Training

Training to become an aerodrome controller invloves a minimum of 6 months training at our College of Air Traffic Control School in Bournemouth. Training to become an area controller takes upwards of 12 months training.

Our trainees are paid attractive salaries.

Your time at our Air Traffic Control School will be followed by a period of validation training at your posted unit. The length of training depends upon the complexity of the unit. Check Your Eligibility

The following are the minimum criteria you should meet in order to become an air traffic controller:

• Be at least 18 at the date of application.

• Air Traffic Control is a National Safety Critical Service and therefore selection for training is operated on a very stringent basis. Independent research commissioned by NATS has shown that the skills required to be an effective controller decline with age. NATS makes a substantial investment in training costs and research has shown that it takes around 10 years to reach full experience as a controller. Accordingly, in order to maximise our training and validation success, only candidates under the age of 36 will be considered.

• Have five (5) GCSEs/Standard Grades (or equivalent) at grade C or above, including English Language and Maths.

• Be eligible to work in the UK.

An applicant may be required to undergo an assessment to see if they can work safely with operational workstations.

ATCO Medical Requirements

To become an ATCO you will require a good level of physical and mental fitness. An ATCO’s role is both physically and mentally demanding; all ATCOs work shift work including night duties. As an absolute minimum requirement candidates must satisfy basic medical requirements set down by the CAA for a UK Class 1 medical certificate. In certain areas NATS requirements are of a higher standard than the UK Class 1 or even the JAA Class 1.

The following guidelines will give you some idea as to whether you are likely to meet the medical standards we require:

Cardiovascular: You should have normal blood pressure and no evidence of heart disease, or disease of the cardiovascular system.

Respiratory: There should be no significant respiratory disease. A past history of asthma may be acceptable but significant symptoms at time of application are likely to be disqualifying.

Gastro Intestinal Tract: This should be free of any significant disease.

Metabolic, Nutritional and Endocrine Diseases: Diabetes will normally be disqualifying. Obesity may be disqualifying. A Body Mass Index below 35 is a normal requirement for a Class 1 certificate.

Urinary System: There should be no symptoms of urinary system conditions.

Neurological: The following conditions are disqualifying:(1) progressive disease of the nervous system;(2) epilepsy, current or past history(3) conditions with a high propensity for cerebral dysfunction.

Visual standards:Candidates must have normal colour vision.Your visual acuity must be 6/9 or better in each eye. This visual acuity can be achieved using correction, but there are limits on the amount of correction required.

Correction shall not exceed + or – 3 dioptres equivalent spherical error in each eye. Cylindrical correction shall not exceed 2 dioptres in each eye. The difference between the amount of correction required for each eye shall not exceed 2 dioptres.

For applicants aged 26 and over, the correction allowed will be considered on an individual basis. Clearly, it will not exceed standards set by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

If you have had any form of eye surgery, to include, squint correction, laser visual correction than please be aware of the following:

Even if the pre-operative correction is within the NATS acceptable range applicants will be referred to a specialist appointed by NATS for further examination.

Pre-operative corrections just outside of the stated NATS eyesight limit but within the CAA limits will be considered on a one to one basis.

However, if the pre-operative correction is outside of the CAA limits of + or – 5 dioptres then a class 1 certificate will not be granted even if the post-operative correction is normal.

Auditory Standards: there shall be no hearing loss in either ear, when tested separately, of more than 20 dB (HL) at any of the frequencies 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz, or of more than 35 dB (HL) at 3000 Hz.

Psychiatric Conditions: Ongoing psychiatric illness or current use of psychiatric medication such as antidepressants is normally disqualifying. A history of psychiatric illness or past use of psychiatric medication such as antidepressants may be acceptable after specialist assessment.

Anthropometric Considerations: Candidates must be of a physique to allow them to carry out their duties at their workstations without causing them health problems. Candidates outside the height range 151.4cm –186.9cm may require an anthropometric assessment.

Drugs and Alcohol: Due to the safety critical nature of the Air Traffic Controller’s job, NATS has a strict policy regarding the level of consumption of alcohol and a zero tolerance to the use of ‘recreational’ drugs. This also includes your time at our Air Traffic Control School.

Source of information for Air Traffic Control School - United Kingdom can be found here at National Air Traffic Services - United Kingdom As well, you can apply to our Air Traffic Control Schoolat via this link as well.

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