Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Anyone with Air Traffic Controller Experience?

MarchHare · 11-09-2010, 10:40 AM

I don't have direct ATC experience, but I am a licensed pilot and have toured control towers before.

The selection process to get into NAV CANADA's training program is very difficult (as it should be), and even if you are selected, you may not actually graduate from the course. After graduation, you are assigned to any location in Canada where they have a need for a novice controller. If choosing where you want to live is important to you, you might want to reconsider this career. You can later apply for a re-posting when internal opportunities become available, but you don't get to choose your first posting. Because of this, I suspect that all the best places to live are fully staffed by senior employees, so rookies get sent to the less desirable areas.

There are two main types of ATCs -- those that work in a control tower and "own" the airspace in a 25 nautical mile radius around an airport, and those that work in an area control centre (there are seven in Canada) to manage enroute flights between airports. Area controllers are paid significantly better, but every ATC I've ever talked to prefers to work in a tower. It's much more interesting to actually see the planes and have a cool view than it is to work in a windowless room where the only thing you look at is blips on your radar screen.

Where would you rather work:

Here?

Or here?

If you haven't already, you should check out NAV CANADA's career FAQ: http://takecharge.navcanada.ca/en/content/careers/faq

11-09-2010, 10:40 AM	#6
MarchHare Franchise Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: YSJ (1979-2002) -> YYC (2002-2022) -> YVR (2022-present) Exp:	I don't have direct ATC experience, but I am a licensed pilot and have toured control towers before. The selection process to get into NAV CANADA's training program is very difficult (as it should be), and even if you are selected, you may not actually graduate from the course. After graduation, you are assigned to any location in Canada where they have a need for a novice controller. If choosing where you want to live is important to you, you might want to reconsider this career. You can later apply for a re-posting when internal opportunities become available, but you don't get to choose your first posting. Because of this, I suspect that all the best places to live are fully staffed by senior employees, so rookies get sent to the less desirable areas. There are two main types of ATCs -- those that work in a control tower and "own" the airspace in a 25 nautical mile radius around an airport, and those that work in an area control centre (there are seven in Canada) to manage enroute flights between airports. Area controllers are paid significantly better, but every ATC I've ever talked to prefers to work in a tower. It's much more interesting to actually see the planes and have a cool view than it is to work in a windowless room where the only thing you look at is blips on your radar screen. Where would you rather work: Here? Or here? If you haven't already, you should check out NAV CANADA's career FAQ: http://takecharge.navcanada.ca/en/content/careers/faq