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Air Traffic Controller

Posted By: RAF
Address:
Contact: 0845 605 5555
Date Posted: 1st Dec 2008
Salary: We offer a competitive salary and benfits package. Visit www.rafcareers.com to find out more.
Location: Liverpool
Reference Code:
Views Since Posting: 14
Full Description:

Control military and civil aircraft safely in dynamic, fast-moving airspace scenarios both in the United Kingdom and on operations abroad.

Your Career

Overview

Air Traffic Controllers provide an air traffic control service that allows aircrew to carry out their missions safely. Like most people in the RAF, you’ll probably move jobs every few years, and each job is known as a tour. Most of your tours will be either in the air traffic control tower on an RAF base or co-located with civil controllers at one of the joint air traffic control centres at Prestwick in Scotland or at Swanwick near Southampton. There are also opportunities to take on a management or training role.
In an air traffic control tower on an RAF base, it’ll be your job to ensure the safe departure and recovery of aircraft to your airfield using modern radar and communications equipment. You’ll also carry out essential safety services within the airfield environment, such as maintaining operational control of the emergency services and runway inspections. You’ll also provide an air traffic service to other aircraft wishing to fly through your area of responsibility.
If you’re based at one of the joint civil military air traffic control centres, you’ll work with your civilian colleagues to ensure the safety of all aircraft within UK airspace. You’ll use radar, radio and data processing facilities to give instructions to aircrew and provide aeronautical advice. You’ll also be responsible for supporting the emergency services.
As a Direct Entry Air Traffic Controller you will be appointed to the rank of acting Sergeant after your leadership training. Subsequently, following successful completion of your professional air traffic control training, you’ll be promoted to the substantive rank of Sergeant. Your progression to this rank level is very much faster than recruits to other jobs in the RAF - they can take upwards of 10 years to achieve senior non-commissioned officer status.
Within your first few years, you’ll probably be detached overseas, for anything from a few days to several months. Air Traffic Controllers within the RAF have worked in all the recent operational theatres, offering an essential service that has allowed combat operations to take place and then supporting the humanitarian efforts by international organisations.

Your First Tour

For your first tour after training, you’ll be located at an airfield on an RAF base, where you’ll work under the supervision of experienced Air Traffic Controllers until you reach a level of proficiency where you can control on your own.

Your Training

Length of Training
Because of the technical complexity of the job, your training as an Air Traffic Controller will probably last between 10 to 18 months – but it can take longer.

Recruit Training
Your career will start with nine weeks of recruit training at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. The course is designed to help you adjust to a military environment. As well as fitness and military training, you’ll also learn about life in the RAF.

Leadership Training
You’ll then go to RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire for a 10-week leadership package suitable for Sergeants – the rank at which Direct Entrant Air Traffic Controllers are promoted to after successful completion of their specialist training.

Specialist Training
After completing the courses at RAF Halton and RAF Cranwell, you’ll embark on a 6-month specialist Air Traffic Control training course at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire. The course covers theoretical and practical training in:

• aerodrome control;
• radar approach and directing;
• precision approach radar procedures;
• navigation;
• meteorology;
• airspace structure and management.

On-the-job training continues during your first tour and, if all goes well, you’ll gain certificates of competency from the Air Traffic Control Examining Board (ATCEB) to operate in all of the control positions at your unit. Training does not finish there; no two units are the same and, on posting, you’ll undergo further training to learn the local skills at your new unit.

Ongoing Development

As your career progresses, we’ll continue to train you in new skills. In due course, you may have the opportunity to train as an Area Radar Controller and work alongside our civilian colleagues in one of the UK’s two En Route centres. There are also opportunities to undertake management and leadership training courses.

Your Future

Career Prospects

After holding the rank of Acting Sergeant during your professional training, and being promoted to Sergeant at the end of it, your advancement to Flight Sergeant and beyond will be by competitive selection. Normally, you’ll be expected to serve for a minimum of 9 years.

Transferable Skills

As an Air Traffic Controller in the RAF, you’ll have many of the development opportunities and career prospects of your civilian counterparts, together with the chance to work around the world and gain unique experience of air traffic control.

Entry Qualifications

Age Limits
18-36

Academic Qualifications
You need at least 5 GCSEs/SCEs at Grade C/3 or equivalent, including English language and maths.

Entry Tests
You must pass selection tests at the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre at RAF Cranwell. You’ll spend four days at the selection centre where we’ll assess your potential to develop qualities such as communication skills, self-motivation, maturity, physical fitness and leadership skills.

Nationality
You must have been a citizen of the UK, the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland since birth; or a naturalised British citizen.

Residency
Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should normally have resided there for the 5 years immediately preceding your application. However, providing satisfactory enquiries can be made in your country of residence, we may be able to consider your application even if you have never lived in the UK.

Equal Opportunities
The RAF values every individual’s unique contribution, irrespective of race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or social background