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Air traffic controller: Colin

This Case Study belongs to Air traffic controller.

Being an air traffic controller - 'Isn't that really stressful?' That's the question you'll get asked an awful lot when you tell people that's what you do. The truth is that it isn't!!

I work for the UK's biggest air traffic management company, National Air Traffic Services (NATS) , as an air traffic controller. I've been with the company since 2004. An air traffic control officer's (ATCO) main responsibility is to assist pilots making their way to and from airfields and those flying in the UK so that they can navigate through the airspace safely and efficiently.

How is this achieved? Well, for starters, another popular misconception of the job is that all ATCOs work at an airfield up in the tower looking out of the window all day. Whilst this is one facet of the job, the majority of the ATCOs employed by NATS work in front of a radar screen in buildings that are nowhere near the airfield!

I work to strict rules and procedures designed to make efficient use of the airspace I'm responsible for. As the job is very safety oriented, you can't deviate from these.

So what’s a day in my life? The shift pattern is two mornings, two afternoons then two nights followed by four days off. I enjoy working this pattern, although it can have its downside. For example, you might not be able to do things that normally happen on a weekend. However, being 'out of sync' with the rest of the workforce has its benefits, no standing in long queues at the weekend!

I come in for the start of my shift and the sectors are allocated out amongst the available staff. Our working time is also heavily regulated, ensuring that we work no longer than two hours on the sector before receiving a break. Typically, you will work on console for one hour before receiving a 30-minute break, and this pattern continues until the end of the shift. You spend your time on the console talking to pilots, issuing them instructions as per the rules and procedures governing the sector you're working.

In order to become an ATCO you start in the College of ATC, based in Bournemouth, learning the basic skills required. On successful completion of the courses you then move to an operational unit where the remainder of your training will be in the live environment. It takes some time to train! From starting the training at the unit in Bournemouth to becoming a valid ATCO can take a minimum of two years and up to four years, depending on the discipline you're selected for.

Becoming an ATCO can be a little stressful. Continuous assessment forms a key part of the training process and the job of learning the theory and the skills can be quite intense. There are many levels that need to be passed both practically and theoretically. However, the company does provide support and re-training in situations where the level might not have been attained. Having said all that, the training process is well managed and the trainees' progress is discussed at regular intervals to monitor progress and iron out any deficiencies that may be appearing.

The job can be quite challenging and this is what I enjoy the most. You spend your time in work sorting out little problems - keeping the brain working! Also, this is one of the rare careers where when you walk out of the door at the end of the shift your work stops; you don't take any of it home with you.

Once you're in the job as an ATCO your progression doesn't have to stop there. There are lots of different directions that you can take the job in, whether it is with training, or management or being involved in one of the many project teams responsible for looking towards the future.

Finally, another perception is that you need to be an aviation enthusiast. Whilst having the extra knowledge will benefit, you don't need to have an aviation background. Lots of my colleagues have no interest in aircraft (except when they are getting on them). Just be good at numeracy, problem-solving, understanding/applying rules, thinking outside the box and multitasking. The training process will build on your current skill set.

Case Study sourced by Andrew Whitmore of University of Manchester, 28 March 2008.