ATC Student Programme 2013 *Warning post 195*

notharrypotter

As far as I am aware no fitness test required, but to be generally "fit".

There are minimum International medical standards for sight and hearing.

Colour vision is important.

I believe the medical is done in a hospital in Dublin but am open to correction.


here is a link to UK CAA to get an idea.

http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=49&pagetype=90&pageid=10881

Amazing that barely any of the interview was aviation related. Was this the same for everyone?

The final interview is to see what kind of an individual you are; to gauge your interest in the ATCO role & general knowledge of aviation are secondary.

Most successful candidates of the earlier stages should have what it takes to be an ATCO.

ATCO's work as part of a team hence the more generalist nature of the final interview.

Bsal

Just out of interest do ATCO's require a class1 medical like commercial pilots or a lower standard as in class2 or 3?

Contrails

Bsal wrote: »

Just out of interest do ATCO's require a class1 medical like commercial pilots or a lower standard as in class2 or 3?

Class 3. If you're not blind or a regular crack cocaine user you'll be fine.

A319er

Could you defines"regular"? Lol

NapMan

Well this was put up in a previous thread for the last programme in 2011. I think the IAA uses the Mater Private hospital for all its medicals, or so ive heard.

1. eye exam (plus form filling)
2. hearing test
3. urine sample
3. ecg
4. breakfast
5. blood sample
6. pulmonary test
7. maybe other stuff but cant remember??
8. two hours waiting around...boring:mad:
9. check up by IAA doctor - told me all in good wrking order:)
10. home[/QUOTE]

Bsal

Can't you go to your own GP for a class 3 medical? The Mater private really only does class 1 and maybe class 2.

Contrails

Bsal wrote: »

Can't you go to your own GP for a class 3 medical? The Mater private really only does class 1 and maybe class 2.

When I did the class 1 in the Mater I was chatting to a spanish ATCo in for his class 3. This was in 2010.

notharrypotter

Can't you go to your own GP for a class 3 medical?

I don't think so as the initial medical must be carried out be the national aero medical centre where ever that is (matter private?)

Renewals are done by qualified aero medical practitioners who specialise in aviation medical standards.

leveleye

Might leave worrying about the medical for another week hopefully. So anyone any clues on how many went for the final interview. Was it just the two panels for the two days. Tues and Wednesday

djmcr

Bsal wrote: »

Just out of interest do ATCO's require a class1 medical like commercial pilots or a lower standard as in class2 or 3?

https://www.eurocontrol.int/sites/default/files/content/documents/nm/safety/safety-requirements-for-european-class-3-medical-certification-of-air-traffic-controllers-2006.pdf

groundcontrol

leveleye wrote: »

Might leave worrying about the medical for another week hopefully. So anyone any clues on how many went for the final interview. Was it just the two panels for the two days. Tues and Wednesday

I asked the girl at tge regustration and there were 3 days of interviews. So probably roughly 50 people.

NapMan

I asked at the end of my interview about the numbers that were left. They told me they have 48 people at the final interview. I then asked what sort of numbers they were thinking of taking on and he said it was to be decided yet. So i'm guessing they don't really know how many are gonna reject the contracts and/or dont have any intention of taking this job (as mentioned by some posters previously in this thread), but most inportantly do they think that they are suited to the job.

On a positive note, he mentioned that it is there plan to have a second class, i assume to start some few months after the first class. When i visited Ballycasey there before the interview I heard they were thinking of maybe 18 in the first class and possibly 12 in the second class. People need to note that none of this is set in stone and nothing is confirmed yet.

So looking at the numbers I have mentioned I think that everyone is in with a really great chance.

Are we looking at possibly Wednesday or Thursday for the emails?

urajoke

NapMan wrote: »

I asked at the end of my interview about the numbers that were left. They told me they have 48 people at the final interview. I then asked what sort of numbers they were thinking of taking on and he said it was to be decided yet. So i'm guessing they don't really know how many are gonna reject the contracts and/or dont have any intention of taking this job (as mentioned by some posters previously in this thread), but most inportantly do they think that they are suited to the job.

On a positive note, he mentioned that it is there plan to have a second class, i assume to start some few months after the first class. When i visited Ballycasey there before the interview I heard they were thinking of maybe 18 in the first class and possibly 12 in the second class. People need to note that none of this is set in stone and nothing is confirmed yet.

So looking at the numbers I have mentioned I think that everyone is in with a really great chance.

Are we looking at possibly Wednesday or Thursday for the emails?

I'll say it again they WON'T take 30 from 48 just to fill some classes. You stand the normal chance of getting in, slim, the job is about SAFETY not about filling classes. The guys that interviewed you are controllers, station managers and ex ops managers. They know what they want and who they want. They wont compromise their standards to fill some classes thats not their concern, their concern is to pick the BEST people they feel are suitable to move on in the process. If they feel only 1 person was suitable that is what they will send back to HR. Don't kid yourself thinking you have a 30 in 48 chance. The same stats apply for when they had 2500 for 24 places that they whittled down to a couple of hundred for interview.

This intake will have been considered a disaster they would have hoped to have had 2 to 3 times the amount for a first interview to be whittled down to 50-60 for a final interview. Not sub 50 for one interview only.

noahcian

urajoke wrote: »

I'll say it again they WON'T take 30 from 48 just to fill some classes. You stand the normal chance of getting in, slim, the job is about SAFETY not about filling classes. The guys that interviewed you are controllers, station managers and ex ops managers. They know what they want and who they want. They wont compromise their standards to fill some classes thats not their concern, their concern is to pick the BEST people they feel are suitable to move on in the process. If they feel only 1 person was suitable that is what they will send back to HR. Don't kid yourself thinking you have a 30 in 48 chance. The same stats apply for when they had 2500 for 24 places that they whittled down to a couple of hundred for interview.

This intake will have been considered a disaster they would have hoped to have had 2 to 3 times the amount for a first interview to be whittled down to 50-60 for a final interview. Not sub 50 for one interview only.

Since they first advertised these roles they have had the timetable of this entire process available on the website. they never intended on a second interview so i don't know where you got that from irrespective of there being 4000 or 1000 applicants. The group interviews were new so perhaps that served as this classes first and the face to face as the second but i doubt very much it will be considered a disaster since this is exactly what they planned!!

the beerhunter

noahcian wrote: »

this is exactly what they planned!!

and a stopped clock is right twice a day.

NapMan

urajoke wrote: »

I'll say it again they WON'T take 30 from 48 just to fill some classes. You stand the normal chance of getting in, slim, the job is about SAFETY not about filling classes. The guys that interviewed you are controllers, station managers and ex ops managers. They know what they want and who they want. They wont compromise their standards to fill some classes thats not their concern, their concern is to pick the BEST people they feel are suitable to move on in the process. If they feel only 1 person was suitable that is what they will send back to HR. Don't kid yourself thinking you have a 30 in 48 chance. The same stats apply for when they had 2500 for 24 places that they whittled down to a couple of hundred for interview.

This intake will have been considered a disaster they would have hoped to have had 2 to 3 times the amount for a first interview to be whittled down to 50-60 for a final interview. Not sub 50 for one interview only.

As I stated in my post, nothing is confirmed and i said that the most important thing is that they are the right people suited for the job. I'm guessing they would have been HOPEFUL to get those numbers but if they cant, then they simply wont just to make up numbers. That was always understandable.

Urajoke i'm guessing that you know your stuff, do you agree that the fact that the training is unpaid resulted in the lack of numbers? And surely they knew this would be the case so they possibly may have planned for this? (noahcian)

For the intake to be considered a "disaster"......what was to be expected considering people's financial constraints??

notharrypotter

that the fact that the training is unpaid resulted in the lack of numbers

I am not sure, I have followed this and its previous outings with interest.

From what I saw is that the numbers have fluctuated from good times to bad.

ATC is seen as "Safe Government" job so that probably explained the numbers last time.

When you consider that anyone planning on attending college will have allowed for the "registration fee" and accommodation/living expenses you can see where a large number of this group probably will come from.

What it will affect is anyone currently in employment who was looking at ATC; 2 years with no income and no surety of employment at the end in the current climate is a big ask.

For the intake to be considered a "disaster"......

I doubt that too.
From my experience HR departments will spin the outcome to justify the result.

There have been several comments in earlier posts regarding a potential second class.
I doubt if they will run a separate recruitment for a potential second class so they simply will trawl what's left of this one.

Long term whether this is considered a success or a fail will I feel be based on how many leave during training for financial reasons.

NapMan

notharrypotter,

I think you're right in saying that a large chunk of this class will possibly be young. I personally know a few lads who didn't apply for it this year because of financial worries, which is totally understandable.

From any of the stages I have been at, I've rarely seen anyone very young. I'm talking about fellas/girls that look like they were only finishing leaving cert or still in college. Most people seemed to be mid 20's to mid 30's bracket. Anyone else have any comment on that?

Playing the waiting game now for the emails, dreadful stuff..............

urajoke

NapMan wrote: »

As I stated in my post, nothing is confirmed and i said that the most important thing is that they are the right people suited for the job. I'm guessing they would have been HOPEFUL to get those numbers but if they cant, then they simply wont just to make up numbers. That was always understandable.

Urajoke i'm guessing that you know your stuff, do you agree that the fact that the training is unpaid resulted in the lack of numbers? And surely they knew this would be the case so they possibly may have planned for this? (noahcian)

For the intake to be considered a "disaster"......what was to be expected considering people's financial constraints??

Yes I 100% agree that the self funding issue severely reduced numbers and limited this intake to people who financially could and removed those who were 100% motivated to do the job but couldn't fund it.

This is a self inflicted wound I'm sure they thought it would reduce the numbers but they probably were thinking sure aren't most people desperate for a job. It's all about cost cutting and they thought this would be a good method.

The IAA over the years have tried every method of reducing the cost of training new controllers this Ryanair model is the latest one. Hopefully shortly they will realise the only certain method is the one where like NATs that they pay you a reasonable amount of money so you can still eat for the two years.

Previous intakes got 2 classes from a final pool AFTER the final interview. That pool numbered 50+ from 200 interviewees. To get two classes totalling 30 from 48 preinterview is not going to happen especially when you have limited the number to only those who financially can.

notharrypotter

http://www.pprune.org/atc-issues/425115-iaa-student-controller-programme-2010-a.html

In 2010 4000 applied.

http://www.pprune.org/atc-issues/423495-iaa-scp9.html

2007 1300 applied.

I think people in 2010 were looking for the safe option.

Rumour has it that they extended the closing date for one recruitment till after the LC results were out and spent a week contacting schools about this wonderful opportunity.

noahcian

any news today anyone?

leveleye

Nil. Has to be tomorrow or fri do surely?

NapMan

Doubtful, they can take as long as they want really. The need to make sure they have the right candidates and they cant afford to make any mistakes with this class, the selection process was long and costly. No plans for the class till January too so time is on their side. Still though, this waiting game is torture....

aftershock84

Yep I'm sure they'll take their sweet time, but this waiting is a killer. It does say on the recruitment process that INDICATIVE schedule for the medicals start next Thursday 15th and they run through to 30th September. They seem to have allowed a lot of leeway on that schedule compared to previous sections. Anyone email Bonnie and ask her when we will be put out of our misery?

NapMan

aftershock84 wrote: »

Anyone email Bonnie and ask her when we will be put out of our misery?

Begs not doing it!!

noahcian

any word anybody?

noahcian

this is cruel and unusual punishment....you'd think they would at least email to keep us informed.....

aftershock84

I keep getting the feeling they are waiting for applicants to start calling and emailing out of impatience and then they'll laugh and say you're out Mr impatient. No word yet still................

urajoke

noahcian wrote: »

this is cruel and usual punishment....you'd think they would at least email to keep us informed.....

Not really several years ago they interviewed for station managers and it took several MONTHS before they told them who got it.

chelseasarah

just inquiring

Can you apply for this again next year ? having not made it through this year. Is it a wise move??