Trainee Air Traffic Controllers

Trainee Air Traffic Controllers
GBP14,305.41 plus benefits*
Training in the UK or Spain

Every day, thousands of aircraft travel in the UK's airspace, carrying people and cargo to and from all corners of the world. Making sure they can do that safely is a unique and incredibly rewarding challenge. One that takes people with a certain kind of mindset.

You don't need aviation experience to become a Trainee Air Traffic Controller. Our people come from a range of backgrounds - many are recent graduates. It's how you think and solve problems that matters. How you handle pressure. And how you adapt to unpredictable situations, like extreme weather events.

If that sounds like you, this is an opportunity to join a close-knit team and keep the skies safe. You'll have the pride that comes from doing such an important job, with benefits designed to reward your contribution and the exceptional training you need to be at your best throughout your career.

What will I do?
Once you're trained, you'll coordinate up to 25 aircraft - not only as they take off and land, but throughout their journey across our airspace. Communicating constantly with pilots, you'll keep each plane a safe distance apart and react swiftly to changing events.

What does the training involve?

The initial period of training will take place either at our training college in Fareham, Hampshire or we also utilise facilities through partners in Gloucester and Jerez, Spain. During this time, you'll be learning on simulators and studying everything from meteorology to aviation law. Once you've passed that stage you'll then be posted to a unit to continue with more specific 'on the job' training. Overall the training process takes around three years. When you're fully qualified, you could be based at any of our airport control towers or radar control centres across the UK. That's when you'll start doing the job for real.

What will I need?
A passion for the job, resilience, a calm nature, good powers of concentration, strong spatial awareness and, of course, excellent problem-solving skills. You'll also need to pass a medical. As for qualifications, you'll need at least five GCSEs or equivalent, grade C or above, including English and Maths (although many people who join us have A levels and degrees too).

* When you're validated as an ATCO (Air Traffic Controller), you can expect to earn upwards of GBP50,000 a year plus shift pay of GBP6,500 a year.