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by 3NM » Sat, 10 Aug 2013 1:39 am
[quote="thisisadumpquestion"]Starting pay for ATCOs are quite attractive because short of controllers now due poor planning. But be careful after joining, you may find your peer's salary catching up and getting more then you after few years because yearly increments are not alot. And pay revision is like once every 10 years.]
Perhaps it would be good for an ATC to respond to some the comments posted here. The starting salary for an ATC is not the best I must admit. But that said, the job is also not suited for someone who's looking to do a 9-6 desk bound job. The ATCOs salary is pegged to the engineers profession, but that said, I believe our hourly rate is far better than our engineering counterparts. When I first started out, my pay was around the same as my fellow uni mates who did engineering, but as time progressed, my per hourly rate actually surpassed my uni mates who decided to stay in engineering. Yes, we may not be as well paid as lawyers, senior accountants, architects, but after 10+ years service, $100K+ per annum for the hours we work, without having to bring back work is IMO a godsend. And no, I'm not in supervisory position.
We have what we call ratings, most if not all of us have two, a first rating when one starts and a second radar rating. The decent money only comes when you obtain your second radar rating, which requires to attend a course after about 2/3 years experience in your first rating, be it tower or a procedural non radar position.
Salary revision is due every 4/5 years, not the 10 mentioned. The salary revision is negotiated by the union. The ATC scheme of service is what we call a negotiated scheme of service, which means that even if CAAS wanted to offer us a salary revision, it would have to go through a thorough look through by the union.
[You might find it easier to get the job now because the standards are lower (short of controllers). I heard trainers are required to give reasons now for failing trainees. I also heard that trainees are now slap with another 2 years of bond after their second rating besides the 2 years bond when they first signed up. ]
Yes it's easier to get the job, but we still require standards to be kept up. If you're not up to the mark, we're still not going to pass you. We will only pass people whom we are comfortable of working next to, simple. We have always been required to provide reasons when we fail a trainee regardless. Just as if we wish to 'save' a trainee from getting the chop, we have to provide justification as to why the training period needs to be extended. It works both ways.
Yes, there is an additional 2 year bond if you wish to go on the radar course. When you're on the 9 month course, essentially one is not really of much use operationally. There is a cost factor. Imagine passing the course, getting paid to do training, then you leave. How does that help the organization. It of course reflects the tight manpower situation we have right now.
[Controllers pay are pegged to engineers pay here in Singapore. So don't expect much. It is a very stressful environment and no much job mobility. So once started on this career path, experience gain not of much use to other careers if you so choose to leave.]
I have to agree that there no job mobility. But if you're like me, who just wants a job that one can become good at, and just do it for the rest of their working life, then this might just work for you. As I mentioned previously, the decent money only come with the radar rating. Radar controllers earned upwards of $100k plus after 10 years. No work to take home, shift work allows one to actually spend more time with the family. Send your kids to school and pick them up. Doing your banking and other essentials on a weekday morning when others are rushing to work. Just different strokes for different folks.
It is a stressful environment, but you're trained to handle the stress. But if you love the job and you can handle it, it's not an issue. The issues comes bout when you're unhappy in the job, or if you cannot handle what's given to you. The ones who can, stay.
[There are in fact more younger controllers are now leaving the job in search of better pay after paying back the bond. Leaving the old ones which got not place to go . They are now struggling with new radar system which is giving a lot of problems. ]
I would say, the majority of us are pretty happy with our lifestyle. Do we wish for more money, of course, but that does not detract that it's a profession which allows one to have a decent work/family life balance.
We have a new radar system, as with all advanced new systems there will be some bugs. This new system will allow us to move the organization ahead, and the majority is all geared up for it. The latest windows OS or DOS? The answer is obvious.
[You are required to work shift. Leave to be applied almost 2 months ahead, and likely won't be able to get (shortage of controllers). No public holidays unless it's on your off day. Career prospects if you able to carry your bosses are not too bad. But there are controllers there with over 20 years experience and with no promotion for almost same period of time. So you won't know where your career is heading till much later.
I left the job because i know i'm not going anywhere. My classmates after few years earning more then me and having the experience being more marketable. while i'm like a fresh grad with traffic police skills. Yes unlike in the U.S. or europe, that's what controllers here are treated like... machine operators. You have management staff up there, operators below pumping up production.
You won't get the truth from any controllers unless they remain anonymous cause they can kiss their promotions and bonuses goodbye if caught with negative remarks. Sometimes i pity the older controllers which are actually quite nice. But maybe too nice to be taken advantaged of.[/quote]
Perceptions are as they nine tenths of the game. I'm sure you have had your issues with the ATC organization, which some have had. I wish you well in your new endeavors. But you don't need to pity us, quite a few of us are happy here. I can understand the younger chaps getting agitated at the lack of promotion prospects. Let me put this in perspective. When I joined ATC at age 25, my instructor had 25 years of experience. This experience cannot be taught nor gained in any university or course anywhere. When a guy who comes in and after 4/5 years, is looking to move to a supervisory position, how is he going to match up to a guy with 15-35 years of experience ahead of him? Will he have the experience to lead in an emergency situation? Does he have a handle on legacy issues which affect our control of the airspace?
Anyways the difference between a supervisory position and a senior controller is only $400 plus. So to a lot of senior controllers, it's just not worth the extra responsibility for such a minor increase of pay.
To all who are intereste in joining, I hope I have answered some questions. It's a wonderful job to me. I enjoy what I do. I'm a trained professional who is good at what I do. I'm decently renumerated to a degree. Simply put, those who can, stay. Does who can't or won't, leave.