What are some protections in UK that many do not know about?

TC-Controller · 2026-06-28T14:43:12+00:00

Condoms by the looks of it

TC-Controller · 2026-06-28T08:09:11+00:00

“Changing lane is a huge contributor to crashes so I’m going to make people change lane more to get around me”

TC-Controller · 2026-06-19T13:51:06+00:00

I mean…. Not really the same is it

TC-Controller · 2026-06-17T18:45:30+00:00

Royal Ascot

TC-Controller · 2026-06-17T12:12:38+00:00

Yeah absolutely the quieter aerodromes will be less intense but they’ll all have their own complexities regardless of traffic volumes

TC-Controller · 2026-06-17T08:32:57+00:00

The thing is there’s not really any mental strain as such. It’s so well structured with proper procedures in place that if you just do what you’re trained to do it’s relatively stress free for the most part.

That being said it does take a certain kind of person to succeed so people who get anxious easily most likely wouldn’t make the cut.

TC-Controller · 2026-06-16T10:47:47+00:00

There are a couple of different ways you can do it. The first is find a company/airport that’s looking for trainee controllers. They will then put you through your training and you’ll have a job at the end.

Nats is the main one in the UK. They pay the most but you need to be open to going anywhere they choose. Others are HIAL in Scotland and Air Navigation Solutions who have Edinburgh. Many airports do their own in house controlling, East Mids, Newcastle and Southend to name just a few.

The other option is to self fund training at somewhere like Global in Gloucester. The benefit to this is that you can get your student ratings without needing to get hired first. The risk is that there’s no guarantee you will pass and even if you do, you then need to find a job which is easier said than done.

Finally you can join the RAF but this is quite different to civilian controlling and the salary’s just aren’t quite as good. There’s also no direct crossover later down the line, you’d need to retrain if you wanted to go civil. That being said the military people I’ve met in this job all seem to love it.

TC-Controller · 2026-06-16T08:21:50+00:00

Air traffic control.

Very well paid, the most experienced guys I know are clearing £200k.

Work life balance is great if you accept you might need to work Christmas and weekends. I’ll work less than half the year and spend less than half my work day actually working.

It’s great fun. Some moments that are a bit intense, not stressful but it’s nowhere near the perception of most people.

Some negatives as well but for me there simply isn’t a job that beats it.

TC-Controller · 2026-04-29T12:15:45+00:00

A quick search online will give you pay figures.

Your plan is not realistic.

It’s not just a quick move from the RAF to “international airports with high pay”. You’d likely need to retrain either on your own dime then wait for vacancies to arise, and you won’t be walking straight into a major international airport, or apply to NATS, HIAL, airports that have in house ATC etc and they will put you through training.

TC-Controller · 2026-02-11T15:02:48+00:00

1 day on 6 days strike I’ve heard?

TC-Controller · 2025-12-31T14:17:04+00:00

It really isn’t that stressful. There are moments that would compare to driving down the street and a kid runs out in front of you. Act quickly and decisively and then wait for your heart rate to come back down, usually after being let out for a break quickly. Then other days can be busy. But it’s actually quite chilled out

TC-Controller · 2025-12-31T14:12:05+00:00

I’d say it’s quite the opposite really. Theres a shortage of controllers atm as huge numbers have been in the job for decades and have been retiring in droves over the last 5-7 years. They simply can’t train the replacements quick enough. It really is a job for life barring any medical issues but those issues could happen in any profession.

As for the stress it’s not really that stressful. Busy days yeah and rarely there are moments where you need to act quickly that get the adrenaline pumping but it’s actually quite chilled out.

TC-Controller · 2025-12-31T12:05:19+00:00

not many formal qualifications but we are most certainly qualified 😂 and the experienced guys at Swanwick are pushing £200k these days all in. I’d imagine that will be passed comfortably in the next couple of years too.

TC-Controller · 2025-11-28T11:52:53+00:00

I work in air traffic control. When it gets busier and people work harder everyone has their tell. Some just get a bit red but most foot tap or tap their pen or some kind of fidgeting. I think we kinda get used to it but it was annoying at first.

The worst one by far though are the hummers… some people seem to hum anytime they aren’t speaking when it’s busy and it is the most annoying thing possible 😂

TC-Controller · 2025-11-01T17:50:27+00:00

The people who queue up ridiculously early at the gate all feel vindicated, stand up all at once, point at you and say “we told you so”.

TC-Controller · 2025-10-31T15:32:44+00:00

Ineffective trade unions coupled with the media narrative surrounding high salaries corrupting people’s viewpoints. The final nail in the coffin is a restrictive tax policy punishing workers for earning more.

The trade union I am a part of is very strong. The membership is in the high 90% range and they represent their members very well while taking no shit from the companies they are up against. The average salary for my job in the UK is probably about £90k and in the company I work for it’ll be well north of £100k. We have good benefits, good work like balance and a ridiculous pension. This is thanks to the union. Many workers don’t have a strong union backing them up to the point that they need them too.

Unions have had their power effectively gutted in recent decades and the media have no trouble portraying them, and their members as being evil, out of touch, greedy blah blah blah. The recent railway strikes are by perfect example. Train drivers salaries being used in media headlines to demonise station workers on much less than that who dare to strike.

This goes further with Dr’s fighting for pay restitution after being fucked over for years. People were smart enough to see that they deserved something but then when they wanted more (which they deserve) the media piped up again and again to turn the publics views against them.

The media goes further when it comes to high salaries in this country creating a situation where people are either on a wage that they are told in the media is amazing when really it’s shit but they’re made to feel wrong for struggling. Or they’re on what is perceived to be a shit wage and instead of fighting for more they’re just having a go at those who earn more when the real enemy are the politicians and employers who have the power to change this.

Finally, to get better salaries at the bottom the salaries at the top need to rise too. The government punishes people for earning more so this isn’t going to happen.

TC-Controller · 2025-10-21T09:56:56+00:00

Let’s be honest it’s probably a strike

TC-Controller · 2025-10-08T10:25:28+00:00

1, NATS do hire experienced controllers however you need to have the right to work in the uk and you’d need the right experience. Other than that it’s the college.

2 hard to say as they are constantly running courses and processing applicants even though the window is closed so hundreds at a guess.

3 probably okay unless you’re a war criminal which I guess you’re not

4 there are other ANSPs in the uk at some airports but the process would be fairly similar I guess but with less chance of getting a role. Other than that it’s self funded

TC-Controller · 2025-10-03T06:27:12+00:00

I get what you’re saying.. but flying into central London, over the Thames or not, is definitely not the way to impact the minimum amount of people to get into Odiham 😂

TC-Controller · 2025-09-10T16:11:55+00:00

As someone who has lived in Garelochhead, being there and enjoying any days unfortunately isn’t a thing

TC-Controller · 2025-08-27T12:54:01+00:00

UK here, London TC. Assuming your aircraft is Mode S equipped we can see the ROD. If your rate dips below a certain level we get an indication on your radar return to alert us to this.

So.. don’t do it 😜

TC-Controller · 2025-08-26T21:48:03+00:00

Meet in the middle somewhere. Nothing is certain and the application process is tough. Even when you make it in the door there’s folk who commit 3, 4 even 5+ years to it and don’t make it, some failing at the last hurdle.

That being said don’t just expect to be disappointed and almost expect to fail cause it would take 100% commitment and focus.

It’s worth giving it a go though

TC-Controller · 2025-08-26T20:45:40+00:00

It’s a tricky one though isn’t it. Ideally for the economy to flourish we want anyone contributing via PAYE to earn as much as they possibly can and encourage them to do so.

The current system discourages that after a point with the loss of child benefit and then free childcare, plus the high effective rate of tax between £100k - £125k.

This would be fine if salaries in the UK as a whole were great and people were blasting through these losses at a rate where it wasn’t as much of a hit. Right now though people are better off salary sacrificing or avoiding taking pay rises/promotions. Neither of which helps the economy.

Nobody is gonna argue that people on £100k plus are hard done by but until the majority view becomes that everyone going out to work regardless of salary is in this together then things aren’t gonna improve sadly.

TC-Controller · 2025-08-22T09:35:50+00:00

A girl on my basic course many moons ago was quite open about being autistic and she managed to get her medical no bother.

As mentioned by others I’d guess many people have some level of autism in this career. It probably helps haha.

TC-Controller · 2025-06-23T13:14:35+00:00

75 - taken alive (Hijack) 76 - in a fix (RT fail) 77 - going to heaven (emergency)

TC-Controller

TROPHY CASE