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One are orange faced cretins, the others are highly-skilled workers in an incredibly stressfull job.
Spanish Air Traffic Controller on £800,000
- Thread starter Greebo
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One are orange faced cretins, the others are highly-skilled workers in an incredibly stressfull job.
Same, I make that per hour
Your missing the point, before it was the unions and strike action being the work of the devil. How dare they strike when other airlines pay so much less. This time around it's good on them, striking for more money and driving the pay up etc.
ATC pays so well because it's boring. A lot of people get into it for the money and then realise they will be directing traffic for the next 30 years. For such an incredibly stressfull job how many quit per year?
Some people can take the boredom and bank the cash others can't.
For the money the spanish are paying I think even I could put up with directing traffic.
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I seem to recall hearing that back in the early 1980s, following a strike, the entire US ATC workforce was sacked and it doesn't seem to have had much impact on the number of flights in, to and from the USA 
I really can't see why in the 21st century, being an Air Traffic Controller is such a demanding job; I would imagine that no more than three months training is required at most.
I really can't see why in the 21st century, being an Air Traffic Controller is such a demanding job; I would imagine that no more than three months training is required at most.
You not read the linked article then?
So it is hard to become one certainly but easier than becoming a doctor or lawyer.
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I have read the article . . . I can see entirely why they need to speak and understand English but can't for the life of me see why they need a degree - any degree? Even one in Sociology, Meeja, Fine Arts, History, etc.; honestly, what on earth for?
15 months training - training in what for God's sake
I feel just the same about Pilots, they are grossly overpaid for flying something that is little more than a highly automated bus.
You dont need a degree to become an ATC in this country, you need a minimum of 5 GCSE's grade C or above, you will need to pass a class 1 medical and have a good level of fitness. You must pass three assessment days and an apptitude test along with a security certification.
All the info can be found here...
http://atcocareers.co.uk/index.html
My closest friend is an ATCO.
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I have read the article . . . I can see entirely why they need to speak and understand English but can't for the life of me see why they need a degree - any degree? Even one in Sociology, Meeja, Fine Arts, History, etc.; honestly, what on earth for?
15 months training - training in what for God's sake
I feel just the same about Pilots, they are grossly overpaid for flying something that is little more than a highly automated bus.
It takes twice as long in training as both jobs put together to be a aircraft mechanic let alone certifying engineer. Theres also a bigger shortage in engineering than pilots and ATC.
Somehow we get paid less, we work longer hours and under go the same medical responsibilities. If we strike this year to improve our money to spanish ATC standards I am looking forward to the same support the spanairds are getting in this thread
Awww sour grapes i see lol....yes they are welcome to the money...i dont think BA cabin crew should be getting paid for essentially doing sweet FA other than greet and serve passengers with food and drink...plus they get great benefits working for BA.
Anyhow if they are getting £800k or whatever they are getting then as i said good on them...im definitely in the wrong job and wrong country
.Awww sour grapes i see lol....yes they are welcome to the money...i dont think BA cabin crew should be getting paid for essentially doing sweet FA other than greet and serve passengers with food and drink...plus they get great benefits working for BA.
Anyhow if they are getting £800k or whatever they are getting then as i said good on them...im definitely in the wrong job and wrong country
Haha so it's ok for BA cabin crew to be essentially labelled meet and greet waitresses on say £35k, thats an outrage but a ATC essentially a car parking attendant with traffic directing duties is fully appaulded for being able to screw out 800k with strikes.
Why didn't people say good on BA cabin crew for pulling the same stunts to put the money up? Perception of how skilled they assume a job is?
There is a big difference between Cabin Crew and an ATSO. Either way, both are overpaid compare to their compatriots in other companies or countries as the case may be. But If they can agree this amount then fine, but if it becomes financially damaging to the company then they have to accept the cuts as well.
Not really in my eyes, both require next to no qualifications in this country and a relatively short training program. If it was hard the qualification standard would be higher
Yes well the spanish airports lost money equivalent to BA last year, so naturally when they cut their money down to a comparable level with the rest of europe they won't strike again.
I'm sure there are plenty of other european ATCO's that won't mind contracting in spain for a while
Not really in my eyes, both require next to no qualifications in this country and a relatively short training program. If it was hard the qualification standard would be higher
I suppose serving coffee and blankets is at the same level as making sure all those blanket servers dont smash into each other midair.
Clearly something is going wrong here. The problem isn't the amount but the difference between air traffic controllers at say Heathrow/Frankfurt (far busier airports) and the Spanish one. In theory these ATCs at Heathrow/Frankfurt could go over and offer to do the job at half the wage and therefore create a massive cut. But obviously its union power preventing this efficiency gain.
Also with such overtime rates and so much overtime being used, they should hire more people instead.
Also with such overtime rates and so much overtime being used, they should hire more people instead.
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I suppose serving coffee and blankets is at the same level as making sure all those blanket servers dont smash into each other midair.
One day you might rely on one of those waitresses to save your life.
Doubt many/any of us will. Besides, I'm sure there would be many passengers on board who know a similar level of First Aid to flight attendants.