A Night with Air Traffic

Within the RAF Air Cadets the focus is normally on being a pilot and flying an aircraft yourself, however Air Traffic Control is a critical roll that enables the entire […]

Within the RAF Air Cadets the focus is normally on being a pilot and flying an aircraft yourself, however Air Traffic Control is a critical roll that enables the entire aerospace industry.

Wing Commander Knell, our region Aviation Officer and Senior Staff Officer, works as an Air Traffic controller for NATS at Swanwick ATC Centre and joined cadets from across Kent Wing on Monday 30th November to talk about the industry.

During the evening Wg Cdr Knell gave a brief introduction to what NATS is and how the UK Airspace is managed, and ran a Q&A session.

How many days a month do you work?

I work 6 days on shift and 4 days off. We are split into 5 watches in Area Control to ensure that there are always Air Traffic Controllers manning the desks.

Was Air Traffic your dream job?

No, as a cadet I wanted to be an Air Electronics Operator, flying in a Nimrod over the North Atlantic in anti-submarine warfare. On an annual camp at RAF Linton-on-Ouse I spent a few days on work experience with Air Traffic, up in the tower, and really enjoyed it.

Have you ever encountered or delt with any incidents?

Yes, I had was on shift on the morning of 9/11. Fortunately we haven’t had a mid air collision in the UK since the 60’s.

Whats the strangest or most unique aircraft that you’ve delt with?

I’ve had the privilege of servicing Air Force One on three occasions with 3 different presidents and have had to deal with U-2 Dragon Lady High-altitude reconnaissance aircraft flying through the airspace.

Have you ever been affected by people flying drones?

Yes, I was on shift in December 2018 during the Gatwick Airport drone incident and it caused absolute chaos. I cannot empasise enough the importance of following the CAA’s (Civil Aviation Authority) Drone Code and use them safely and responsibly.

How can I become an Air Traffic Controller?

As a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, NATS is not currently recruiting but hopefully will be in the coming years. Training to become an Air Traffic controller does take a long time however you can train with NATS or Global Aviation Training Services and then after completing your training you’ll be able to apply for jobs around the country. Alternatively you can join the Royal Air Force or Royal Navy as an Air Traffic Controller.

What’s the starting salary as an Air Traffic Controller?

During training, the starting salary is around $10,000 per year, however after qualifying from college and you start working as an Air Traffic Controller with a salary of around £20,000 which rises with progression to around £40,000 and further.