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The Common European ATC Licence

SAFESKYS LAUNCHES EURATCO ™

The only European Recruitment Agency for ATCOs.

EURATCO is coming soon.

Recognition of Licences issued in other EU Member States

Member States will be obliged to recognise licences issued by other Member States. Accordingly the UK CAA and European air traffic control service providers will need to have appropriate procedures in place for cases where air traffic controllers, who hold an ATC licence issued in one EU State, are seeking to exercise the privileges of their licence in another European countries.

The Common European Air Traffic Licence is coming. In the UK, airports are now advertising jobs for European Licence holders. A common position has been reached between the European Commission and the European Council and the 'common ATC licence' has now been ratified. This is exciting news and heralds the start of EURATCO.

CAP 744: United Kingdom Manual of Personnel Licensing - Air Traffic Controllers

Air Traffic Controller licence holders?

ECAC member States that licence their controllers in accordance with the European Manual of Personnel Licensing - Air Traffic Controllers, may credit towards a UK approved course of initial training provided they:

  1. hold, or have held within the previous. 5 years, a valid rating in the rating discipline and associated rating endorsement (if any) in which they wish to undertake an approved course;
  2. undertake and are successful at an assessment for previous competence in the rating and rating endorsement "if any"., in which they wish to undertake an approved course;
  3. meet the CAA English language proficiency requirements specified in CAP 624 Part O.

As most Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) will know the common licence is coming. European ATCOs will be more mobile when it comes in force. Safeskys expects the current restrictions will be removed and ATCO's licences will be accepted without any new training or courses imposed by individual European countries (as long as you speak the relevant languages).

This means that UK ATCOs can go and work in the sun for a few years and good English speaking Europeans can come to the UK. The airport, not the relevant National Civil Aviation Authority, will be the deciding factor on whether they can employ European ATCOs.

Safeskys has plans to open up the market to enable all UK & European ATCOs to move freely. A new venture has been established named 'EURATCO' (Pronounced 'Your ATCO'). The plan is to manage a register of available ATCOs and match them with vacancies at airports throughout Europe. Vacancies will be collated from all European Airports and Safeskys will act as a central clearing house. Staff have started training in the intricacies of European ATC licencing and the marketing department is planning a campaign to target every European Airport.

Many of these vacancies will be unadvertised in the press and will only be available through EURATCO. By registering your CV with EURATCO you will ensure that you have the best chance of a European Job.

The service is totally free and confidential for ATCOs. Safeskys will advise ATCOs on terms & conditions, salary levels and whether the airport would suit a particular ATCO's skills. ATCOs will not be placed in inappropriate jobs as this would be detrimental to the ATCO, the airport and to EURATCO’s growth.

The initial step for ATCOs is to register their CV with Safeskys with their wish-list of airports and an indication of when they would like to move. Bear in mind that it will be many months before the common licence is ratified and expect some hiccups along the way.

Everything will be confidential but ATCOs will need to be interviewed to assess their suitability before offering them to airports. A face to face meeting is the preferred method but telephone interviews are an option.

So, when you are ready, contact Safeskys on e-mail: atc@safeskys.co.uk with your CV or any questions. (See 'Contact Information' page to e-mail your CV).

VACANCIES FOR ATCOS TO BECOME RECRUITMENT CONSULTANTS

Are you an ex-ATCO or have you lost your ATC medical rating or do you simply want a change ??

When an ATCO applies for a job, he/she wants to be interviewed by someone who understands the profession and all of its nuances and subtleties. Many HR Departments don't have these attributes and many SATCOs don't have the skills to interview and bring out the best in candidates. Lets face it, ATCOs are different from the staff with whom HR Departments normally deal and SATCOs are ATC experts not employment specialists.

EURATCO plans to employ ATCOs throughout Europe as Recruitment Consultants. ATCOs will be trained in the expertise of placing the right person in the right job at the right time in their career.

If you think that you could be effective as an ATCO Recruiter send in your CV now. There are no age limits and full training in recruitment practices will be given. You will need:

  1. Good experience as an ATCO at an International Airport. (Radar ratings preferred).
  2. A comprehensive understanding of the hierarchical structure of different airport's ATC and the qualities required from an ATCO to work at a particular airport. (We can train you).
  3. A good knowledge of ATC Licensing Regulations.
  4. A wide range of contacts throughout the ATC profession.
  5. A commitment to helping fellow ATCOs.
  6. A genuine empathy with people.

The rewards are:

  1. A good basic salary with unlimited earnings based on commission.
  2. European Travel.
  3. 0900 -1700 Mon to Fri working hours (probably from home).
  4. A satisfying job helping fellow ATCOs.
  5. Good promotion opportunities by joining a new company at an exciting stage of its development.

Contact Safeskys now.

01494 558363 or email atc@safeskys.co.uk

The plan is to be up and running in 2010 and operational when the European Licence comes into force.