Future ATC looking for any advice he can get.

[AlbertaBoy]

Hey, just surfing and found this forum. I am about to commence training for IFR at the Edmonton ACC. Just wondering if there is anything that the folks with experience can tell me to expect. I want to be as prepared for this new adventure as possible. I realize that it will be challenging but I thought I would see if anyone had any super usefull advice for a true rookie. Thanks for your time if you give it...

[Jerricho]

As the new "centre-based" training schemes are still in their early times, I guess the best advice I can give is learn your ManOps when you get there. Any information you can pick up regarding aircraft recognition/performance is certainly a plus, especially when you come to simulation. Also, without making yourself a pest, if and when you find out what speciality you're destined for, try to sit in on the sector for a bit to see live traffic. If anything, it will give you some familiarity at hearing real traffic.

All the best of luck.

[invertedattitude]

AB,.


Not going to scare you, however word on the street is Edmonton ACC is the toughest to check out in, not because of the traffic volume however, even though it is quite high.

However I can tell you this, strides are being taken to change this old problem in Edmonton, including a new Training Manager who was recently appointed and I would imagine will be in place for your course.

Ask any questions you like, from someone just finishing up the IFR training I'd be glad to help

[AlbertaBoy]

I have also heard stories about Edmonton. Thanks for the advice so far. I know a couple people at the centre in Edmonton so I am hoping that may help to soften the blows...or at least have some face to face advice on how far to stick my a$$ up and how far down to put my head... Either way, I can honestly say I am very much looking forward to this whole thing. It is quite the process to get to where I am and this is just the beginning. I am currently working on their "Intro to Aviation" course. I am pretty green to flight in general. Have a telecommunications tech diploma but that only covers how the radios work...

Jerricho, I have a friend in Winterpeg. Checked out maybe a year and a half ago. Young guy named Vern. (well, 25 young) Anyway, just wondering if you ran across him.

[200hr Wonder]

Hey Albertaboy how long did it take to get your tainingdate? I am still waiting to hear.

[AlbertaBoy]

I don't want to make you feel bad but it took FOREVER. Like I wrote the exam in March '05, got the interview a month later. then heard nothing until like August. Then heard nothing until December. I actually found out I was accepted from the website...not from them. I guess I actually knew for sure that I was going in May about 4-5 months before. I am not really sure. Seems like it has been a lot of waiting. First they said "maybe January" then they moved January intake to May so I never really know whats up. I am half expecting to get a call to tell me they moved it to september now...

[200hr Wonder]

Well at least I got a decent job i can do till then... grrr the waiting is pissing me off, stops me from laying down roots.

[MCA]

if you speak french go to YUL. you won't wait if your results were good.

[Foxtrot]

IMHO...
Been to YEG ACC, before all the changes. The biggest problem they had at the time were the people doing the training. At NCTI, it was excellent training. Get to YEG, and they don't know instruction from their ass!

If you didn't understand something, they said it slower and louder. Not the best teaching technique.

If you study, study, study, and practice during your off hours, you'll do okay. If you annoy anyone in the building, you're a goners!

[invertedattitude]

Good luck AB, hopefully it will all work out for you!

[AlbertaBoy]

Holy crap. . . forgot about this thread and this forum.

Not that anyone cares but I've been fully qualified for 5 years this month. Tough freakin grind to get that little piece of paper, but its the best job I've ever had.