New training setup questions

[davidv]

I was just wondering if anyone who is in intial training right now could comment on how it works. From what I understand it is done at the regional centres, which for me would be Toronto. Is it done right at YYZ? What is the schedule like, is it 8-5, 5 days a week or more like a college/university setup (MET101 at 9 monday wednesday etc.)? Is there any time for a part time job while you are in or are you training full time?

I understand you have to be willing to work wherever you are placed but are you given any choice, are you generally placed somewhere within the same region you are trained?

Also for anyone doing their training at Toronto what time does training start and what is the drive like? (I'd be commuting from Brantford.)

Finally does anyone know where the military ATC training is done now? My buddy is in the stream and just finished basic, he believes it is still in Cornwall but some NavCanada recruiters we talked to this summer thought Cornwall was completely shut down.

[Sean YOW]

I'm currently in specialty training at YYZ. The school is in the same building as Toronto ACC. The first 3 months of training (Generic IFR) we were on a Mon-Fri schedule 7am-3pm. Two of the 10 people in our generic class held part-time jobs.

Specialty training schedule is a little less rigid and is dependant upon your instructor.

The course ahead of us in the simulator generally does a week of days (7-2) and a week of nights (2-10) I believe.

As for the commute, 9 of the 10 of us lived west of the airport. One in Brantford, one in Burlington and 2 in Kitchener. From what I understand the commute in the morning seems to beat the rush but getting home can be a drag. I'm in Mississauga and only 20 minutes so no complaints.

[W0XOF]

Military training is in Cornwall by DND.

If it's IFR training you're doing in YYZ, you are being trained for work in YYZ ACC. If you are being trained for VFR you will be posted to a tower in Eastern Region. Don't expect to be involved in the decision making for your posting.

[Doc]

Don't expect to be involved in the decision making for your posting.[/quote]

That's what got me out of it! You're just a frikken "puppet" and your strings are being pulled by the most anal folks in the country.

[portsatc]

davidv.....feel free to pm me....i checked out at yyz centre a couple of years ago under the new training system and can answer all your questions.

[Chaxterium]

Hello,

My sincere apologies if there is another thread about this. I've searched and couldn't find what I was looking for.

Anyway my girlfriend is joining the military and she is going ATC. She was told the training will be completed in Cornwall and I was curious if anyone had any info on it. We weren't told how long it would be or anything. I myself am a 705 guy but she's a complete newbie to aviation. Any hints or anything that I could teach her to maybe give her a head start? I'm trying to give her some general aviation basics as best as I can.

I appreciate any help, thanks a lot!

Cheers

[AuxBatOn]

From what I heard (this is second hand information), the training is hard and the fail ratio is high. She will get a self study package before she attends the course. As far as postings go, she could be posted to any military airfield if she's IFR/VFR or she could be posted to North Bay, Cold Lake or Bagotville if she goes the weapons way. Someone I know finished his ATC training 7 months ago (weapons). He is headed to Afghanistan as a FAC on the next Rotation.

[Czar]

FAC??

[AuxBatOn]

FAC??

Fowward Air Controller. Direct jets doing Close Air Supports onto their targets.

[bucks]

Forward air control is usually done by an army guy on the ground .. not so much an air force ATC

[Chaxterium]

Hey, thanks a lot for the info. Much appreciated.

So is it similar to the civilian world in that she would be either IFR or VFR? I'm just curious how similar military atc is to NavCanada atc. I come from a military family and I've lived on airbases my entire life so I'm quite familiar with how the military operates in general but I know nothing about the atc side of things.

Thanks again,

Cheers,

[AuxBatOn]

Forward air control is usually done by an army guy on the ground .. not so much an air force ATC

Actually, we have Hornet drivers doing it right now in Afghanistan (on the ground) and yes, some ATC guys will do it as well (the guy I know being one). Or maybe I'm having a dream that my friends are over there... Get your facts straight