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Job Role
Aircraft Controller
Job Role

Aircraft Controller

You’ll provide the crucial link between the aircraft and its base, whether that’s at sea or on land.

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  • £23,000 - £58,000
  • No qualifications
  • Fleet Air Arm
  • Aviation
  • Rating level

At a glance

You’ll train to be an air space expert, where a high level of responsibility comes as standard. Wherever you are in the world, you‘ll make the crucial decisions that help keep our state-of-the-art aircraft flying, our people safe and our operations on track.

£23,496

Minimum you’ll earn after training

£58,000

Salary as you progress through your career

GCSEs

No GCSEs required

Free

Medical and Dental care

7 weeks

Of paid holiday every year

Travel

All around the world
Aircraft controller
Since I joined the Royal Navy I’ve been part of some major operations, from the Caribbean to the Persian Gulf. People of all ranks respect my opinion, which means I’m always involved in each mission.
Aircraft controllers in a control centre

Lloyd

Aircraft Controller, Fleet Air Arm

Role details

What you’ll do

 As an Aircraft Controller (AC) you will play a pivotal role in helping enable the Royal Navy's front-line aviation capability at sea. At the heart of the ship, you will be a key member of the war fighting team within the Operations Room. You will be the only person on board responsible for the safety of all Rotary Wing aircraft under your control. This involves directing the ships airborne weapon carrier from a radar screen to achieve the mission success. In addition, you will act as the ship's aviation advisor during all flying serials answering directly to the ship's Command Team. A challenging but rewarding role.

Your role

  • Work with some of the most sophisticated aircraft in the world in all environments, including the Wildcat and Merlin helicopters as well as the P8 Poseidon. As your career progresses, you’ll gain additional qualifications which will enable you to work with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
  • You will be the on-board Aviation expert, advising Command and using your knowledge and tactical insight to ensure mission success
  • Utilise your skills, expertise and knowledge to work with NATO and international partners around the world
  • Compile and deliver flying briefs to the ship's Command/Aviation team

Pay & benefits

  • Earn £23,496 after basic training
  • Earn £37,7111 as soon as you finish all LAC training
  • Earn over £58,000 as your career progresses
  • Seven weeks of paid holiday every year
  • Subsidised food, travel and accommodation
  • Excellent pension scheme

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain

  • Apprenticeship Level 3 in Data Information Management
  • Foundation degree in Aerospace Management on successful completion of JATCC
  • Chartered Management Institute Level 3 qualification in Coaching & Mentoring with the opportunity for Level 5 as your career progresses
  • Opportunity to gain human factors qualifications
  • Funding towards study or a qualification of your choice

Skills you'll develop

  • Regardless of age, background or educational achievement the AC branch will support you every step of the way, allowing you to grow in confidence your multi-tasking ability, master communication and leadership skills, and realise your full potential. It's never too early or late to live life to the full and experience challenges.
     

Eligibility

  • You’ll need to be aged 18 to 34
  • No qualifications are required for this role
  • You must be a British/British Dual National
  • You need to be a minimum height of 151.5cm
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
  • Must pass CBAT. Specialist Aviation Medical at OASC, RAF Cranwell
  • Pass the Naval Swimming Test

Skills & interests

  • To be independent and adaptable                
  • To be out going, committed and driven
  • A high level of spatial awareness
  • A passion for aviation
  • An adventurous spirit

Joining process

From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.

Step 1

Submit an application

Once you’ve registered your interest, we’ll be in touch to discuss your options
Apply
Step 2

Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
To prepare, you can practise the DAA

practise the DAA
Step 3

Interview

A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform
Step 4

Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)

This four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, including a Swimming Test and a fitness assessment, is a pass or fail course
CPC
Step 5

Start training

Once you’ve passed a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh

Career progression

From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.
Phase one training

10 weeks at HMS Raleigh, learning basic military skills. After phase one training you will spend the next few months developing your professional skills and knowledge across a range of courses intertwined within your Leading Aircraft Controller’s Qualifying Course (LACPQC)

Phase two training

In the first 10 weeks at HMS Collingwood you will learn all about the on-board Command System and how to operate and transmit on radios and receive basic Leadership training during ARLC and learn how to survive life at sea.

Your next phase of training will be carried out at the Royal Navy School of Aircraft Control (RNSAC) located within RNAS Yeovilton (Somerset). For the next 15 weeks, you will learn the basics of controlling an Air System. 

Once you have mastered these basics the tempo of training will increase and you will return to HMS Collingwood for a further 14 weeks to complete your final phase of the course within the Aviation Training Element (AvTE) at the Maritime Warfare School (MWS) (in Portsmouth),

First promotion – Leading Hand

Once qualified as a controller, attention will be focused on the Leadership aspect of your role on board. This is where attendance at the Royal Navy Leadership Academy (RNLA – located within HMS Collingwood) is essential. This four-week intense Leadership course will help you build upon what leadership skills you have gained thus far and apply them into different and more challenging/dynamic situations to adequately prepare you to be an effective Leading Hand employed onboard His Majesty’s Frigate or Destroyer at sea on completion.

First three years
Consolidate your skills in the maritime environment
Second promotion – Petty officer
Become a JATCC qualified Air Traffic Controller

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