Airservices is a government-owned corporation providing safe, secure, efficient and environmentally responsible services to the aviation industry. We manage air traffic operations for around 75 million passengers on more than three million flights every year.

Conditions of employment

Appointment conditions

Air traffic controllers-in-training are employed under the Air Traffic Control Collective Agreement 2009-2012.

Probation

Employment with Airservices involves a probationary period which will last for the full duration of the Academy and final field training periods.

While on probation, an employee’s attendance (including sick leave), medical fitness, work performance and conduct will be regularly assessed. It will be an express condition of an offer of training and employment that:

  • trainees successfully complete Academy training,
  • trainees successfully complete final field training and qualify for the issue of an initial ATC endorsement and licence, and
  • all other probationary requirements prove satisfactory.

If a candidate does not successfully complete the training curriculum, including final field rating training, or if any other aspect of their employment is unsatisfactory, their probationary employment with Airservices will be terminated.

Pre-employment checks

Applicants who are offered training and employment with Airservices will be required to undergo a number of pre-employment checks. Satisfactory completion of all pre-employment checks will be an express requirement of our offer.

Failure to satisfactorily complete any mandatory check will result in Airservices withdrawing its offer of employment.

Medical

Undergo and pass any medical examinations deemed necessary by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for the purpose of determining whether an applicant qualifies for the issue of a Class 3 medical certificate.

Security clearance

Security clearance (Police Records Check).

Note: applicants who are assessed as “unfavourably recorded” will be ineligible for employment with Airservices.

Transferability post initial field placement

It will be an express condition of any offer of training and employment that candidates agree to serve at any location within Australia at which Airservices has an air traffic control presence.

Transfer assistance – candidates from other than Melbourne

Airservices will provide limited assistance to interstate applicants while in Melbourne attending the Academy based training. Assistance will generally be limited to a maximum of seven days short term accommodation assistance (room only) and airfare to Melbourne. Further assistance may be considered by Airservices, however, this will be limited to removal of personal items that are considered essential for day to day living in Melbourne. Airservices will not meet the cost of relocating furnishings or vehicles to Melbourne.

Salary

All controller benefit from an attractive salary package and generous employment conditions. Experienced controllers are paid consistent with their level of experience. Salary rates are outlined in the Collective Agreement and are inclusive of all penalty payments excluding extra duty (overtime) and Public Holiday duty.

Leave

Licensed air traffic controllers have access to leave as follows:

  • annual leave – between four and five weeks per annum
  • sick leave – as required but subject to appropriate certification processes.
  • long service leave – three months after ten years
  • remote locality leave – extra annual leave – limited to eligible remote locations

A range of other leave provisions exist, and access to these is determined on merit on a case-by-case basis.

Prior government service

Applicants with prior service with a Commonwealth organisation may be eligible for recognition of prior service for long service and sick leave purposes.

Staff initiated transfers

While opportunities arise from time to time for air traffic control staff to seek transfer to other locations within Australia, such transfers are at the sole discretion of Airservices. Airservices will consider requests for transfer, however, they will usually only be approved if an operational staffing requirement exists at the requested location.

Applicants who are offered training for Melbourne or Brisbane en route will have been selected specifically for those locations. Those candidates should have no expectation of being able to transfer to another location or air traffic control stream for at least the first five years of employment.

Shift work

Air traffic controllers can be rostered to work on any day of the year including public holidays.

Recruitment contact details: avrecruit@airservicesaustralia.com