4,000 apply for 25 air traffic control jobs

IT’S a sign of the times as the desire for a secure, pensionable job led to over 4,000 applications for just 25 positions as a trainee air traffic controller.

The Irish Aviation Authority received 4,132 applications for a place on its latest programme to become a student ATC.

The huge numbers applying for the job means there are more than 165 candidates for each place on the training course.

It also represents a major increase on the last time a similar recruitment programme was held by the IAA in 2007, which attracted 1,387 candidates.

An IAA spokesman said the interest in a career as an ATC was not unexpected given the current state of the economy. More than 900 applications were received within the last few hours before the deadline closed last Wednesday.

Students, who will do the majority of their training at the IAA centre in Shannon, Co Clare, will be paid a yearly training allowance of €18,506. But they can look forward to a basic starting salary of €50,805 per annum rising to a maximum of €78,209, while they can earn an additional 27% in shift allowances.