Does anyone happen to have the stats on how many people successfully checkout at Pearson versus failures?

The rumour I heard is that since there aren't enough Nav Canada controllers currently working in other towers to go there, they are sending new candidates there as their first tower. I'm just curious to see if it's even worth the effort to sign up if there's a low probability of success.

linecrew wrote:Does anyone happen to have the stats on how many people successfully checkout at Pearson versus failures?

The rumour I heard is that since there aren't enough Nav Canada controllers currently working in other towers to go there, they are sending new candidates there as their first tower. I'm just curious to see if it's even worth the effort to sign up if there's a low probability of success.

It's not a rumour. It has nothing to do with not enough controllers at other towers, more a matter of whether or not they want to transfer there. The last seniority bid for the tower attracted 2 names from across the country. Plus it isn't new. They have been sending new trainees to the tower for at least 5 years if not longer. Checkout rate for them last I heard was abysmal. It may have changed. There is controller on here from the tower. Goes by cossack. Might want to send him a PM. Profile is here:

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=12452

No need for the PM.

I'm not involved in training but in the 10 years that I've been here I would estimate the number of qualifications as a percentage of those that show up on day one of the classroom is around 10%. It may be less, it may be more. Don't quote me.

Some don't make it past the classroom, others are cut in the simulator. Of those that do make it upstairs (maybe 60% of those that start the course) Ground used to be the stumbling block but of late (last couple of years) some have fallen at the final hurdle, Tower.

I believe the number of ab initios that have qualified on their first attempt is three. I don't know how many ab initios have started. Most controllers here have some experience elsewhere be it in a VFR or IFR stream. Give it a go, you've got nothing to lose. If you have what it takes, you'll qualify.

So are all new recruits to NAV CANADA now funneled into the Toronto Pearson tower?

linecrew wrote:So are all new recruits to NAV CANADA now funneled into the Toronto Pearson tower?

Absolutely not.

linecrew wrote:So are all new recruits to NAV CANADA now funneled into the Toronto Pearson tower?

???
How did you deduce....? Never mind. Though we like to joke that "T.O. is the centre of the universe", it turns out it actually isn't. Since training is done regionally (through the 7 different ACC's), it's at the discretion of regional management where to allocate the fresh meat. It's not only YYZ that has needs for young'uns to replace the old coots, unfortunately.

I should have been more clear. I meant folks signing up for VFR atc in Ontario...are they all being lined up for Pearson to start or are any of them getting a fighting chance and going to lower grade towers within their region?

linecrew wrote:I should have been more clear. I meant folks signing up for VFR atc in Ontario...are they all being lined up for Pearson to start or are any of them getting a fighting chance and going to lower grade towers within their region?

They could be sent to any tower in the YYZ FIR initially. As I understand it, management will factor in staffing requirements along with student aptitude when deciding on a first posting.