Air Traffic Controller - Cadetship

Embark on a career managing the skies with the Irish Air Corps' innovative new recruitment pathway to becoming an Officer and Air Traffic Controller. As the guardians of the airspace, Air Traffic Controllers play a vital role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of air travel. 

Joining the Irish Air Corps as an Air Traffic Controller offers an exciting opportunity to provide crucial clearances, navigate aircraft to avoid collisions, and facilitate safe airfield operations. With meticulous attention to detail and swift decision-making, you'll contribute to the orderly management of air traffic, maintaining seamless communication between pilots and ground control. Through the rigorous new ATC Cadetship training and hands-on experience, you'll master the art of radar surveillance, weather analysis, and emergency response protocols. As part of a dynamic team, you'll thrive in high-pressure environments, orchestrating the movements of aircraft with precision and professionalism.

Join the Irish Air Corps today and chart a course towards a rewarding career at the heart of aviation safety and innovation.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR? 

The Irish Air Corps invites ambitious individuals to explore our ground breaking recruitment pathway to becoming an Air Traffic Controller through our first ATC Cadetship. We're searching for dedicated individuals with a passion for precision, communication, and safety to join our team. As an Air Traffic Controller with the Irish Air Corps, you'll be at the forefront of aviation excellence, managing air traffic and airfield services with unwavering precision and professionalism. We're seeking individuals who thrive in dynamic environments, possess exceptional decision-making skills, and excel under pressure. Our people are team players who can remain calm and composed, even in the face of adversity. Your ability to communicate clearly and effectively will be instrumental in maintaining orderly air traffic management and coordinating with ground personnel to guarantee seamless operations. Join us on this exhilarating journey and become a vital part of the Irish Air Corps, where you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the future of aviation safety and innovation. Take the first step toward an exciting and rewarding career as an Air Traffic Controller today, apply for our ATC Cadetship. 

Air Traffic Controllers, whether working in the control tower at Casement Aerodrome or in the civilian air traffic control centre at Dublin Airport, issue clearances to prevent collisions between aircraft and to ensure the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic in military airspace. Military Air Traffic Controllers are responsible for the management and coordination of access to airspace for training, Maritime Defence and Security Operations (MDSO), Garda Air Support, Army Support, Air Ambulance and Aid to the Civil Power missions. Air Traffic Controllers also manage military airspace as a component of the wider European Military Airspace. ATC staff also fulfil many other roles and functions for the Air Corps including ATC training, safety management, aerodrome management, airspace management, flight procedure design and the planning and control of aviation events. This is in addition to the managerial, supervisory and oversight function they perform as Officers and NCOs. 

SECTION 1 CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE AWARD OF CADETSHIPS IN THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE (AIR CORPS) 1. GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS To qualify for the award of a Cadetship, a candidate shall: a. at the time of application be- (i) a citizen of the State, or

be any other person who has a lawful entitlement to reside and work within the State for the period of enlistment required for the course of training as a cadet and, if subsequently commissioned as an officer, for the additional period of time that is required for the purpose of any such appointment. (ii) Be of good character and satisfy any security clearance requirement. b. Be 18 years of age or above and under 39 years of age on the 13 April 25. 2. MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS a. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL OFFICER CADETSHIPS (AIR CORPS) School Leaver/Non-Graduate Candidates Must possess a minimum of Grade H5 in 3 Higher Level papers, and, Grade O6 in 3 Ordinary level papers or Grade H7 in 3 Higher level papers. Candidates must have obtained these grades in a single sitting of the Leaving Certificate examination for CAO computation purposes. AND A candidate’s educational qualifications must include a minimum of: (i) Grade O3 in Mathematics in an Ordinary Level paper or Grade H6 in a Higher Level Paper and Grade 06 at Ordinary Level or H7 at Higher level in the following subjects: (ii) Irish. NUI matriculation exemptions apply. (iii) English. Candidates whose first language is not English must satisfy the English language requirements in accordance with NUI Matriculations Regulations. Subject to meeting the criteria to have obtained a minimum of Grade H5 in 3 Higher Level papers and Grade O6 in 3 Ordinary level papers or Grade H7 in 3 Higher level papers, a candidate may use the results of another sitting of the Leaving Certificate for the minimum educational requirements in (i) to (iii) above. Graduate Candidates must have successfully completed a Bachelor Degree programme at Level 8 of the National Framework of Qualifications.

PLEASE NOTE: • Leaving Certificate Applied does not qualify for the Cadetship competitions. • Where applicable, applications for Cadetships are invited from persons who have applied to sit for examinations in the competition year, which would enable them to satisfy the Minimum Educational Qualifications criteria, as specified above. Original documentary evidence that a candidate meets the minimum educational qualifications, as outlined above, must be presented to the relevant Interview Board Secretary. Applicants will be notified of a date via email when this evidence must be provided by. • Candidates must provide documentary proof from the National University of Ireland, at Stage 1 of the selection procedure, for any educational exemptions. Further information is available on www.nui.ie • In order to be eligible to apply for a Cadetship, holders of European and International qualifications must satisfy the Matriculation Registration requirements as outlined in the current “NUI Matriculation Regulations available on www.nui.ie • The equivalent grades required for those candidates who sat the Leaving Certificate Examination prior to 2017 can be found at Annex E.

3. MEDICAL AND PHYSICAL STANDARDS Candidates must be in good mental and bodily health and free from any physical defect, abnormality, physiological condition or history of serious illness likely to interfere with the efficient performance of their duties. See Annex C and D (Laser Eye Surgery and Fitness Testing) Air Traffic Control candidates are required to pass an Initial Class 3 aero-medical examination, the medical requirements for which are set out in Annex IV (Part ATCO.MED) of Regulation (EU) 2015/340. In addition, the following are the minimum physical requirements: a. Height A candidates’ height will be determined at the Medical Examination – see Para. 8. Weight and chest measurements must be in keeping with height and age. Min. height: 157.48cm. Note: BMI will be determined at Stage 2, the Assessment Phase of the competition b. Vision Colour vision must be normal. Both eyes must be free from disfiguring or incapacitating abnormality and free from acute or chronic disease. There must be no evidence of squint or latent squint. The eligibility of applicants who have had previous incisional or laser treatment to correct visual acuity will be determined at the Medical Examination. Please see Annex C for further information. Vision with or without optical correction, shall be 6/9 or better in each eye separately, and visual acuity with both eyes shall be 6/6 or better. c. Dental Candidates must be free from any serious periodontal disease and possess teeth to a specific standard, which is not less than the equivalent of eleven over eleven natural teeth functionally opposed. In certain circumstances, artificial teeth may be acceptable. d. Hearing A good standard of unaided hearing is essential. Candidates will be required to undergo an audiometric test at which: i. The sum of the hearing threshold at 1,2,3, 4 and 6 kHz should not exceed the age and gender related warning levels contained in the "Guidelines on Hearing Checks and Audiometry Regulations 2007", issued by the Health and Safety Authority. ii. Candidates under 25 years of age must be able to hear all measured pure tones up to and including 8 kHz at 20dB in each ear. Candidates aged 25 and older must be able to hear all measured pure tones up to and including 8 kHz at 25dB in each ear. Candidates must also be free from acute or chronic ear disorders. Candidates are advised to avoid all sources of loud noise or music for a period of 48 hours prior to this audiometric test, as exposure to such noise may adversely affect the results of the test. N.B. Candidates must satisfy the appropriate medical and physical standards and requirements as outlined above in order to remain in the Competition. In addition, successful Candidates will be required to undertake compulsory random drug testing throughout their career in the Defence Forces in accordance with Defence Force Regulation A7. 4. APPLICATION FOR CADETSHIP Candidates must apply online at www.military.ie . Candidates wishing to undertake the assessments through Irish must make this request known to the Defence Forces Recruitment Section at recruitment@defenceforces.ie All correspondence with candidates will be done by e-mail for the duration of the competition. Candidates should ensure the e-mail address given is accurate and correct. Each application is acknowledged automatically by the system within 24 hours. If an acknowledgement is not received within 48 hours of applying, candidates should immediately contact the Defence Forces Recruitment Section at 045 492553 or at recruitment@defenceforces.ie Likewise, if an applicant’s email address should change, the onus is on the applicant to make contact with the Defence Forces Recruitment Section immediately advising them of the change of email. Serving members of the PDF will be required to include their Service Number on the application form. All Candidates who are invited to attend for the Assessment Phase of the competition, as outlined under Selection Procedure below, will be required to bring valid identification, i.e. Passport or Driving Licence as proof of identity. In addition, graduate candidates and candidates who have sat their Leaving Certificate examination prior to 2024 will be required to bring original documentary evidence that they meet the minimum educational qualifications, as outlined above. Candidates called to Stage 4 - the Interview - will be required to bring their long form Birth Certificate (Photocopies are not acceptable). 5. SELECTION PROCEDURE - AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL OFFICER CADETSHIPS (AIR CORPS) The following competencies have been identified as being essential for an Air Corps (Air Traffic Controller) Cadet. These competencies will be assessed throughout the various stages of the competition. Competency What the candidate will have to display Planning and Organising The ability to plan, prioritise and organise people and other resources. Decision Making and Problem Solving An ability to carefully analyse problems, in order to generate appropriate solutions. A preparedness to stand by a decision and to accept responsibility for its consequences. Information Handling The aptitude for absorbing information; to be able to identify relevant information. Working with Others An aptitude for working within a team environment; to be supportive of others. Communication Clear, concise and effective communication skills. Leadership and Supervising The ability and motivation to take responsibility for others; to co-ordinate and to delegate to others. Personal Motivation and Discipline A commitment to the Air Corps as a career. An ability to act on own initiative. High Stress Tolerance The ability to think and act under pressure, to be emotionally stable. Resilience Calmness when faced with conflicting demands and when working under pressure.

Physical Capacity To meet the standards set for the AirCorps Cadet. Technical Aptitude The ability to absorb technical knowledge, a preference for the technical sphere of career development. Maturity Common sense for his/her age, the social maturity to sustain studies and absence from home. Candidates, if selected, will be required to attend for the various stages of the selection procedure on the dates and times as notified by email. Candidates who fail to attend for any stage of the selection procedure will be disqualified from participation in any further stages of that competition. Stage 1 – Online Psychometric Testing Stage 1 of the selection procedure involves tests that measure a range of skills and qualities that are necessary in the job. These tests provide a consistent and suitable way of screening candidates at the initial stage of the selection campaign. These tests are designed to identify the most suitable people to go forward to the next stage of the Cadetship Competition. The tests have been designed so that they are fair to all applicants and are objectively scored. Candidates will be required to complete an unsupervised psychometric test online within the timeframe specified by the Defence Forces. Candidates will be supplied with psychometric test familiarisation material in order to introduce them to the format of the tests. Candidates who have attained the requisite score in the unsupervised online psychometric test, at Stage 1 will be required to attend for a subsequent supervised online psychometric test at Stage 2. If a candidate’s performance at a supervised test is outside the expected scoring range from their unsupervised test at Stage 1, they may be excluded from subsequent stages of the selection process. Candidates should pay particular attention to ensuring that the contact details specified on their application are correct.

Note: If a candidate fails to meet the minimum standard at Stage 1, they will not be permitted to proceed to the next stage of the competition. Stage 2 – Military And Air Traffic Controller Assessments Air Corps (Air Traffic Controller) Cadetship candidates who have attained the requisite score at Stage 1 of the competition, will be required to attend for Military and Air Traffic Controller Assessments as part of the Competition.

The Military Assessment will consist of the following: • Physical Fitness Test: In order to qualify for a Cadetship, candidates will be required to undergo a physical fitness test, which is designed to assess their potential to undergo the rigours of military training. Candidates must attain the minimum standard laid down in order to proceed in the competition (See Annex ‘D’ for details of the test and suggested training programme). Candidates’ weight and height will be determined at this stage. Candidates must conform to the height and weight requirements in order to proceed in the competition. To reiterate, the physical fitness test is a prerequisite, and if a candidate fails the test i.e. receives a Red grading standard, they will not be permitted to proceed to the next stage of the assessment. • Group Assessment: Candidates will be required to participate in a group assessment. The Air Traffic Controller Assessment; The aviation assessment for Air Traffic Controller candidates consists of specific computer-based psychometric tests which are supervised. Candidates will be supplied with test familiarisation material in order to introduce them to the format of the tests. These tests comprise of two parts. Part 1: FEAST Test (First European Air Traffic Controller Selection Test) – duration 2hrs 20mins. The Test Battery consists of a set of tests, which examine a candidate's ability with regard to a number of items including the following: • Heading and Range Test • English Listening and Comprehension • Planning Ability • Sort Task • Alertness in Simple and Multi-Tasking Situations Test • Visualisation Test Part 2: DART Test (Dynamic ATC Radar Test) – duration 2hrs 10mins. Applicants who obtain a sufficiently high standard on the Part 1 FEAST Test are called for

Part 2 DART test, to be held later on the same day. The DART Test is a computer based aptitude test, aimed at measuring your multi-tasking abilities. The test will require you to perform a number of different tasks at the same time like in the job of an Air Traffic Controller. The test is designed for beginners with no background in ATC. Candidates who achieve a sufficiently high standard in the Part 2 DART Test may be called for a group interview/exercise. Personality Questionnaire All candidates will be required to complete a personality questionnaire during the Stage 2 Aviation Assessment phase, for subsequent psychological review. Realistic Job Preview This will involve candidates interacting with Cadets and/or Officers of the Air Corps. This realistic job preview is not assessed. Note: If a candidate fails to meet the required standards of the Military or Aviation Assessments, they will not be permitted to proceed to the next stage of the competition. Stage 3 – The Interview Successful candidates will be invited to attend a competency based final interview during which they will be required to demonstrate competency in the following areas: • Maturity • Working with Others • Leadership and Supervising • Personal Motivation and Discipline • Planning and Organising • Communication • Resilience • Technical Aptitude • Decision Making and Problem Solving In the competency-based interview, candidates will be asked to give examples from their own experiences of life, school, university, hobbies, work, pastimes, etc., to demonstrate evidence in several of the above areas. Candidates who fail any of the competencies at Final Interview will be deemed unsuccessful in the competition. Feedback is available upon request. All requests for feedback must be received within 3 months of issuance of the individual’s result.

6. BONUS MARKS. Candidates who are members of the Defence Forces and who satisfy the requirements at paragraph 11(a) or 11(b) of these conditions will receive a % bonus mark of the total marks for the final interview. These bonus marks are as follows: Serving NCO in the Permanent Defence Force 8% Serving Private in the Permanent Defence Force 6% Serving Officer or NCO in the Reserve Defence Force 3% Serving Private in the Reserve Defence Force 2% The process of awarding bonus marks may be subject to review in advance of future Cadet Competitions.