ATC IssuesA place where pilots may enter the 'lions den' that is Air Traffic Control in complete safety and find out the answers to all those obscure topics which you always wanted to know the answer to but were afraid to ask.
Just got back from my stage 2 - they told me (and another guy) there and then that we'd both got through! I wasn't expecting such a prompt response!
So I'm back where I was in November 2007, at stage 3. Although I've been there before I was not counting my chickens, so I'm delighted! I'm not going to let them make the same mistake twice though Going to book something well in advance and dedicate the whole month to revising the documents, plane pictures, reading advice, visiting Swanwick again and perhaps a tower as well - I don't want to leave anything to chance now! Good luck to anyone waiting.
Regarding stage 01, are there many questions on the last 4/5 pages of the information given to all applicants. I am wondering if i need to learn everything A/C, FL, seating capacity, Nots at altitude, airline that uses A/C and common destination?
Just a quick heads up for those further down the application process...
Graham Duke's Air Traffic Control is proving somewhat hard to come by at the moment. Ninth edition is basically out of print, and the tenth as far as I can gather has yet to appear. Most major UK booksellers have now sold out (this includes Amazon, Borders, Waterstones and Heffers/Blackwells), and other sources, such RSGB and aviation shops have run out too.
I've spent over a week trying to source the ninth edition, eventually coming up trumps this afternoon when someone put one up on Amazon second hand books - don't wait til the last minute before you try to get a copy....
Now I've managed to get through Stage 3, I've got a copy of Graham Duke's book which I don't need for a while (the 9th edition). I'm happy to lend it to a fellow applicant if you're having trouble sourcing it - although Waterstones online are out of stock, I got mine from a local store - their stocks are different and it can be ordered from another store and sent to your local one if necessary.
PM if you want to borrow (as long as you return/replace it at some point in the next 5 months...).
Thanks for the info about this Graham Duke book. I've just managed to find it on amazon (used) and bought it. Hopefully will arrive soon. I still don't know much about it though, I've trawled some of the old posts on it - most people just say it's very useful but not many specifics.
In what ways can it help me for stage 3, since that's my primary concern?
I don't know what everyone else thought but I found that although the Stage 2 booklet closely resembles some of the book, it provides the basic concepts in more detail and some more advanced stuff (and pictures!). And it's short which is a bonus when you find you've got lots of other revision to do (and probably a real job as well)!
For me, when I went to visit Scottish, I felt that I knew a bit more about what was going on and what I was seeing, and therefore learnt a lot more when I was visiting as I didn't need to have the real basics explained.
Hmmmm....in these troubled economic times (drink!), perhaps one should endeavour to ascertain the location of one's old copy of Duke and flog it on eBay......
Update for anyone that did their Stage 3 at CTC on Monday 19th January - I asked via the message centre online when I would hear... I have just received a reply saying by the end of next week!
Sorry I know I am impatient.... but thought I would post this as I am aware they are snowed under with Stage 1 applications (putting more test days on etc) so it may also affect the time it takes to get back Stage 1 and Stage 2 results as well.
Re: The last pages of Stage 1 booklet. I did my stage one tests last Monday and there were questions on both the Boeing and the Airbus so am afraid it's best to learn them as you don't wanna be caught out!
I have a selection interview for the ATCO trainee programme and have been reading up about the training at Bournemouth.
I am wondering how it is decided who will be aerodrome trained and who will be area trained. And also how do they decide where people will be placed permanently.
There's a load of info about this (it was quite recently discussed) on the NATS Interview thread, so you might want to ask there too.
I've just passed the final stage interview, and have been asked my *preference* for aerodrome/area but it seems to be decided based on everyone else's preferences and how many people they need for each at the time the college course starts.
As for final placement, they seem to ask you again what you'd prefer, but ultimately, business need comes first (you'll hear this a lot!)...
Going to book something well in advance and dedicate the whole month to revising the documents, plane pictures, reading advice, visiting Swanwick again and perhaps a tower as well - I don't want to leave anything to chance now! Good luck to anyone waiting.
), perhaps one should endeavour to ascertain the location of one's old copy of Duke and flog it on eBay......
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