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.
I used the online messaging in the application system, and it was only because they said I'd get some confirmation of receiving the OPQ which I didn't.
When/where did you hear or why would you get confirmation of HR receiving your OPQ?
It isn't the standard/default thing that happens?? I know I never got any email saying they'd got my OPQ safely, just an email later on to say I'd passed it...
Hi, dont know if I'm in the right place? Dont seem to be able to find it elsewhere... Can anyone help me with a question re training. If you manage to get through all the tests and medicals etc and get accepted for training, I understand this takes place in Bournemouth? What happens after initial training? Do you then have to work at Swanwick for a while? or is there an option to go nearer home if you dont live near there? Apologies for the ignorance, any replies would be gratefully received, regarding the whole training process really. Many thanks....
Depends whether you work on aerodrome or area, if you get area which most people go into, you will be based at Swanwick or Prestwick, if you get aerodrome, you could be based at any of the 15 (I think) aerodromes that NATS controls.
Either way, you have to sign a mobility contract at your stage 1 which means you agree to move wherever the business needs you, so you need to be flexible.
Yes, initial training (9-11 months) is in Bournemouth and you will have been put on either an Area or Aerodrome course.
After that you can be sent anywhere in the country (you must sign to agree to this at stage 1!). In all probability it will be either Swanwick or Prestwick if you are on the Area side, and more people do Area. If you are on Aerodrome then you could be sent to any NATS controlled aerodrome.
Aerodrome is a bit shorter than Area (6 months-ish) as you either get just a Tower rating (for London airports) or you stay on to get an Approach rating (will allow you to work at any regional airport or London Approach located at Swanwick).
You can express a preference for location, whatever discipline you end up on, but no guarantees... If you desperately want to work in one place, consider approaching one of the non-NATS airports as they may take you on (and you're applying to a place then, not a company).
Hmm.... One of my uni friends now works at TC and followed that route, so I assumed that was right! Maybe he took a bit of a scenic route to TC... Now I'm confused...
According to the TATC guide in the NATS departure lounge, the area course is 10 months split between Basic, foundation and advanced modules and the aerodrome is 5 months and aerodrome/approach is a further 3 months on top of the core aerodrome course.
TC Controllers come from both the Approach and Area courses. You don't have to be dual rated in both to work at TC either. As you probably know, TC control the airspace above London, so in they deal with LL inbounds and outbounds.
The area guys will stream the inbounds towards the 4 stacks around LL, then transfer them to approach, who will do the sequencing and spacing for final approach, before giving them to us. Outbound traffic goes straight to the area controllers at TC once they have commenced the turn on the SID (unless CPT on easterlies, when they work the approach guys and girls first).
Thats about as much light as I can shed on it... apart from knowing when to say ''Contact London/ Contact Heathrow Director'' You can be posted to TC from either approach or area though out of the college...
I found out yesterday that I passed the all new stage 2 computer test day and I'm through to stage 3. I'm really happy, I had written myself off completely after that awful day of computer tests, the pass mark must be rather low because I know I did terribly on some elements. The e-mail I recieved says that stage 3 only consists of an interview and a group exercise. For some reason I expected there to be more, especially since the motivation paper is no longer part of stage 2. I would imagine I can't prepare at all for the group exercise but if anyone has any tips on preparing for the interview that would be very much appreciated. I plan to organise a visit to Swanwick now, I suppose HR can put me in contact with them? Do they tend to run these visits at weekends? Getting holiday off of work at short notice will not be easy.
Air 22,
There were 5 people in total at my stage 2 and we were all in a room together sat at a pc from about 9 until 4 ish with a couple of short breaks, it was not a pleasant experience but even if you are certain you've failed you may be surprised like I was. I'm really looking forward to being assessed face to face finally.
Gogz87
Dress code for an initial ATC medical, Jeans T-shirt and trainers?
Initial medical, future employer, planning to spend at least £100,000 to train you.
Suggest a lightweight summer suit. OOOHHH, SUITS YOU SIR!
What makes you think I have any kind of clothes like that? I only have 1 suit which I bought for my stage 2 and 3. I've never even seen a lightweight summer suit. I'll try and dress smarter though. Advice noted. Cheers.
ATC hopeful im in the same boat as you. Jusy passed new stage 2 and have booked my stage 3 (8th april).
I have been trying to get in contact with HR since yesterday regarding a NATS visit and to clear up if we will be asked any questions on motivation papers (im assuming not as i didnt get a link to a document either).
I've not had much luck getting through to them. Today i spoke to two seperate people and both just took my contact details to get back to me. Although one person at HR said that regarding the NATS visits that someone from the recrutiment team would help me organise that and she asked if i had a preference for where i wanted to visit. But other than that i've not had much luck.
As far as my hunch on what stage 3 interview may consist of, i thought it would be a mix of HR and technical....but as we have no formal motivation paper to revise and there was no mention to revise past motivation paper info, i have a feeling it will be just HR based and then maybe just basic company information as it does refer us to the website.
Let me know if you hear back from HR regarding the interview anyway.
It makes no difference what you wear to a medical. You will take your clothes off pretty quickly once in. When reading Zooker's contributions, you'd do well to keep what's displayed at the bottom of every page on PPRuNe.....
Quote:
As these are anonymous forums the origins of the contributions may be opposite to what may be apparent. In fact the press may use it, or the unscrupulous, or sciolists*, to elicit certain reactions.
I know I never got any email saying they'd got my OPQ safely, just an email later on to say I'd passed it... 
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