NATS interview process
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: surrey
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stage 1
well yes of course it would be stupid to tell a plane to go to a FL that it cannot reach, but why do we need to know how many people can sit inside such aircraft?
considering we're at the very outset of our training, surely it would be more apt to ask us about controllers and airways as opposed to the planes themselves, then let our knowledge build up as we move through the course.
considering we're at the very outset of our training, surely it would be more apt to ask us about controllers and airways as opposed to the planes themselves, then let our knowledge build up as we move through the course.
Join Date: Sep 2010
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You need to know both though, and IIRC the majority of the paper focus on ATC related areas and not aircraft specifications.
It may also be relevant to know since that will give you an indication of where you can expect to find each aircraft and what characteristics that aircraft type has. It may be good to know that a 777 will cath up with a DH8A. Or that you most likely can not get that 767 to fly 120 knots on final approach. And the amount of pax carried is an indication of the size of the aircraft, which is a key indicator to things such as approach speeds, ability to slow down or go down quickly and wake turbulence generated.
Not to mention that if you get through you will need to learn all this anyway, I don't really see the problem with doing it now? It also shows NATS that you have an intrest, if you're not even willing to learn the basics about a few aircraft then how will they know you are ready to put in the time needed to make it through the college?
It may also be relevant to know since that will give you an indication of where you can expect to find each aircraft and what characteristics that aircraft type has. It may be good to know that a 777 will cath up with a DH8A. Or that you most likely can not get that 767 to fly 120 knots on final approach. And the amount of pax carried is an indication of the size of the aircraft, which is a key indicator to things such as approach speeds, ability to slow down or go down quickly and wake turbulence generated.
Not to mention that if you get through you will need to learn all this anyway, I don't really see the problem with doing it now? It also shows NATS that you have an intrest, if you're not even willing to learn the basics about a few aircraft then how will they know you are ready to put in the time needed to make it through the college?
Join Date: Sep 2012
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stage 1
no worries mate, i have no issue learning these things, but i was merely trying to guage what style of questions would feature more than others in the stage 1 assessment.
i don't wana flood my brain with various numbers to do with FLs and capacities etc as i may forget some of the other stuff. i'm fairly new to this and i'm sure as time goes on it'll all seem a little less abstract and i'll be able to retain much more information, but for now it seems to me that i should concentrate on walking before i can run.
any help is welcomed
.
i don't wana flood my brain with various numbers to do with FLs and capacities etc as i may forget some of the other stuff. i'm fairly new to this and i'm sure as time goes on it'll all seem a little less abstract and i'll be able to retain much more information, but for now it seems to me that i should concentrate on walking before i can run.
any help is welcomed
.
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunderland
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I've got my test tomorrow at 12. Good luck to everyone else who has their tests tomorrow. Having read other peoples opinions on the test I'm going down with no expectations. Well back to studying I go.
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Swansea
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Height
Hi Guys,
First post for me. Just filled in the online application form for trainee ATCO and at the end it says "Are you between 151.4 cm (59.6 in) and 186.9 cm (73.6 in) in height?"
Unfortunately I am 198.2 cm (6ft 6) so obviously I answered 'No'. Has this been an issue for anyone here? Have any of you gone through the process of having an anthropometric assessment? How will this restrict my ability to work efficiently (will i be able to fit at the station etc.)?
Any info would be great, thanks!
First post for me. Just filled in the online application form for trainee ATCO and at the end it says "Are you between 151.4 cm (59.6 in) and 186.9 cm (73.6 in) in height?"
Unfortunately I am 198.2 cm (6ft 6) so obviously I answered 'No'. Has this been an issue for anyone here? Have any of you gone through the process of having an anthropometric assessment? How will this restrict my ability to work efficiently (will i be able to fit at the station etc.)?
Any info would be great, thanks!
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: preston
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Right, did the test today and failed.
I am 90% sure they mark you on what you know as a pose too how many you got wrong,
I would say i got all of the aviation questions correct, i know for a fact i did, i am even sat here searching the answers and they are the answers i put.
I know i probably got the SDT questions wrong which is where i failed. As i said i know it is not the aviation questions because i just know the answers, and i am looking at them now and they were correct.
On a final note, some of the questions in the paper, do not have the answers in the test material provided. I only knew the answers to these due to my aviation knowledge.
I am 90% sure they mark you on what you know as a pose too how many you got wrong,
I would say i got all of the aviation questions correct, i know for a fact i did, i am even sat here searching the answers and they are the answers i put.
I know i probably got the SDT questions wrong which is where i failed. As i said i know it is not the aviation questions because i just know the answers, and i am looking at them now and they were correct.
On a final note, some of the questions in the paper, do not have the answers in the test material provided. I only knew the answers to these due to my aviation knowledge.
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: AFRICA
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Oh crap...I believe everyone applying as from just a day or two ago is being put on hold... The dreadful "we are considering your application" email is the response rather than the usual invite to the online test. The increasingly used statement is worrying me... What about the re-applicants? 
Sod it.
Sod it.
Last edited by mts1; 26th Sep 2012 at 14:00.
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Scunthorpe
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Sat my stage 1 this morning. Out of about 35 people 11 went on to the next part. The diagramming was straight forward but the cubes where quite tought. Just hope i did enough. Long journey home then its the waiting game
Join Date: Aug 2012
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Height
@deadlifter
Like you I am taller than the specified heights- I'm 6ft5. I passed my stage 3 selection last week and have been sent a conditional offer of employment. So far my height has not been an issue but I have not had my medical yet, and I'm guessing that's when they will perform an anthropometric assessment. I'll post an update when I have more info but I don't think you should worry too much about it for now!
Like you I am taller than the specified heights- I'm 6ft5. I passed my stage 3 selection last week and have been sent a conditional offer of employment. So far my height has not been an issue but I have not had my medical yet, and I'm guessing that's when they will perform an anthropometric assessment. I'll post an update when I have more info but I don't think you should worry too much about it for now!
Last edited by BigSi88; 26th Sep 2012 at 17:07.
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Just sat my stage 1 at 16.00 - ATC paper went fine and of the 40ish of us, about 20 tops went through to the next 2 papers. The diagramming test was ok, although I didn't finish it I did think all those I answered were correct. The cubes like people have mentioned were very tough, a lot of people said it was difficult.
I wish everyone else the best on their tests and do revise and prepare as much as you can.
I wish everyone else the best on their tests and do revise and prepare as much as you can.
Join Date: Sep 2012
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Had my Stage 1 today, was a very large group of nearly 100. About half went through to the later tests.
As for the initial paper I was confident I did well on the questions based on the literature but struggled on the maths questions (There were about 6 or 7 of these). Obviously got enough correct to go through.
The diagramming has a lot more instructions than the examples but once you get into it, it isn't too hard. I worked fast and still only answered 44/50, but confident on the one's I answered.
The cubes!! Oh the cubes!! Answered 32/40 but they were very, very hard. Certainly not as confident on these, If I fail this is where I have stumbled.
Did anyone who completed Stage 1 answer all the questions?
As for the initial paper I was confident I did well on the questions based on the literature but struggled on the maths questions (There were about 6 or 7 of these). Obviously got enough correct to go through.
The diagramming has a lot more instructions than the examples but once you get into it, it isn't too hard. I worked fast and still only answered 44/50, but confident on the one's I answered.
The cubes!! Oh the cubes!! Answered 32/40 but they were very, very hard. Certainly not as confident on these, If I fail this is where I have stumbled.
Did anyone who completed Stage 1 answer all the questions?
Join Date: Sep 2012
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I was there today. 50% of people did not pass the first test. All the info for this (IMO), bar the Maths questions, was in document they sent. (and it is multiple choice).
For the diagramming I only answered 36/50 and the very, very evil cubes 30/40 so I am not optimistic about progressing to stage 2.
Good luck everyone
For the diagramming I only answered 36/50 and the very, very evil cubes 30/40 so I am not optimistic about progressing to stage 2.
Good luck everyone
Join Date: Dec 2004
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[quoteHi Guys,
Unfortunately I am 198.2 cm (6ft 6) so obviously I answered 'No'. Has this been an issue for anyone here? Have any of you gone through the process of having an anthropometric assessment? How will this restrict my ability to work efficiently (will i be able to fit at the station etc.)?
Any info would be great, thanks![/quote]
I can't see it being a problem, I'm 6'3" and work quite happily and there's people taller than me working at Swanwick. It might well harp back to when someone who was 6'10" was turned down as it was felt that they would be too tall.
At 6'6" you might struggle to fit in the sleeping room beds at Swanwick, but that's about it
Unfortunately I am 198.2 cm (6ft 6) so obviously I answered 'No'. Has this been an issue for anyone here? Have any of you gone through the process of having an anthropometric assessment? How will this restrict my ability to work efficiently (will i be able to fit at the station etc.)?
Any info would be great, thanks![/quote]
I can't see it being a problem, I'm 6'3" and work quite happily and there's people taller than me working at Swanwick. It might well harp back to when someone who was 6'10" was turned down as it was felt that they would be too tall.
At 6'6" you might struggle to fit in the sleeping room beds at Swanwick, but that's about it
Join Date: Oct 2004
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Deadlifter
Back in 2003 NATS withdrew an offer to a trainee who was 6ft 10 when it became clear that he could not use the NATS workstations without risking damaging his health. He took NATS to a tribunal who found in favour of NATS. They are likely to be very careful to ensure you can work confortably at the various NATS workstations but there are controllers of 6ft 5 and 6ft 6 who can.
Back in 2003 NATS withdrew an offer to a trainee who was 6ft 10 when it became clear that he could not use the NATS workstations without risking damaging his health. He took NATS to a tribunal who found in favour of NATS. They are likely to be very careful to ensure you can work confortably at the various NATS workstations but there are controllers of 6ft 5 and 6ft 6 who can.