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 know ar ni, I know! Failing this personality test is hard to take but there's always light at the end of the tunnel! When I was originally told I failed S1 I came up with a cunning plan, I'm going to continue with that plan! Failing an answerable test, e.g. a maths test, is easy to take, well I have never failed a test in my life (that I know of anyway ) but whenever I've done not as good as I thought I should it's been easy to take because I know I just haven't put the work in, case and point - revise harder! But how do I get better at a personality questionnaire?!?!
On the PQ I always tried to answer the same as I'd answered the time before, if you've done it you know that it is about 10 statements repeated over and over but just re-worded! I didn't want to come across as a liar so if I'd clicked "I like working with numbers" as my "Most Likely" once, I would pretty much click it everytime I saw it until it clashed with another statement I'd already clicked as "Most Likely" - I then got in a pickle! I guess it probably made me look like a "Narrow" person, I don't really know though.
Thanks for the help guys and gals!
Also to anyone doing Stage 1, I only did 27 out of 40 cube questions and I passed - but I do think I did well on all the other parts.
Just sat my stage 3 and found out I got through!
I'd like to thank everyone who gave me advice for preparation to all the stages. Roll on the medical.
AndyC
I unfortunately came across this forum after my S1 on 10th Nov. I have since found out i failed but just had a quick question....I had only read over the ATC information a few times and so when it came to the test knew very little of what was required. Would i have been better to leave blank what i didn't know? It's just i feel i did great in the aptitude bits and the ATC part was my big downfall.
Would they ever overlook bad results in one if you do very well in another?
hello again guys, just looking for yet more advice.
Am through to S3, dont have a date yet but not until January.
I am aware i will be given hypothetical ATC questions, to see how any thought procees work. Just wondered, preferably from an ATC involved in the process, if my answers had to be right, or if they could be completely wrong as long as they were well thought through?
They are after all looking for potential, as opposed to folk who know all the answers already?
I had only read over the ATC information a few times and so when it came to the test knew very little of what was required
P-P-Powerbook;
This undoubtably was your biggest downfall - You need to memorise the booklet and know it inside out. Full stop. If you don't put the effort in at this stage, then you certainly will not get far if you ever make it to the college! (MATS pt 1 - joy!)
If you feel that you did well in the other tests, then good on you - most people find those the scariest and hardest to pass!
Reference pass marks - I believe that you have to get a certain pass mark in ALL the tests to be considered for the next stage.
Put this all down to experience - take what you have learnt and use it for your application next year. Use this next 11 months wisely too - get as much exposure of Aviation and Air Traffic that you can - it will all count favourably in the interview process, especially that "So, what have you done in the last 12 months since your last application" question in the stage 3 interview.....because all the best pass second time!
I am aware i will be given hypothetical ATC questions, to see how any thought procees work. Just wondered, preferably from an ATC involved in the process, if my answers had to be right, or if they could be completely wrong as long as they were well thought through?
The idea is to find out how you make decisions, not how good an ATCO you already are.
Therefore some scenarios might not be ATC based, and that they will be dynamic, i.e. they will change in response to what you say.
I have got my stage 3 in London next Fri 12 Dec. I am getting a little worried now! haha.
Im hoping for a bit of Christmas cheer and a nice present from Father NATS!!!
Hopefully visiting Prestwick and Newcastle will stand me in good stead. I would also like to put out my thanks for all the great help this forum has been and to all the very helpfull ATC guys that have been more than happy to answer stupid questions from me!
It has got so bad that i found myself trying to ID all the planes at the airport when i went on holiday and thinking what the guys in the tower were up to...needless to say my mates were less than impressed. I shall however remain a geek for life now.
ok i'm like a few of you guys waiting for my stage 3 date - prob in jan. But wanna use me time wisely and organise a few visits. Got a contact at prestwick and can hopefully use them. Wondering if i wanna visit anywhere else has anyone got contacts or knows the protocol???
Im getting a night away this weekend and I would have loved to have known if I was getting to the medical by then. Gives me an excuse to celebrate, or to drown my sorrows. Either or :P
Oh well, I was warned of a 15-day wait lol.
Best of luck to everyone with their stages in the coming days though
I have visited newcastle ATC and got a visit to Prestwick lined up. The Prestwick one was done through the lovely HR guys. Just phoned them up and asked if they knew who I could contact to arrange a visit.
I have to say that the Prestwick people couldnt have been more helpfull and accomodating to get a date for me to visit Is there a nasty ATC about?!! because I have yet to meet one.....lol!
The newcastle tower one again was just done by ringing them up and they were only too glad to help.
Really glad I found this thread, just wish I had 4 years ago.
I am trying to do as much background reading before Stage 1 as I can, and I have been desperately trying to find some practise assessment papers - especially the spatial awareness cubes. Throughout this thread there are a lot of references to someones Tiscali web page, but that now appears to be offline.
If anyone can shove me in the right direction that would be much appreciated. I have the 9th edition of Dukes Air Traffic Control which I am working my through and am hoping to arrange a tower visit anytime.
I have also been playing around with what appears to be a good simulator (www.atc-sim.com) but I dont know if this will be helping or hindering? Is it a bit like trying to play golf before having proper lessons I wonder?
I am pretty happy with my general maths and the checking exercises but I really cant find much oon the diagramming or cubes. Any help would be really, really great.
) but whenever I've done not as good as I thought I should it's been easy to take because I know I just haven't put the work in, case and point - revise harder! But how do I get better at a personality questionnaire?!?!
... I'm still biting my nails waiting on the news...
If you don't put the effort in at this stage, then you certainly will not get far if you ever make it to the college! (MATS pt 1 - joy!)
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