NATS College

[ATCNoob]

Hello,

I am soon to start on the Area course at NATS' college in Bournemouth. I was wondering if anyone could give any hints on how to stay on top of the work and also what the main reasons for guys failing the course are...? I do not plan on scraping through or anything but it would just be nice to know what are the BIG hurdles that can get in the way.

Thanks...

[uordom]

Im in the same boat too and about to start on the Area course at the college.
I am particularly interested to know if more people fail the summatives (practical) rather than the theoretical text book stuff?

[BobAgg]

One of the first things to do if you have no prior aviation knowledge is to button down the R/T Phraseology, so that when you hit the sim, you have one less thing to think about!

A more generic form of advice I'd give is to get your head down, study hard, and say please and thanks to the instructors (even if you think they have been total :mad: )

Good Luck :ok:

[Avoiding_Action]

Study in groups for the oral boards.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Keep off the booze.

[DIAF]

"Keep off the booze."

Well...I'm retracting my application.


J/K...have people actually let booze screw this up for them?

[Standard Noise]

Keep on the booze!
Well, it worked for me.

If you have a hobby - squash, stamp collecting, licking toads or whatever floats your boat, keep doing it cos it's something that gives your brain a rest from work when it needs one.
Oh and don't fret, too much of that and you'll wear yourself down mentally.

[Arty-Ziff]

Don't keep off the booze! If you like going out a Friday night and getting tipsy, then do it. You've got to let your hair down. Just remember that its only a job. Some people thing its the most important thing in the world, and fair enough to those who think that. But treating it as such only piles on the pressure, so just relax, work hard, and enjoy it (you can definitely do all 3 of those things at the same time!)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<Some people thing its the most important thing in the world,>>

Problem is, Arty, some people think that about drink too..

[Glamdring]

Everybody on my course went out on a friday night for a major smash-up. Sometimes it was daylight when walking home and quite often we were more drunk going in than we were going home. It's good to cut loose every weekend, helps to reset the body and mind for another week.

The course had a very high pass rate, mainly due to how well we all got on with each other (And to an absolute legendary course rep! You know who you are! ;) )

Getting on well as a course, socialising, studying and supporting each other as a group is the key to success :ok:

[aerotech07]

The course had a very high pass rate, mainly due to how well we all got on with each other (And to an absolute legendary course rep! You know who you are! http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/wink2.gif )

I echo the comments reference our course rep!!

I also agree with whats being said about letting your hair down. College can be very hard going at times and its really good to just be able to forget it every now and again and have a good time!

However you choose to that is up to you; as Glamdring said, our course seemed to enjoy a Friday night session. Worked well for us, we had a great team spirit on our course and became really good friends. Personally I think that contributed a great deal to my life down in Bournemoth, and indeed our course's success rate.

Would advise socialising and getting to know your course early on :ok: (As well as the obvious putting the work in when required etc etc...)

[simfly]

Yahoo, I remember you posted exactly the same post last year, and it's not a good thing to do if, as you say, did not go throught the college in the last few years, and I doubt anyone will agree with you:ugh:

I can guarantee that regular nights out during the week are not the best ideas unless you are celebrating a pass of an oral etc, the last thing anyone wants is to be struggling to stay awake in an air law or altimitary class after getting up at 7am! I studied with course mates a few nights before exams, and the whole ADI course together for quite a few nights before orals, we all got through it. The best recommendation I got on starting was to go over all the lecture notes from the day in the evening, even just skimming over them but taking the info in, only took an hour or so. Then spend a few more hours on Sunday going over the whole week, this made the final revision for an exam much more useful as things were a lot easier to remember. Trainees will be learning and being given soooooo much information to begin with that what was learnt 2 days ago will have faded from your mind that quick! Some folk on my core course did go overkill I think, but most of my buddies did as I did, and we got through it fairly well! Unfortunatley the course after me suffered from bad repping as can be seen from the posts above....

[Ivor_Novello]

Glamdring and aerotech obviously know what they're talking about.

They must have been led by a very inspiring course rep, who surely has been able to strike the right balance between work and socialising.
There are rumours that, despite having a pass mark of 70% on all written exams, such leader would impose on his course a minimum required of 85% or otherwise he would refuse to represent them.

It goes without saying that the majority of those trainees are now successful ATCOs at various thriving units around the country, reaping the rewards of an intense and exciting training programme.

The best advice is to try and enjoy the college days. Bournemouth is a thriving maritime community, and the pay package and T&C offered by NATS to trainees are second to none, and inspiring and motivating students to succeed.

As a NATS trainee, you will be truly delighted of the wonderful opportunity offered by such a first class employer for a riveting and rewarding career with a world leader in air traffic management.

Ivor

[simfly]

Ivor, can you say the same of life at a unit after the college, and recommend where to go and where no:confused: you make it sound so appealing:ok:

aerotech, no it's not tongue in cheek! i had to live with him and still can't get rid of him!!!!! he's like my shadow, only a lot fatter....

[aerotech07]

aerotech, no it's not tongue in cheek! i had to live with him and still can't get rid of him!!!!! he's like my shadow, only a lot fatter....

Below the belt....

Back to the original poster, simflys advice re the note reading an hour each night and a few hours at the weekend is good, thats also how I did it and it worked!

Basically, the practicals can be subjective, and you can only do your best. My own view was that the theory stuff, I knew how much work i needed to put in, and made sure I put the work in. If I didn't do the work then it would be my own stupid fault if I failed a theory exam!

Enjoy it, Bournemouth is a great place, and despite a lot of hard work (and having to put up with a couple of the lunatics above), I had a really good time!

[ATCNoob]

Thanks everyone! It seems that if I put as much effort into the college as I did the recruitment assessment stages then I should be fine! Fortunately I live in Bournemouth already so I that's one less unknown for me. Our course is already arranging a pre-college meet up on the Sunday before so that's a good start too! Any further advice will be very welcomed. :ok:

[1985]

Yahoo, I remember you posted exactly the same post last year, and it's not a good thing to do if, as you say, did not go throught the college in the last few years, and I doubt anyone will agree with you:ugh:

Simfly, are you honestly trying to say its got harder at the college in the last few years??? Its the same content that you need to know and understand as its been for years.

You should have a balance between work and play, personally i'm a crammer, always have been always will. So i worked hard and played hard, tried really hard not to have a hangover every fri am for 2 years, but never quite managed it. (i did aerodrome and then area so i did twice the work).

You should do what works for you. If you need to work after work and at weekends, then by all means do it. But if going out alot and working a little works for you then do that. Or something in between. Everyone is different.

[pugwash4x4]

what is a course rep? a student? nats employee? what do they do?

[alfaman]

"Simfly, are you honestly trying to say its got harder at the college in the last few years???"
Certainly is, & I'd expect no different - the world has moved on considerably, the written material is condensed into as tight a progamme as is possible, & in keeping up with new practise , there's more of it, the practical requirements at NATS are significantly above the rating requirement, & the level of understanding demanded at oral board is similar to a comptency check at unit. I certainly would not advise anyone to try the cram technique unless they are really sure they're previous experience can carry them through - it may get you passed the writtens, but it's very likely that the practical & oral boards will end in tears.
For Pugwash - course rep is the (usually elected) course member who co-ordinates between the course & the college DSAs & CMs. A student has a specific ESAAR definition, can't remember offhand; the NATS term is trainee, or TATC - Trainee Air Traffic Controller. NATS employee - someone who works for NATS....

[Ivor_Novello]

You should have a balance between work and play, personally i'm a crammer, always have been always will

A balanced diet is also reccommended.

It is important to strike the balance between all your daily dietary requirements.

For this reason, I would suggest Greggs The Bakers in Boscombe high street. Faithful to their motto "It's the way we bake it that makes it", Greggs The Bakers deliver a tasty, and high in energy nutritional source which supports you through the hard task of ATC training.

Boscombe High Street is also a thriving hub for the local maritime community and caters for all occasions and food requirements.

With the generous pay package offered by NATS, now also increased by a whopping 2%, (After trainees' wages were cut by over 50 (fifty) % just a few years ago) trainees will be able to enjoy different culinary styles, ethnic food and local delis, which all adds to the flavoursome experience of living in a thriving seaside community. :)

Ivor

[smellysnelly2004]

This argument over required amount of study time at the college has been done before and all the same protagonists are making the same noises.
These are the 'facts' : to pass an Area Advanced written exam you need to be able to regurgitate (a selection of)85ish typed pages of MATS 1/2 info verbatim.
If, like Yahoo, you are a modern day genius with a photographic memory, then you will be able to go out in the piss during the week, do minimal study and cram the night before. If you struggle to learn new info then you will need to do lots of hours every night and extra work most weekends.
If you are not ATC's answer to Stephen Hawking and are just normal (like about 90% of people on my course), then you will study most nights during the week, stay off the pop during the week and have a good blowout at weekends preferably not thinking about college stuff; may be with some studying on a Sunday evening and extra before exams.

[smellysnelly2004]

Yahoo,

For oral boards you are completely right. Studying for hours alone is no good and group sessions are the only way forward.
However, for a written exam where you have to write out word for word big chunks of MATS 1 there is no way of avoiding hard graft. Getting the gist of it isn't enough - for some questions a 'may' instead of a 'shall' could result in getting all or none of the marks for a question.

[ZOOKER]

Don't forget to eat lots of pies, and have a look at that all-important UK airways map! :ok:

[spangelina]

Zooker,

I have no idea why you insist on telling people that looking at a UK airways map is a good idea. It isn't. More to the point, I have no idea why you insist on giving advice to trainees on here. You shouldn't.

I don't know anyone on my course that looked at a UK airways map until being posted to their units'. Even then, after all the college training, the maps were intimidating. What must they look like to new recruits?

[ZOOKER]

Hmmm,
better not show a prospective trainee pilot a picture of an aircrafts cockpit then. :}

[spangelina]

Totally irrelevant.

To pass the college you must learn 'Medway Control's' airspace and control imaginary aircraft within it. This is no easy task and the airspace is very daunting to people with no experience.
If you were to compare Medway with real airspace there is no comparison - real airspace is so complex and would mean nothing to new trainees. It may even have the effect of sowing seeds of doubt in their mind at to whether they will ever be able to be control busy traffic in complex airspace. Remember we are talking about brand new recruits who will be nervous at the prospect of saying 'Roger' to a fictional aircraft (I know I was)
Why are you so sure this is a good idea?
Have you been through the college recently?
Are you a qualified ATCO?
No pre-learning is required for college.
Good background reading would be skimming MATS 1, some Meteorology books and perhaps some aircraft recognition on airliners.net.
DO NOT look at an airways map!!

[ZOOKER]

Also make sure you know the ANO definition of a 'General Lighthouse Authority'. :E
Oh. and don't ever show dental students photographs of teeth!

[spangelina]

Very clever,

How about answering any of my valid questions as to what qualifies you to comment.
What is the point in looking at an airways map?
Which airways should you look at - A34, N601, L28, L9?

[Glamdring]

Just put him on ignore. Everybody else has.

[The Many Tentacles]

L9 is one of my favourites, although UR8 runs it awfully close

[WhatMeanPullUp]

I went through Bournemouth in the early 1990s, Saturday night go and get pissed, let your hair down. I studied every night for 4-5 hours, going over and over the study cards until it became second nature, It was boring as hell but the night before any exam I studied for an hour then went to the pub for a few beers, I never failed an exam, always getting between 80 and 90%, that worked for me.
Oral board stuff, yes, do it in groups, best way by far.

My anally retentive routine may not work for everyone but I found the course easy enough based on how I studied. Whatever way you decide on, I wish you all the best. :ok:

[ZOOKER]

spangelina.
(I'm sure I saw that dish featured on 'Masterchef' last week), but to answer you questions above : -
1 I have listened to ATC transmissions for many years.
2. As with any map, - to find your way. :ok:
3. Why not start at Honiley and take it from there ? :E
On a lighter note I see that thriving maritime community of Boscombe is getting an 'artificial reef'. - Splendid News!
SURF'S UP, - EAT MORE PIES !! :}
(Balancing on a balanced diet. - You know it makes sense).

[ATCNoob]

Excellent advice from almost everyone - thanks! How did you guys find learning the verbatim? What methods did you use? Does the college offer advice on it or is it kind of left to the students to figure out their own methods? I am not too bad with remembering things word for word but 85 pages worth seems like a lot! Did you guys learn it as if it were your lines in a play? :}

[dcb2008uk]

With verbatim pretty much the way most people learn it is to write it out again and again, because that takes a lot of time, I, and a lot of others tend to just write out the first word. This only works if you say it to yourself while you are writing it, you'll be amazed by how easily it comes back to you when writing it out in the exam

[General_Kirby]

Or just do aerodrome and spend more time the in the pub. No verbatim for us!

[Avoiding_Action]

^^^^And you get the multiple re-sits at oral boards.

[ZOOKER]

ATCNob,
Learn it as though your life depends on it. :ok:
Because, from what I've read on here, it does! :E
(Sorry, no, sincere apologies, I couldn't resist the first line).

[The Many Tentacles]

spangelina.
(I'm sure I saw that dish featured on 'Masterchef' last week), but to answer you questions above : -
1 I have listened to ATC transmissions for many years.
2. As with any map, - to find your way.
3. Why not start at Honiley and take it from there ?
On a lighter note I see that thriving maritime community of Boscombe is getting an 'artificial reef'. - Splendid News!

I've watched every episode of ER over the last 15 years, but I don't consider myself in any position to offer opinion to medical staff.

Tit

[ZOOKER]

"I've watched every episode of 'ER' over the last 15 years" :}:}:}:}:}
- "And you run, and you run, to catch up with the Sun, but it's sinking, and racing around to come up behind you again"! :E:E:E