Questions about Maastricht

[killua]

Hi.

I have some questions about Eurocontrol ATC job at Maastricht.

1.I am from Croatia. I presume I will have to go to take tests at Maastricht. The problem is travel cost. Salary in Croatia is small, average is like 700 Euros, so to pay for a plane ticket serveral times is a lot of money for a young student? My question is, does Eurocontrol help you with the cost (trip, housing...)?

2.On conditions of applications it says "have successfully completed secondary education at an advanced level (university entrance level)". I don't know much about school system outside Croatia, but does it mean finished undergraduate study or finished high school? I kow, stupid question.

Thanks

EDIT: Also it say "students who have tried selection procedure somewhere else and failed should refrain from applying". Here in Croatia the selection procedure undergoes 700+ students, and they take AT MOST 12. So if I fail in Croatia will it affect my Maastricht application?

[tsorin16]

1.I am from Croatia. I presume I will have to go to take tests at Maastricht. The problem is travel cost. Salary in Croatia is small, average is like 700 Euros, so to pay for a plane ticket serveral times is a lot of money for a young student? My question is, does Eurocontrol help you with the cost (trip, housing...)?
Yes, Eurocontrol pays you back the price of the plane/train ticket. If you travel by car they will pay you the equivalent of a return 2nd class train ticket.
They also offer you 1 or 2 nights at the Tulip Inn hotel located at the airport.

2.On conditions of applications it says "have successfully completed secondary education at an advanced level (university entrance level)". I don't know much about school system outside Croatia, but does it mean finished undergraduate study or finished high school? I kow, stupid question.
You just need to have graduated highschool.

EDIT: Also it say "students who have tried selection procedure somewhere else and failed should refrain from applying". Here in Croatia the selection procedure undergoes 700+ students, and they take AT MOST 12. So if I fail in Croatia will it affect my Maastricht application?
Does the agency in Croatia use the FEAST test as a selection tool?

[killua]

Yes, I think. It is Eurocontrol agency. But the thing is they have fixed numbers how many people can pass in another level of selection,

(700+)English test ->(120) Aptitude ->(30) Simulators&Interview->(12)Medical exam

Also, do I have to wait 2 years from selection process in Croatia?

[tsorin16]

Eurocontrol clearly states that if you fail the FEAST, chances are you don't have the necessary abilities and will have problems further down the line. That's why they do not recommend to re-take the FEAST if you initially fail.

If Croatia Control uses the FEAST test as a selection tool and you fail it you "should refrain from applying".

If you still want to apply, you need to wait 2 years after the initial failure.

[killua]

Thanks. One more question. Is there a fixed number of how many people can pass (like in Croatia 12) or do they train anybody who satisfy their quiteria.

[mtnova]

1. Croatia control is not using FEAST for selection up to my knowledge. For sure it was not FEAST 2 years ago. Maybe they have introduced it in the meanwhile.

2.If you pass at Eurocontrol they will take you. If 20 of you have passed they might not take you in at once but they will take you with the next ABINITIO group. But up to my knowledge not enough candidates pass FEAST.

So,to make it short IT'S NOT a competition among candidates for a number of position IT IS pass or fail, i.e if no-one passes it no-one goes through.

Cheers,

[killua]

Thank you very much, you made my day.:ok: Anybody knows when next selection will be but in fall or winter?

[Lon More]

For a comparison of some selection methods, sorry not Croatian, look here (http://www.churchilltrust.com.au/site_media/fellows/Gearing_Michael_2005.pdf#14) or here (http://www.eurocontrol.int/humanfactors/gallery/content/public/docs/DELIVERABLES/M4%20Ed.%202.0%20(HRS-MSP-002-GUI-02%20)%20Released.pdf).

[ATCPRO]

is there some restrictions on how old candidate should be ? I read somewhere that 30 is limit ..is it true or not ?

In Serbia SMATSA disqualified me (few days ago) 'cos I appllied for same Feast 1
4 years later (first time in may 2006/07 and second in december 2009/10) :(
Maybe reason is not connected with years , but with two continual competitions?

I also heard that in Maastricht could apply only people from EU zone , not people from Serbia , Croatia,Makedonia ... is true ?

[mtnova]

To: killua,

You are welcome.But be advised that it is not easy at all to pass the selection. One needs to be a very "sharp" person in every aspect to manage to do it.

Nevertheless, best of luck to you.

To: ATCPRO

for ABINITIO for Maastricht UAC you can apply if you are national of a EUROCONTROL member state.

Applicants must:
1. Be nationals of a EUROCONTROL member state (Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine or the United Kingdom.

Since, Serbia,Croatia etc... are member states, you can apply, if you satisfy the other requirements, of course.

The selection itself is fair in every aspect (ako si navikao na rodjake,veze i vezice itd, toga ovde nema), BUT it is not easy.

As for the age limit, it is 25years of age.

For detailed info check EUROCONTROL - Air Traffic Controller Careers (http://www.eurocontrol.int/muac/public/standard_page/atco_careers_home.html)


Best of luck to you too, if you decide to apply.

mtnova :ok:

[ATCPRO]

mtnova thanks ! I read all you posted on Eurocontrol web page but a man from Smatsa (znam dosta ljudi zaposlenih ali vezu nemam jer bih bio vec primljen , a da se tako nesto desi bio bi me stid jer je posao takve prirode da se trazi zdravlje,refleks,prostorno ramisljanje i td a i zivotni je moto radi sam da ne duzis drugome :)) )said thing about EU membership.

When I mentioned limit I thought on up level . In USA 30 years is limit for first time apply for atc job.


Tomorow I complain because they don't have right to do such thing , because I pass english and they should told the thing with Feast earlirer .

[killua]

Nisam upoznat ali od kontrolora sam čuo da vezice tu ne rade. Nikome nije u interesu zaposliti rođaka koji će jednog dana skucati dva aviona. Maybe it's better to go back to English.

[Lon More]

Tomorow I complain because they don't have right to do such thing

Why not? Old English saying, "Their ball, their rules."

[mtnova]

ATCPRO

"When I mentioned limit I thought on up level . In USA 30 years is limit for first time apply for atc job."

I'm not sure that I've understood what you meant by that?

Eurocontrol maximum is 25years for ABINITIO which is clearly stated.

If you were referring to a conversion ATC's, then it is a different story.

For conversion controllers (being a conversion myself, couple of times by now, on a couple of continents with couple of ANSP's to say the least) different ANSP set different age limit.

Some, they don't have an age limit at all ,but those are normally ANSP providing services at places where you normally don't stay for a lifetime and they have a high percentage of workforce fluctuations.

Elsewhere there is normally an age limit (it might not be published but there is for sure,now I know, it might not sound fair BUT it is justified (difficulties regarding pension funds,salaries,etc).

Again,that might contravene some EC directive against age discrimination, but that is how it is,at least for the time being.

Cheers,
mtnova

[ATCPRO]

mtnova

I thought that Maastricht have some up limit so I could not apply ..

If You know price for medical examination there in Maastricht or anywhere else in Eurocontrol zone please write it down here . About 150 euros is in Belgrade , VMA . That is the only condition beside passport I must fill . I have glasses minus 1,5. Help me to decide where to finish that part .

Just one more Q to be sure ... I heard that one person can once in a life time do Feast , there is no second chanse ..but from atc from this video (I know him well as friend , Bruno) I heard that two years must be between two Feasts (like in Mensa one year) ..what is the truth ?

YouTube - SMATSA na B92 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZgVcX3nVNM)
YouTube - Serbia ATC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPVI9kC8h8)

killua ..for connection we both agree :=

Lon More :D




Everybody : Cheers :ok: !

[ATCPRO]

http://www.smatsa.rs/files/Konkurs48/obavestenje%20za%20kandidate%20koji%20su%20ranije%20polagali %20FEAST%20test.pdf

..for those who might still have on their mind second chance with feast test .. that's not good idea 'cos there is no second time .. only once in life time You can attend this test ! By Your :ugh: signature You admitt it in the contract with Eurocontrol, so better be prepared if You're serious with wish to be ATC . Don't allow my bad experience with mine horable listen or active knowledge of english ! You can be brilliant in every abilllity sence(reflex,quick thinker and solver of problems,good in spatial reasoning,being healthy etc) for atc job , but with no luck or knowledge of english You won't pass and that's it.

I finally got it, the answer ..that I signed on paper and forgot it (and that Smatsa didn't told me), so guys good luck , maybe my destiny is to be a good scientist or engineer ..not ATC expert :) ..and be careful when You sign papers ..Read them carefully and be sure that You fully understood them ! And again good luck folks !!