Unit Visits (for the technical interview) (Merged)

[JimboUK2004]

LTCC & LACC Visit

hi there people!

After recent success at my assessment centre for NATS ATC - how do I organise myself a visit at Swanwick LACC and West Drayton LTCC?

I did not receive a contact list from NATS recruitment people, and I've been in touch with no luck.

Anyone have ideas?

I've already been to see London City Aerodrome and CATC at Bouremouth. To complete my recruitment adventure, I'd love to investigate an area control and approach control centre.

Thanks,

Jim

[qdan]

LTCC

Just phone them up.

I got the phone number out of the phone book, gave them a call and saw them two days later!

Very cool. Spent 4 hours there and then they drove me over to the tower at Heathrow!

Waiting for 2nd assesment results now. 10 days and counting!

Dan

[PPRuNe Radar]

JimboUK2004

Have merged your question here. This thread has only been out of view for 4 or 5 days and doesn't take much uncovering

Like many posters (not a criticism but helpful advice for all), you will tend to find that things to do with NATS interviews have been answered many times on this Forum before. Just use the Search function and some keywords about your query and you will usually find every possible answer under the sun.

Mmmm, there's a thought. We could make finding the answers to a query using PPRuNe part of the computer tests for NATS from now on Points off for anyone asking something already covered and not using Search.

Good luck with your visit and the tests and interviews

Cheers

[Inverted81]

Hi, My 10 days are up as well! Phoned HR up to double check this morning, and apparently interviews are like initial selection, results are sent out 10 days after the final interview/selection day, which in my case will make it this friday. I had interview in 23/3 last day 26/3. As my luck goes its Good Friday then Bank holiday Monday, so i wont be getting results till mid NEXT week!!!! AAAARGH all i wanna know is if i passed! he he!!! Starting to get nervous now!

RE: LTCC visit, as already said, just phone! They are really helpfull. I was there for 4 hours as well, didn't get visit to Heathrow tho!
Good luck all!
C

[JimboUK2004]

NATS Unit Visit Preparation

Hi there!

Here's a new one for ya!

I'm taking a visit to West Drayton and Southampton tomorrow! This is for preparation for my ATC interview next month.
That will mean I've visited an Aerodrome (London City), Approach Control and Area Control!

What I need to know is this: What kind of points and information should I pick up on? I know the interviewer will be interested to know what I've learnt from my visists!
What kind of questions should I be asking (at the visits), and also what should I swot up on tonight before I head off tomorrow?

Thank you

Jim

[Barnaby the Bear]

Just take on board what you can. You won't be expected to have an in depth knowledge from one visit.
From 'my own experience', they only asked if I had visited any units. That was it.
A basic idea of how the unit operates and the duties performed, will probably suffice.
If you went into an interview an mentioned orange tennis bats they would be worried.

[JimboUK2004]

LOL - Dr Evil - nice one! I'm hoping I get lucky with a job but not that lucky!!

I'll just go along and take it as it comes then - excuse the expression!

[Inverted81]

Jim,
Maaaaate, RELAX!!!! there is only a certain amount of prep you can do for ANY of the stages!! As for the visits it is like the old school trips you've done, except this time you'll have a real interest!! Questions will come naturally, but remember if your sitting at the screen with an ATCO they might be pretty busy (At west drayton i sat with the approach guys to Heathrow) so be considerate.
As for interview... they dont really ask questions about visits directly. they usually approach the area by saying "what research have you done?" then you can tell them where you've been and as far as my experience goes that was that. not another mention. Its to help you yourself, really mate.
Have fun tommorrow, busy day!!!!
Chris

[JimboUK2004]

Busy day indeed matey!

Well, if all else fails, at least the good 'ord enthusiasm is there! Christ, bit of driving tomorrow: London-West Drayton, West Drayton - Swanwick, Swanwick to Scaroborough!
Busy day alright! Killing two birs with one stone though.

All the best chrisf,
Jim

[mps12]

My interview was the same - did you visit anywhere? Yes - and I said what I gained from it and that was it, not mentioned any more at all!!

Good Luck Jimbo!

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<<At west drayton i sat with the approach guys to Heathrow.>>

Don't worry about it. You'll recover eventually - just keep taking the tablets!

Good luck Jimbo; hope it all pans out OK for you.

[Gina8181]

Hiya,

I have my interviews on the 17th May, only stumbled across this website yesterday (and thank god I did!) and realised it would be vital for me to make some visits before my interview. Anyway I'm in the process of setting up a visit to Swanwick and just wondered if anyone could advise or help with a visit to a tower. Tried Southampton yesterday but they were too busy!

Cheers,

[Someone_Else]

Just wanted to add on my thanks to the people who responded to this post publicly and privately when I raised it.

I had the interviews in early May and i'm glad to say I passed.

The help of several people on this forum and the various links contained within the articles was invaluable.

Thanks PPRUNE!

Craig

[pumuckl]

I am just going through the NATS application process and would really really like to arrange a visit at West Drayton. I tried looking them up in the phone book as was suggested but have been unable to find a contact number. Have also tried a search on google, but no luck. Could anyone please help?

p.

[gilaine]

Where was this thread when I was waiting for my interview?

I didn't manage to get a visit (like most people I didn't get the imaginary contacts list and NATS didn't respond to my emails) but I still got it anyway. Don't worry too much if you can't get it organised, I didn't and it didn't do me any harm.

And don't listen to what whoever said about not being serious about the job if you don't go because they'll be able to see that in you anyway if you are.

[rodan]

I would sound a note of caution after the last post. Whilst it may not be an absolute necessity to visit a unit if you can demonstrate previous interest in aviation and a knowledge of ATC through other means, I think it remains pretty important to visit a unit if you are new to this sort of thing. How do you know you want to do this if you have no idea what it's like in a tower?

As for needing a list, use your initiative. Phone the airport switchboard. Ask to be put through to the ATC manager. It's not rocket science.

[aaaabbbbcccc1111]

I recently went through the whole process, I managed to get to Swanwick, West drayton, but also non NATS units Plymouth and Exeter. Its like the post above says, I just rang around. I was very polite, and in some cases where they were not willing to help over the phone, I wrote a formal letter requesting permission to look around. I managed to spend 6 hours in West drayton, speaking to a whole host of ATCO who were very helpful. I did tell the interviewer about all my visits, I passed and who knows how much my visits had to do with the overall outcome?

[mps12]

I agree to the last few posts, dont just give up in google, phone around, i must have phoned about 6 or 7 places before a very nice man at NATS in Swanwick gave me the email to the Birmingham ATC, which then produced a telephone number and voila an awesome visit was organised. It would be too easy to just give you a list of numbers!!

Having said that, it wasnt even mentioned by the interviewer and I was offered a place! (But I did mention myself just to be a bit keen!!)