NATS September Starters
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: southampton,hampshire,england
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Oh my gawd!!!
What a thread this is......will the whole course be made up of re-treads or will anyone be joining that actually has even a faint interest in aviation and has made ATC their first choice?
Don't be afraid to admit genuine enthusiasm for something other than the salary.......please.
Regards from the voice of the past.
Don't be afraid to admit genuine enthusiasm for something other than the salary.......please.
Regards from the voice of the past.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Somerset
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Well...posted my acceptance of the contract last week...provisionally now signed up for the 26th Sept assuming my class 1 comes through in time!
I'll be moving to the area with my husband, dog and cats!! He works down there anyway so not too much of a problem...but provides serious motivation for passing (if I needed it anyway!!)
Girl question.....whats everyone wearing for the 1st week induction course?!!
I'll be moving to the area with my husband, dog and cats!! He works down there anyway so not too much of a problem...but provides serious motivation for passing (if I needed it anyway!!)
Girl question.....whats everyone wearing for the 1st week induction course?!!
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Surrey
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Course chums # 205??
Well, the notice has been handed in, term & conditions signed - awaiting bundles of information from HR (!!) - and all ready for course 205 SEPTEMBER!!
Any fellow class mates to be out there?? Currently live in Surrey, so will be looking to keep my house up here and rent in a B&B for a while until I know the lie of land........any thoughts from any chaps/chapesses??
Any others in a similar situation with some words of wisdom to impart??!! Would appreciate some details of nice/friendly/cheap B&Bs that might be suitable................!!!
Any fellow class mates to be out there?? Currently live in Surrey, so will be looking to keep my house up here and rent in a B&B for a while until I know the lie of land........any thoughts from any chaps/chapesses??
Any others in a similar situation with some words of wisdom to impart??!! Would appreciate some details of nice/friendly/cheap B&Bs that might be suitable................!!!
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Surrey
Age: 46
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Berkshire, UK
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Came back from my hols to find a class 1 medical waiting for me and have just posted off the t&c today 
Also taken the opportunity to print off MATS part 1 for a bit of pre-course light reading, anyone else giving this a read, guess you can't be too prepared.
As for clothes MrsC, even though I'm not a girl, I was looking forward to putting my work gear on the bonfire as I imagined the college and induction week to be a relaxed dress policy. Maybe someone from a previous course fill us in on this?
Also taken the opportunity to print off MATS part 1 for a bit of pre-course light reading, anyone else giving this a read, guess you can't be too prepared.
As for clothes MrsC, even though I'm not a girl, I was looking forward to putting my work gear on the bonfire as I imagined the college and induction week to be a relaxed dress policy. Maybe someone from a previous course fill us in on this?
Spink Pots
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Up in the air
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For the induction week you'll need your shirts and ties for the Monday and Friday. The Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are spent with Top Team running around and building super structures out of logs and rope so you'll need your casual clothes for that. For dinner in the evening you'll need something smart / smart-casual.
You'd better just bring the whole wardrobe!
You'd better just bring the whole wardrobe!
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: LHR/EGLL
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'When I were a lad' the dress code at the college was shirt and tie. When I was last on a visit it seemed the dreaded 'dress down Friday' had been introduced.
Shocking!
Shocking!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Bournemouth
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At New Place, Monday and Friday you need to be smart, tue, wed,thur in stuff you don't mind getting grubby.
At College 1st day be very smart, afterwards shirt's and smart trousers but no tie needed, Friday's are dress down day.
At College 1st day be very smart, afterwards shirt's and smart trousers but no tie needed, Friday's are dress down day.
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: The college of knowledge
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What is the current salary the cadets are paid, just like to get an idea of budget etc if there is any success in the future.
Am I right in thinking that the £100 weekly allowance is only paid when you are in college and not during the OJT part?
Web site states around 6 months for training now, is that what most people are seeing.
Good luck to the september starters, lucky things
Am I right in thinking that the £100 weekly allowance is only paid when you are in college and not during the OJT part?
Web site states around 6 months for training now, is that what most people are seeing.
Good luck to the september starters, lucky things
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Warwickshire
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Basically chaps and chapesses, I couldn't resist another post - the anticipation is eating away at me! So much so I was clicking my way through the NATS website and came across a video about the college. Don't know if anyone else has seen it, but if you want a look go to http://natscareers.co.uk - you have to follow the links: careers - job descriptions - controllers - training - view the college video... (Sorry no direct link - its flash!!) It certainly whets the appetite if you can stomach the corporate style video production.
A few thoughts on accomodation, even though I've seen no official list yet - most previous comments re: B&B style (prob my preferred choice) - seem to point to Westby Road. Like Phlex I might leave actual sorting out til Induction week. My Question is what have people done for internet access in the past?? - Do any of the common haunts have wireless internet access for example?? I aware I won't have any time to surf freely - but it'd be nice to be able to use email/pprune etc.
garam - RE:MATS Part 1 I've been waiting for a good opportunity to print this off at someone's expense other than my own, but I certainly intend to get reading. By all accounts it will be our new best friend in the coming months!
up the tower - check out the link at the top of this thread RE: Pay at College - its been well posted about before and in case you are wondering, the numbers posted are current.
To summarise then: thats nine of us on here, approx 1/3 of the course watching this thread: me(OB1ChrisOB), vector801, garam, finetime, Phlex, Hotairlass, taffy1, Bombay Vindaloo, italianjohn and mrsC - oh and Spy Chick who started thread of her own - so that's 10! I can see the 'bridge building' type teamwork tasks being fairly competitive with all these engineers about - pick me, pick me! Anyway, if anyone wants to start Googletalking/MSNing/Emailing, just PM me.
OB1 out.
A few thoughts on accomodation, even though I've seen no official list yet - most previous comments re: B&B style (prob my preferred choice) - seem to point to Westby Road. Like Phlex I might leave actual sorting out til Induction week. My Question is what have people done for internet access in the past?? - Do any of the common haunts have wireless internet access for example?? I aware I won't have any time to surf freely - but it'd be nice to be able to use email/pprune etc.
garam - RE:MATS Part 1 I've been waiting for a good opportunity to print this off at someone's expense other than my own, but I certainly intend to get reading. By all accounts it will be our new best friend in the coming months!
up the tower - check out the link at the top of this thread RE: Pay at College - its been well posted about before and in case you are wondering, the numbers posted are current.
To summarise then: thats nine of us on here, approx 1/3 of the course watching this thread: me(OB1ChrisOB), vector801, garam, finetime, Phlex, Hotairlass, taffy1, Bombay Vindaloo, italianjohn and mrsC - oh and Spy Chick who started thread of her own - so that's 10! I can see the 'bridge building' type teamwork tasks being fairly competitive with all these engineers about
- pick me, pick me! Anyway, if anyone wants to start Googletalking/MSNing/Emailing, just PM me.OB1 out.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: warks
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I just got a call from NATS HR asking if i wanted to start end of September course. Silly me said no (didnt help that i was woken by the call), I cant call the number back for some reason i just get a tone noise so sent a msg on teh msg centre (heres hoping 
)
Seems alot of other guys did a degree in Engineering too
Hopefully i get a call back promptly to hopefully grab that space
)Seems alot of other guys did a degree in Engineering too
Hopefully i get a call back promptly to hopefully grab that space
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bournemouth
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Well, bod from 204 here.
There are a lot of our course living on Westby road and the surrounding area, cause it's cheap and easy to get into the town to go out at night. Plenty of people to share cars with, and seems an okay area (if you don't mind chavvs
)
We had the whole "I like to see the men in shirts and ties" talk too. I have to say, we have kept up the standards (mostly) and everyone looks smart. Apart from the godsend of friday, that is dress down day. Ladies, most wear just some smart trousers/skirt and a top suitable for the weather.
Accomodation pay is only while you're at the college, so our 2 weeks leave we have coming up mean we're going a bit short this month. But still, its not a bad paycheck when all is said and done
I think you guys are going to be subjected to the same as us. Distance learning. It really is quite a good idea, and would work really well if sent out on time. Basically, you get the course material before you start, just make sure you learn it as they DO ask questions.
Please, don't let your experiences with HR colour your view on NATS. Believe me, its 100% better when you start. The instructors are great, the people on the course are fantastic too. And not just on your course, they all intermingle and give each other tips and support.
Well, one of our lot will be going to new place to talk about their experiences so far, and fill you in on all of the best drinking emporiums.
Just relax and enjoy new place, great for making new friends. Just get ready for a couple of months of extremely hard (but fun, mostly) work.
There are a lot of our course living on Westby road and the surrounding area, cause it's cheap and easy to get into the town to go out at night. Plenty of people to share cars with, and seems an okay area (if you don't mind chavvs
)We had the whole "I like to see the men in shirts and ties" talk too. I have to say, we have kept up the standards (mostly) and everyone looks smart. Apart from the godsend of friday, that is dress down day. Ladies, most wear just some smart trousers/skirt and a top suitable for the weather.
Accomodation pay is only while you're at the college, so our 2 weeks leave we have coming up mean we're going a bit short this month. But still, its not a bad paycheck when all is said and done
I think you guys are going to be subjected to the same as us. Distance learning. It really is quite a good idea, and would work really well if sent out on time. Basically, you get the course material before you start, just make sure you learn it as they DO ask questions.
Please, don't let your experiences with HR colour your view on NATS. Believe me, its 100% better when you start. The instructors are great, the people on the course are fantastic too. And not just on your course, they all intermingle and give each other tips and support.
Well, one of our lot will be going to new place to talk about their experiences so far, and fill you in on all of the best drinking emporiums.
Just relax and enjoy new place, great for making new friends. Just get ready for a couple of months of extremely hard (but fun, mostly) work.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Somerset
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Thanks for the info KiraRin that looks really useful.
With regard to the distance learning, how long before the induction course did you get it as I don't think any of us have received anything yet!? And roughly what was it?
I've started reading up on Aviation Law and Meteorology (that kind of thing) is that roughly along the right lines?
Thanks again
With regard to the distance learning, how long before the induction course did you get it as I don't think any of us have received anything yet!? And roughly what was it?
I've started reading up on Aviation Law and Meteorology (that kind of thing) is that roughly along the right lines?
Thanks again
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Wherever i lay my hat, that's my home...
Age: 44
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Being a fellow 205...
I got some stuff this morning... joining instructions etc...
I guess you'll recieve stuff tomorrow.
It's a booklet... Have not sat down and had a proper look at it yet. but will do later today.
There are a few other bits in there too. You'll see when you get it... nothing to worry about!
Later,
Jon
I got some stuff this morning... joining instructions etc...
I guess you'll recieve stuff tomorrow.
It's a booklet... Have not sat down and had a proper look at it yet. but will do later today.
There are a few other bits in there too. You'll see when you get it... nothing to worry about!
Later,
Jon
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Right, one final question.....what are the hours of the college? Does anyone know yet? Due to silly complications, we're not going to be able to rent in the area until Christmas time, so I'm going to have to commute for a bit - it's only 50mins, I've done worse but I just wondered how much time it was going to leave me in the mornings/evenings!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Wherever i lay my hat, that's my home...
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I'll have about the same commute from the other direction.
I am working on 8:30 until 5. I am pretty sure that's been said although I can;t put my finger on a piece of paper stating that, other than 40 hours per week.
I think there are times we are required to work a shift pattern, but have no idea when that takes place.
I am working on 8:30 until 5. I am pretty sure that's been said although I can;t put my finger on a piece of paper stating that, other than 40 hours per week.
I think there are times we are required to work a shift pattern, but have no idea when that takes place.