NATS interview process
Join Date: Apr 2008
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questionnaire
Just been invited to complete the personality questionnaire following stage 1, but after all the posts about it im nervous to do it!
Except being yourself of course, any advice??
Except being yourself of course, any advice??
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Dorset
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Try to be in a quiet place where you can concentrate Emilie - not too many disturbances. Answer honestly with what you feel, not what you think they want to hear and you'll be fine.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Join Date: Apr 2008
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thanks for the advice CJayne, ive just completed it and did my best to answer as honestly as possible. What i found difficult was that on some of the questions there was no answer "most like me", or a few answers that were like me, and none "least like me" and vice versa.......anyone find that too??
Im really worried cos i answered as best i could and didnt try to choose the answer i thought NATS would want, i just hope i get through!
Im really worried cos i answered as best i could and didnt try to choose the answer i thought NATS would want, i just hope i get through!
Join Date: Feb 2009
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emiliemarsden_24, I had exactly the same problem. Then I'd usually ponder it and think what a friend would choose if choosing for me in that case or what my first thought was. It's not a perfect test but if you were honest and consistent you will be ok. Good luck.
Join Date: May 2008
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ZOOKER,
The question is will my newfound powers of observation and perception actually be relevant to what Air Traffic Controllers actually do?
To anyone in London this afternoon doing their Stage 1,
I'll see you later. Fingers crossed for some easy cubes.
The question is will my newfound powers of observation and perception actually be relevant to what Air Traffic Controllers actually do?
To anyone in London this afternoon doing their Stage 1,
I'll see you later. Fingers crossed for some easy cubes.
Join Date: Mar 2009
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Just found you guys on Monday evening - many thanks to all the contributors, it's been such a great help with preparations! All the best for this afternoon....
...NATS here the Dappa Don comes ....
...NATS here the Dappa Don comes ....
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Glasgow
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Mach Number
I've got a quick question about the Mach number? I am currently studying for stage 3 and I am just trying to get it into my head.
1) Why is the mach number used over the ocean for transatlantic flights?
2) What are the advantages of using it? As I hear it is far more accurate.
Gordon
1) Why is the mach number used over the ocean for transatlantic flights?
2) What are the advantages of using it? As I hear it is far more accurate.
Gordon
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Nothern Ireland
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Hi
I was wondering... i jus got a sample data checking practice test off this forum and it says on the top of it
"Answer as many of these questions as you can in 15 minutes"
how many do you have to get right or what happens if you dont get through it in the 15 mins?????????????
Oh yea and about that test... is it on the computer or printed????? cuz i find it easier when i print it and do it by hand
"Answer as many of these questions as you can in 15 minutes"
how many do you have to get right or what happens if you dont get through it in the 15 mins?????????????
Oh yea and about that test... is it on the computer or printed????? cuz i find it easier when i print it and do it by hand
Last edited by Abz217; 18th Mar 2009 at 15:18.
Join Date: Nov 2008
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Multiple replies again so look for your name....
Abz217: No-one seems to know what the 'pass' rate is or if you're marked for how many you got right out of the number you answered (accuracy), or how many you answered and how many you got right (accuracy and speed). This thread has much speculation on this matter - my best advice would be to answer as many as you can correctly and hope you pass... Tests are all done on paper with a question booklet and a separate multiple choice answer sheet to be filled in.
Gogz87: I got a chance to visit Oceanic Control at Prestwick when I went for my visit so hopefully this makes sense! I can't believe Mach number is 'more accurate' than any other unit of velocity since they are all related (and can be interconverted). However, it's easier to sort out the spacing of aircraft over the ocean when using Mach number: the minimum longitudinal separation for aircraft on the same track is 10 minutes flying time. If two aircraft are going at exactly the same speed, if aircraft 1 enters the track system at 1410 and aircraft 2 enters at 1420, everything will be fine for the duration of transit across the ocean.
However, if the speeds are different, you need to be able to calculate what gap needs to be in place at the start of the journey to ensure there is still at least 10 minutes between the aircraft at the end. You do this as follows (I've stolen this from a good page on the internet about Shanwick/Gander operations - Gander / Shanwick Oceanic - IVAO):
Slow followed by fast: Add 1 minute to the standard for every increase of 0.01 Mach number of the second aircraft.
Example: M0.80 followed by M0.84 requires FOURTEEN minutes at ocean entry same track same level.
Fast followed by slow. Subtract 1 minute from the standard for every decrease of 0.02 Mach number of the second aircraft. The minimum is 5 minutes at Oceanic entry.
Example: M0.84 followed by M0.80 requires a minimum of EIGHT minutes separation at ocean entry same track same level.
Hope this answers your question...
Abz217: No-one seems to know what the 'pass' rate is or if you're marked for how many you got right out of the number you answered (accuracy), or how many you answered and how many you got right (accuracy and speed). This thread has much speculation on this matter - my best advice would be to answer as many as you can correctly and hope you pass... Tests are all done on paper with a question booklet and a separate multiple choice answer sheet to be filled in.
Gogz87: I got a chance to visit Oceanic Control at Prestwick when I went for my visit so hopefully this makes sense! I can't believe Mach number is 'more accurate' than any other unit of velocity since they are all related (and can be interconverted). However, it's easier to sort out the spacing of aircraft over the ocean when using Mach number: the minimum longitudinal separation for aircraft on the same track is 10 minutes flying time. If two aircraft are going at exactly the same speed, if aircraft 1 enters the track system at 1410 and aircraft 2 enters at 1420, everything will be fine for the duration of transit across the ocean.
However, if the speeds are different, you need to be able to calculate what gap needs to be in place at the start of the journey to ensure there is still at least 10 minutes between the aircraft at the end. You do this as follows (I've stolen this from a good page on the internet about Shanwick/Gander operations - Gander / Shanwick Oceanic - IVAO):
Slow followed by fast: Add 1 minute to the standard for every increase of 0.01 Mach number of the second aircraft.
Example: M0.80 followed by M0.84 requires FOURTEEN minutes at ocean entry same track same level.
Fast followed by slow. Subtract 1 minute from the standard for every decrease of 0.02 Mach number of the second aircraft. The minimum is 5 minutes at Oceanic entry.
Example: M0.84 followed by M0.80 requires a minimum of EIGHT minutes separation at ocean entry same track same level.
Hope this answers your question...
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Well, that's stage 1 done! Didn't seem to go too badly, now the annoying wait for results!
Someone had to leave for not having any ID, hope that wasn't you gingerpaul! So something for others to remember there!
All in all I thought it was a little disorganised to be honest. ATCO started chatting a bit early and we didn't get to see the video at all (not that I was too bothered).
I got through 35/40 on the numbers checking and all 40 of the letters, 33/40 on the cubes and 47/50 on the diagramming, hopefully all ok! The motivation paper was ok - although wish I'd revised speed-distance-time more...
Someone had to leave for not having any ID, hope that wasn't you gingerpaul! So something for others to remember there!
All in all I thought it was a little disorganised to be honest. ATCO started chatting a bit early and we didn't get to see the video at all (not that I was too bothered).
I got through 35/40 on the numbers checking and all 40 of the letters, 33/40 on the cubes and 47/50 on the diagramming, hopefully all ok! The motivation paper was ok - although wish I'd revised speed-distance-time more...
Join Date: May 2008
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JonathanB,
I had my driving license so it wasn't me. I didn't even notice anyone had been asked to leave. I was too busy chatting to everyone. I was surprised how many people hadn't properly revised the various tests though. Most people didn't even know what tests we were doing, despite the NATS practice test being available! Oh well...
I got into the low 30s on both numbers and letters and missed at least 10 diagramming questions out. However, I think I aced the motivation paper and finished the cubes. The guy next to me and I compared answers after each exam had finished and we got the same answers for most of the aptitude stuff so at least one person thought roughly the same as me!
Like you say, it's now a waiting game. At least I might get to enjoy a bit of the recent sun now!
I had my driving license so it wasn't me. I didn't even notice anyone had been asked to leave. I was too busy chatting to everyone. I was surprised how many people hadn't properly revised the various tests though. Most people didn't even know what tests we were doing, despite the NATS practice test being available! Oh well...
I got into the low 30s on both numbers and letters and missed at least 10 diagramming questions out. However, I think I aced the motivation paper and finished the cubes. The guy next to me and I compared answers after each exam had finished and we got the same answers for most of the aptitude stuff so at least one person thought roughly the same as me!
Like you say, it's now a waiting game. At least I might get to enjoy a bit of the recent sun now!
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I also meant to add that I asked whether the tests are negatively marked and the guy said no, which surprised me considering the career path we are in the process of being selected for.
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I must have been in the same group as you two, gingerpaul and Jonathon. Yeah I noticed a few people didn't have a clue what to expect from these tests and a couple of the people I were speaking to really didn't read the pre-learning stuff properly! I'm surprised how many of the motivation paper tests were nothing to do with the pre-learning though, a lot of em were about common sense and mathematics.
Wow Jonathon, that's quite a lot of questions you managed to get through. On the checking, everyone in the front two tables didn't get past early 30s from what I heard and saw, so good going! I especially didn't get as far as I would have liked to in the diagramming questions, but I tried to just make sure every question was 100% correct and I wasn't rushing.
Also yeah, I was a bit annoyed we didn't get to watch the video. Also, what happened to the stage 1 personality questionnaire? I'm pretty sure the .pdf leaflet NATS e-mailed mentioned it.
Good luck to both of you on the results!
Wow Jonathon, that's quite a lot of questions you managed to get through. On the checking, everyone in the front two tables didn't get past early 30s from what I heard and saw, so good going! I especially didn't get as far as I would have liked to in the diagramming questions, but I tried to just make sure every question was 100% correct and I wasn't rushing.
Also yeah, I was a bit annoyed we didn't get to watch the video. Also, what happened to the stage 1 personality questionnaire? I'm pretty sure the .pdf leaflet NATS e-mailed mentioned it.
Good luck to both of you on the results!
Last edited by Lozzo87; 18th Mar 2009 at 20:41.