NATS interview process
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Glasgow
Age: 37
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Stage 3
Had my stage 3 on Monday. I felt it went not too bad but I honestly don't know if they saw what they were looking for. I keep going over things in my head like the technical questions. I messed one or two of them up and had to be helped with it by the ATCO. It's annoying because I knew what I was doing but my mind just went blank a couple of times. It's a relief to have it done now and I know there is no more I can do. Just the waiting now. I have no idea how long it will be.
Gordon
Gordon
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: England
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
by the sounds of it pugwash, you did ok and will get through but, i think maybe for the interviews... being cocky doesnt help. And you just seem to come off that way...I may be wrong....
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interviews are all about cockiness, inpsiring confidence in the interviewer with the faith you have in yourself. There is of course a fine balance between confident and being an arrogant ****, however I don't think he fell into this category.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Dorset
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, it's a waiting game now isn't it! I felt that some of the things I did went so well, but combined with the other stuff it was pretty terrible! Only time will tell...
Thanks for your messages of support though!
Thanks for your messages of support though!
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Swindon
Age: 34
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tomorrow should be interesting, managed to get myself a visit to the tower at kemble airfield and may be able to get a visit for brize norton although I'm not too sure on that one.
Either way I'm excited!
Either way I'm excited!
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Berkshire, UK
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
mtanz
Having a first post asking who he should "look down upon" based on what position he gets is arrogant... but ok
Having a first post asking who he should "look down upon" based on what position he gets is arrogant... but ok
In some areas of life i am a very confident- Being an ATCO isn't one of them! You can't be cocky about something you know NOTHING about.
Gogz87- did they say how long it would be until they told you of your success?
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Scotland
Age: 40
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Stage 3 results
You normally find out the results of Stage 3 within a week. I had mine on a Monday in Manchester, someone took the paperwork down to HR at CTC on Tuesday morning and got a phonecall on Wednesday afternoon to be told I'd been successful.
Not everyone has heard so quickly, but they do seem to try and let people know asap.
Not everyone has heard so quickly, but they do seem to try and let people know asap.
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Glasgow
Age: 37
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Results
They didn't mention how long it would be; just said they would try to be as quick as possible. Longest I've heard of people waiting is a week. I'm frantically checking my emails every hour or so at the moment. Preparing myself for the rejection email. I take it if they are phoning or emailing you the results it will be during office hours (9-5)?
Gordon
Gordon
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: UK
Age: 47
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gogz87,
Yes, e-mails and phone calls seem to be during office hours. I got an e-mail and a phone call within 10 minutes of each other the day after my stage 3 (and just after 5pm for more details).
But, as paperclip said, the waiting time varies quite a bit. In our case, there was no particular reason for our short waiting time, we were just lucky to find out the day after (4 out of 5 successful).
Good luck!
Yes, e-mails and phone calls seem to be during office hours. I got an e-mail and a phone call within 10 minutes of each other the day after my stage 3 (and just after 5pm for more details).
But, as paperclip said, the waiting time varies quite a bit. In our case, there was no particular reason for our short waiting time, we were just lucky to find out the day after (4 out of 5 successful).
Good luck!
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
S1
I took my S1 in London last Monday 30th, the AM slot. Went pretty well, but then again said the same thing this time last year!... We had AJ7 as the ATC giving the talk and motivation speech (as I call it) giving us a hint of what its like to become a future TATC which definitely worked well! Amazingly questions were asked!
Good luck to any of you who also took the S1 recently
Good luck to any of you who also took the S1 recently
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: manchester
Age: 37
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Had my S1 on friday AM at Glasgow. There was no motivation speech or questions, they seemed like they could not be bothered. Anyone else experienced this? I would like to be able to of asked just a few questions, but no opportunity atall seems a little lame on NATS's part, due to being told I would get the chance.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Scotland
Age: 40
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Delvey,
I was at Glasgow for my Stage 1 in October/November - we did have someone good speak to us but I know it's not the case for everyone. If you've got questions to ask, why not ask them here? There's quite a few ATCOs and current trainees who read this thread and they usually seem more than happy to help!
I was at Glasgow for my Stage 1 in October/November - we did have someone good speak to us but I know it's not the case for everyone. If you've got questions to ask, why not ask them here? There's quite a few ATCOs and current trainees who read this thread and they usually seem more than happy to help!
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cheshire, UK
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Had my S1 on friday AM at Glasgow. There was no motivation speech or questions, they seemed like they could not be bothered. Anyone else experienced this? I would like to be able to of asked just a few questions, but no opportunity atall seems a little lame on NATS's part, due to being told I would get the chance.
Maybe you should have actually been proactive and asked the recruitment personnel in your group if you could ask a few questions if you were really that disappointed!
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Co Durham
Age: 54
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Glasgow Friday
Hiya yooz
I was at Glesgae on Friday PM and I approached the guy hosting the tests.
He didn't seem interested......... just said he wasn't involved with ATC and that was it.
When I enquired if the sessions ran every day that week all I got was "it ran for two days" then he tootled off.
Can't wait to meet a proper controller.
I was at Glesgae on Friday PM and I approached the guy hosting the tests.
He didn't seem interested......... just said he wasn't involved with ATC and that was it.
When I enquired if the sessions ran every day that week all I got was "it ran for two days" then he tootled off.
Can't wait to meet a proper controller.
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Bracknell
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The guy running the tests at my stage 1 said he was a psychologist, presumably employed by SHL, so the guy at yours probably wouldn't have known the answer to your question anyway. I think that's why they get the ATCO to come in to talk to everyone.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cheshire, UK
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The lady running the tests at my stage 1 last week was wearing a NATS lanyard, and also did a Q&A session with my group due to the ATCOs absence so I assume she must have been from HR.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: LHR/EGLL
Age: 39
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
T250
Wouldn't assume on the basis of a NATS lanyard... I know the lady who was from Capita on Monday at Tower Bridge had a NATS lanyard, not sure where she obtained it from though...
Anyway, it is unfortunate that some candidates go to Stage 1 days and there isnt an ATCO present, if you have been to one and not the chance to ask some questions, i'll happily attempt to answer them for you. If you have yet to go to a Stage 1, take the opportunity to ask questions. Its a lot easier for us to answer the questions posed rather than ramble on for ages and possibly go off topic... which I know I did a few times on Monday
Good luck guys and girls
Adrian
p.s. thanks nick for that, try my best
Wouldn't assume on the basis of a NATS lanyard... I know the lady who was from Capita on Monday at Tower Bridge had a NATS lanyard, not sure where she obtained it from though...
Anyway, it is unfortunate that some candidates go to Stage 1 days and there isnt an ATCO present, if you have been to one and not the chance to ask some questions, i'll happily attempt to answer them for you. If you have yet to go to a Stage 1, take the opportunity to ask questions. Its a lot easier for us to answer the questions posed rather than ramble on for ages and possibly go off topic... which I know I did a few times on Monday
Good luck guys and girls
Adrian
p.s. thanks nick for that, try my best
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Co Durham
Age: 54
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Question For AJ7 or any other ATCO
I was wanting to ask...
I'm trying to understand the role of an ATCO more.
When you are vectoring aircraft to say a VOR or a NDB, do you factor in the wind speed/direction to follow a 'course' or is the pilot responsible for that?
Cheers Steamy(b)
I'm trying to understand the role of an ATCO more.
When you are vectoring aircraft to say a VOR or a NDB, do you factor in the wind speed/direction to follow a 'course' or is the pilot responsible for that?
Cheers Steamy(b)
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: LHR/EGLL
Age: 39
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Steamyb
As an aerodrome controller I do little or no vectoring; so therefore my answer may be slightly flawed - one of my esteemed area/approach colleagues may have a better answer
However, as I understand it, if an a/c is routeing for an NDB/VOR the a/c will compute the wind and adjust for it to route towards said beacon. If the controller is using headings instead, either to position for approach, or for separation purposes, then the wind of the day will need to be factored in by the controller
e.g.
controller is looking for a westerly heading, with a strong northerly wind... they will likely go for 285/290 degrees to turn into the wind slightly, thus leaving a generally westerly route in the end.
More difficult than ''taxi alpha, hold LOKKI'' anyway.
Adrian
As an aerodrome controller I do little or no vectoring; so therefore my answer may be slightly flawed - one of my esteemed area/approach colleagues may have a better answer
However, as I understand it, if an a/c is routeing for an NDB/VOR the a/c will compute the wind and adjust for it to route towards said beacon. If the controller is using headings instead, either to position for approach, or for separation purposes, then the wind of the day will need to be factored in by the controller
e.g.
controller is looking for a westerly heading, with a strong northerly wind... they will likely go for 285/290 degrees to turn into the wind slightly, thus leaving a generally westerly route in the end.
More difficult than ''taxi alpha, hold LOKKI'' anyway.
Adrian