NATS interview process

[djnick007]

Reapplying

Thatīs interesting... MamfyJayne sais he/she took the initial selection stage test last year, passed but failed S2.
Do you have to retake S1 again this year? I thought it would have made sense that you can just reapply this year and jump straight into booking a slot for the new S2 test.

[MikiATC]

S1 initial

Hi there,

I was called to attend S1 in May and i have some doubts about my future possibilities in NATS.

I have the advantage of being already a Military Air Traffic Controller (tower) but i'm not a citizen of U.K.(and for that reason, as you can imagine, i'm not as fluent as Shakespear) . Do you think this could be a barrier to my acceptance?

best regards

[SACrIGGER]

I'm sure the MACC controller who has just validated and is from an island just off the Spanish coast, wouldn't think that you will have any issues.

[Moravcik25]

Thanks

Thanks for that positive response T250!!

I was hoping someone knew of a good deal on a hotel close to the centre in order to save someone going through the process some cash, having just heard about my stage 2 was understandably excited and didn't have a look on the internet before I typed my post, sorry if this has upset you in some way as it seems to have done.

Anyway, I've now booked a hotel and a flight and will hopefully get through and get a chance to meet friendly people like yourself

[aaaabbbbcccc1111]

T250
[QUOTE]On a rather different note, is it me or is the new format for stage 3 sound like they couldn't care less about your motivation in applying &wanting to join NATS, ie. Marco888's post stating the HR couldn't really find his visit to a NATS unit very valuable/useful.
How exactly are HR finding our motivation now? There's no motivation paper further than stage 1, no technical knowledge required, as at stage 3 they're interested in 'you'?!?
So a person who knows the right words and stuff to say could wing the interview and have no interest or motivation........[/QUOTE]

I find it hard to believe that HR would not have found an applicants unit visit useful. They will be making notes and no doubt the visit will have been a tick in the box.
There are other ways of testing an applicants motivation without having to quiz them on ATC. Just because an applicant may have a PPL, or may be a whizz at ATC simulator games, does not mean thay are going to be suitable to become an ATCO. The stage 3 tests are looking for suitabilty of a candidate based on personal qualitites that cannot be assessed by knowing the upper air routes in uk airspace. Having a very keen interest in ATC will no doubt help you at the college for all the basic tests, but dont be under the illusion that having the knowledge will guarantee you success. Would you consider someone who can tell you all the technical information of every aircraft ever made, who could tell you in THEORY the landing order of 3 different aircraft, who has visited every unit in the UK but they couldn't time keep properly, never learnt from past mistakes, couldn't take constructive advice or went wibble when under pressure. Surely the point is that if a candidate was excellent at all the personal qualities that studies have shown most ATCOs need, but couldn't tell the difference between an airbus and a 737, they would be suitable, after all the college is there to teach the technical and theory side.

[002]

Hi, question to anyone who has completed stage 1, how long roughly did it take to get your results through, ie, passed or failed, thanks guys

[Moravcik25]

1st stage results

Hi

I sat my 1st stage on 24th March am and found out on the 7th April

[CJayne]

Moravcik25,

Just out of interest, if you are successful in getting through the recruitment process and you're offered a place on the course, which course would you go for? Area or Aerodrome/Approach? Interested because you've already trained for tower...!

I wish you all the best for the future.

T250 - another 'out of interest' question! - what point of the recruitment process are you at?

[002]

Moravcik25

Thanks for that Moravick25, sorry, but only just seen your post about travel from Prestwick to South Coast, may be a but late now but spent 4 years traveling between Bournemouth and Symington, as such Hurn to Prestwick using Ryanair was often no more that 1p each way if you're lucky. Cheap hotels and B&B in Bmth too with good rail links to Swanwick. Sorry if its late but may be useful when you make the trip again.

[jamesrafferboy]

Hey everyone, just a quick question. I've got my S3 mid-may and by the looks of things there's not much technical knowledge required, but just to make sure I'd like to buy a book of some sort to further my knowledge from the booklet they sent us for S1 and S2. Any recommendations?

Cheers

[Moravcik25]

Thanks

002

Thanks for that, I hadn't finalised my booking as yet so I was able to have a look at what you suggested and looks like I'll be able to get down for about Ģ10 instead of around Ģ90

I was looking for a wee bargain like that with my original question rather than the patronising answer I got.

Good luck with your application and if there is any info you need regarding stage 2 give me a shout in June and I should be able to tell you as much as I can, hopefully as someone who has passed it

[CJayne]

Jamesrafferboy

Good book I read was Graham Duke - Air traffic Control 9th Edition...think everyone on here has read it! Very helpful however don't use it for aircraft recognition....there is a pic of a Boeing in there which has been stated that it is a B747...it very clearly isn't! There are a few other bits in there that don't quite add up but on the whole its a good read.

Hope this helps and good luck!

[002]

Moravcik25

Well you never know, if I get a pass for the Stage 1 I did then maybe I'll see you in June for Stage 2! Glad you found the info of use.

[djnick007]

Agreeing with CJayne, 'ATC' by Graham Duke (9th Ed) gives quite a good overview of the job.
Some other books which I found out about which may help if you're interested;

'Air Band Radio Guide' also by G.Duke (6th Ed) helps understand how most of the RT take place.
'UK ATC' by David Graves. Even though that thing was written in 1989 and reprinted in 1990..... a lot of the fundamentals are the same. It goes into depth with each one of the London Airports and how their traffic is controlled which is quite cool.

Don't be tempted into buying 'Air Traffic Control Career Prep' by Patrick R.Mattson if you ask me. It's all pretty much strictly directed for AT-SAT (FAA's ATC Selection and Training) and kept VERY americanized as one would imagine... I only found the Flight Progress Strip chapter of any help.

[djnick007]

Iīm still kind of curious. Anyone been in this situation or knows how it works?

Thatīs interesting... MamfyJayne sais he/she took the initial selection stage test last year, passed it, but failed S2.

Do you have to retake S1 again this year? I thought it would have made sense that you can just reapply this year and jump straight into booking a slot for the new S2 test.

[Dim Sum]

Originally Posted by roar00

Was wondering if anyone has contact details for someone at heathrow who i could get in touch with with regards to arranging a tower visit.

First I contacted NATS HR via phone, who then forwarded my request.

Originally Posted by CJayne

Good book I read was Graham Duke - Air traffic Control 9th Edition...think everyone on here has read it!

Not me

Originally Posted by djnick007

Agreeing with CJayne, 'ATC' by Graham Duke (9th Ed) gives quite a good overview of the job.
Some other books which I found out about which may help if you're interested;

'Air Band Radio Guide' also by G.Duke (6th Ed) helps understand how most of the RT take place.
'UK ATC' by David Graves. Even though that thing was written in 1989 and reprinted in 1990..... a lot of the fundamentals are the same. It goes into depth with each one of the London Airports and how their traffic is controlled which is quite cool.

Just done a search on amazon and fleaBay, the 10th edition of ATC isn't out until August and the secondhand books are eye wateringly overpriced.

I'll probably borrow 'UK ATC' from a library and have a look at some of the documents on the NATS website.

[paperclip810]

For Graham Duke's book, I just popped into my local Waterstones who ordered it for me - no silly expensive second hand prices, and got it within a week or so.

If anyone's having real trouble getting a copy of this book, PM me and I can lend you mine.

Moravcik25 - check your PMs - I sent you some stuff about travelling down from Scotland but you obviously missed it...

[JonathanB]

I found Duke in the library... but it's somewhat out of date and there are a fair few mistakes and inaccuracies. I suppose it's a good place to start if you have little or no prior knowledge though!

There is a lot of information in the AIP as well. Not sure how relevant it is at this stage, but having a flick through may help increase your knowledge!

[Air22]

Hi

If you can't wait til August for the 10th edition, I've found Duke's 9th edition on WHSmith's website that can be sent out in 1-2 weeks.

I've not read the book yet so I've got it ordered in the hope I'll make it through to NATS stage 3! I'll feel more confident if I have swotted up as much as I can on ATC.

[djnick007]

In that case, if anyone has enough spare time on their hands, and are crazy enough (like myself), I guess its much more useful to have a flick through a couple of the CAA publications:

CAP 493: Manual of Air Traffic Services - Part 1 | Publications | CAA


And the CAP413-Radiotelephony Manual is also quite helpful;

CAP 413: Radiotelephony Manual | Publications | CAA


I was a bit cheeky and printed them at work! But good luck, those are a handful!.......