NATS interview process
Join Date: Aug 2008
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I passed stage three back on 30th March, and other than an invitation to a medical (which is next week), I have had no corresponence with HR at all. Others have mentioned that they have start dates, can access the Depature Lounge and have been asked their preference re Aero/Area. Do you think I should contact them or leave it until after my medical?
Join Date: Dec 1999
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Well, I thought this was a good a place as any.....
....I received a letter yesterday thanking me for my interest in re-applying to be an ATCO interviewer, but that I am not to be involved; in fact none of my airport ATCO colleagues will be. Shame really, I think having a mix of area and airport ATCOs present was a good idea and helped the stage 3 candidates to get a good overall view of their possible future. I just hope there will at some point be ATCOs present, at the very least.
It's been incredibly rewarding being there at the start of all your careers, especially when those I've been in contact with throught the selection process have kept me up to date with their progress...even more so when I see them wearing a headset and doing the job.
So it remains for me to thank everyone I've interviewed, chatted to, emailed, arranged visits for and worked with. For many and varied reasons I'll cherish the experience.
....I received a letter yesterday thanking me for my interest in re-applying to be an ATCO interviewer, but that I am not to be involved; in fact none of my airport ATCO colleagues will be. Shame really, I think having a mix of area and airport ATCOs present was a good idea and helped the stage 3 candidates to get a good overall view of their possible future. I just hope there will at some point be ATCOs present, at the very least.
It's been incredibly rewarding being there at the start of all your careers, especially when those I've been in contact with throught the selection process have kept me up to date with their progress...even more so when I see them wearing a headset and doing the job.
So it remains for me to thank everyone I've interviewed, chatted to, emailed, arranged visits for and worked with. For many and varied reasons I'll cherish the experience.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Nothing to do with no longer being able to earmark totty for Heathrow placement by any chance, is it Gonzo 
??
That's tongue in cheek before any pinko lefties get their dungarees in a twist
??That's tongue in cheek before any pinko lefties get their dungarees in a twist
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Gonzo, apart from ATCOs being around at each stage to chat to, there isn't any ATCO involvement in the actual interview/recruitment any more. I suspect also that as it's now all being done down at Swanwick/Whiteley that they will just use Swanwick ATCOs - a shame as you say, but I guess people can/should try and arrange visits to towers too.
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There is a thought to remove ATCOs from interviewing all together. At first I was sceptical, but now not so.
Applicants do not need to know anything about ATC before they join, that's what the college is there for (and one of the many reasons why courses should not be shortened to save money).
There is a paper on ATC to read and learn as part of the application process, and stage one (I believe) quizzes people on this - the answers to this are black and white and can be marked by anyone.
This is more to test people's willingness to do some bookwork than it is to test ATC knowledge.
The ATCO 'technical' interview was more about testing the thought processes and reasoning of the applicant as well as their flexibility (and stubborness when needed!).
To tell the truth, those qualities can be tested in any manner of scenarios, not just ATC. Therefore the question arises - is there a need for the ATCO to be involved in the interviews? I would say no - and that is me backtracking from what I previously felt.
If you keep the element of ATC in the interview, then yes you do need an ATCO - but if all you are doing is testing thought processes, logic, reasoning skills, flexibility and the ability to stick to your guns when you feel you should, then you don't have to ask ATC questions to do this, you could do it on baking a cake!
An analogy - the armed forces OASC does not test people on flying skills or ability as officers - it is a process to select the people who are best suited to be trained fo fly/be leaders.
We have some of the most highly respected armed forces in the world - so something must be right about how they select people.
That aside - it would be nice to see ATCOs attending stage one of the process to answer questions and let applicants meet a real ATCO.. but the interview process... it can be done (dare I say it better), by psychologist type HR people.
Applicants do not need to know anything about ATC before they join, that's what the college is there for (and one of the many reasons why courses should not be shortened to save money).
There is a paper on ATC to read and learn as part of the application process, and stage one (I believe) quizzes people on this - the answers to this are black and white and can be marked by anyone.
This is more to test people's willingness to do some bookwork than it is to test ATC knowledge.
The ATCO 'technical' interview was more about testing the thought processes and reasoning of the applicant as well as their flexibility (and stubborness when needed!).
To tell the truth, those qualities can be tested in any manner of scenarios, not just ATC. Therefore the question arises - is there a need for the ATCO to be involved in the interviews? I would say no - and that is me backtracking from what I previously felt.
If you keep the element of ATC in the interview, then yes you do need an ATCO - but if all you are doing is testing thought processes, logic, reasoning skills, flexibility and the ability to stick to your guns when you feel you should, then you don't have to ask ATC questions to do this, you could do it on baking a cake!
An analogy - the armed forces OASC does not test people on flying skills or ability as officers - it is a process to select the people who are best suited to be trained fo fly/be leaders.
We have some of the most highly respected armed forces in the world - so something must be right about how they select people.
That aside - it would be nice to see ATCOs attending stage one of the process to answer questions and let applicants meet a real ATCO.. but the interview process... it can be done (dare I say it better), by psychologist type HR people.
Join Date: Nov 2008
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Hiya Sauceball,
I got asked my preference for Aero/Area when speaking to HR when they called me to say I'd passed Stage 3. At that time I asked what course I was likely to end up on (I have a very complicated work situation at the moment which required some hefty amounts of notice)!
Departure Lounge stuff was sent to me after I'd passed my medical and they'd more or less confirmed that I'd be on course 220.
Personally I'd call them and ask - they should at least be able to give you an idea of course availability.
I got asked my preference for Aero/Area when speaking to HR when they called me to say I'd passed Stage 3. At that time I asked what course I was likely to end up on (I have a very complicated work situation at the moment which required some hefty amounts of notice)!
Departure Lounge stuff was sent to me after I'd passed my medical and they'd more or less confirmed that I'd be on course 220.
Personally I'd call them and ask - they should at least be able to give you an idea of course availability.
Join Date: Oct 2007
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If you are not supposed to know anything about ATC, then how are you supposed to know if you would prefer area or tower then ? 
Gonzo, maybe something to do with the fact that NSL will have increasingly less and less to do with NATS in the future ?
I did choose aerodrome when I started, but if I could go back now, I would probably go for area.
Shame really, I think having a mix of area and airport ATCOs present was a good idea and helped the stage 3 candidates to get a good overall view of their possible future. I just hope there will at some point be ATCOs present, at the very least.
I did choose aerodrome when I started, but if I could go back now, I would probably go for area.
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NATS medical
Guten tag!
Ive got my nats medical next week and was just wondering if they tell you there and then if you pass or is it the good old 3 week wait sketch!?!
Cheers
Ive got my nats medical next week and was just wondering if they tell you there and then if you pass or is it the good old 3 week wait sketch!?!
Cheers
Join Date: Nov 2008
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happy.paul,
The doctor is usually willing to tell you if everything is ok and they almost always tell you if there's something they're concerned about (which results in a certain trip to the CAA before you start college).
However, you also get a drugs test while you're there - that result takes time, but you only find out if you failed (ie. no news is good news).
Hope that helps...
The doctor is usually willing to tell you if everything is ok and they almost always tell you if there's something they're concerned about (which results in a certain trip to the CAA before you start college).
However, you also get a drugs test while you're there - that result takes time, but you only find out if you failed (ie. no news is good news).
Hope that helps...
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Sauceball: October/November is course 221.
Sibwarra: Urine test. No exercise required (unlike commercial pilots medical). Medical generally consists of checks on eyes, ears, breathing, heart, chat about your health and probably other things I've forgotten. And if you're male I think they check your testicles too...
Sibwarra: Urine test. No exercise required (unlike commercial pilots medical). Medical generally consists of checks on eyes, ears, breathing, heart, chat about your health and probably other things I've forgotten. And if you're male I think they check your testicles too...
Join Date: Jul 2008
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I had my medical and am now just waiting to have the CAA next monday as i had some medical concerns which i was assured should all be fine but need double checking.
So i'm very soon i'll be making that choice between area and aero....i'm quite stuck on this one. Really not sure what to do. Part of me wants to choose aero, simply because that way i'm basically letting NATS make the choice as i know theres not much chance of getting aero anyway, whereas if i choose area then i'll def be an aera control and most prob in swanwick (as reminded by the ATCO having a chat with us at my stage 2, he reminded us if we choose area and say we want to work in swanwick it'd better not to a joke).
I like area, i only did a visit to swanwick and really liked thr terminal control side (although thats just because i spent longer in there). But then again i'm sure i'd love working in the visual control room, actually seeing the planes. The other main appeal of aero for me personally is that there is a chance (if im ood enough) i'd be working in a london airport, and i live in london and have family here so would be good in the long run....but then again theres only a chance of working in london, i may not be there.
Anyone else whose at this stage or recently made the decision got any advice on how they choose?
So i'm very soon i'll be making that choice between area and aero....i'm quite stuck on this one. Really not sure what to do. Part of me wants to choose aero, simply because that way i'm basically letting NATS make the choice as i know theres not much chance of getting aero anyway, whereas if i choose area then i'll def be an aera control and most prob in swanwick (as reminded by the ATCO having a chat with us at my stage 2, he reminded us if we choose area and say we want to work in swanwick it'd better not to a joke).
I like area, i only did a visit to swanwick and really liked thr terminal control side (although thats just because i spent longer in there). But then again i'm sure i'd love working in the visual control room, actually seeing the planes. The other main appeal of aero for me personally is that there is a chance (if im ood enough) i'd be working in a london airport, and i live in london and have family here so would be good in the long run....but then again theres only a chance of working in london, i may not be there.
Anyone else whose at this stage or recently made the decision got any advice on how they choose?