NATS interview process
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: 5116N00044W
Age: 76
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Swanwick Station to CTC is a 30 minute walk (less, if you want to arrive shattered). If you don't know the way, it is easy to get lost (I still do after 5 years) - the footpaths don't go in straight lines. The taxi fare from Swanwick Station is about £6 if there is a straight run through, from Fareham about £12.
If you go to Southampton Airport Parkway, the shuttle bus will wait for up to 5 minutes for a late train - if it looks like the train will be a few minutes later than that you can try ringing Airlynx (023 8039 9078), the operator, to see if the bus can be held a bit longer BUT the bus can't wait too long as it has to do a round trip and be back to provide the 08:40 service.
(I know from the experiences of a friend who works at Southampton Uni that Guildford to Southampton isn't the easiest of train journeys!)
Good luck for the journey and the assessments.
If you go to Southampton Airport Parkway, the shuttle bus will wait for up to 5 minutes for a late train - if it looks like the train will be a few minutes later than that you can try ringing Airlynx (023 8039 9078), the operator, to see if the bus can be held a bit longer BUT the bus can't wait too long as it has to do a round trip and be back to provide the 08:40 service.
(I know from the experiences of a friend who works at Southampton Uni that Guildford to Southampton isn't the easiest of train journeys!)
Good luck for the journey and the assessments.
Last edited by PeltonLevel; 1st Jul 2009 at 10:52.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Southern England
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The shuttle bus from Southampton Parkway Station is timed to depart just after main line trains and will usually wait if they are running a few minutes late but that isn't guaranteed. The time from Southampton Airport to Whiteley can vary widely at that time of the morning so you probably need to confirm with HR that they are happy for you to travel on that bus and will make allowances if you it is delayed if you are going to take that route.
As Peltonlevel and TMT say it is a brisk 25-30 minute walk using the traffic free footpath route from Swanwick station and you need good directions to go that way. You can knock 5 minutes off by going the suicide route across the M27 roundabout at Junction 9 but at that time of the morning it may take you some time to cross the first slip road which has a continuous flow of fast moving traffic with no traffic lights to create a gap.
Taxi from Swanwick is the best bet as long as there is a taxi at the station. Peltonlevel can probably advise as to how likely that is.
As Peltonlevel and TMT say it is a brisk 25-30 minute walk using the traffic free footpath route from Swanwick station and you need good directions to go that way. You can knock 5 minutes off by going the suicide route across the M27 roundabout at Junction 9 but at that time of the morning it may take you some time to cross the first slip road which has a continuous flow of fast moving traffic with no traffic lights to create a gap.
Taxi from Swanwick is the best bet as long as there is a taxi at the station. Peltonlevel can probably advise as to how likely that is.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: 5116N00044W
Age: 76
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know what the taxi situation is at 08:00 - the rank is often empty at 09:00 on the occasional mornings that I cycle from Swanwick station. There was absolutely no problem at 11:00 last Wednesday (not that that's any use to early travellers). I've never had a problem at Fareham.
You could try booking a taxi to meet you at Swanwick from one of the Fareham operators (I'm pretty sure that Swanwick Station is in Fareham Borough).
You could try booking a taxi to meet you at Swanwick from one of the Fareham operators (I'm pretty sure that Swanwick Station is in Fareham Borough).
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Once again thanks for all the replies.
I intend on getting the train to Swanwick and getting a taxi from there. My train gets in with about half hour to spare before the tests start so should be plenty of time. Will make sure I have some taxi phone numbers should there be none at the rank.
Getting to Southampton from Guildford is a pain as you have to double back to Woking to get the right line. Think I will give it a miss as there are too many variables to go wrong.
Cheers again guys, much appreciated
I intend on getting the train to Swanwick and getting a taxi from there. My train gets in with about half hour to spare before the tests start so should be plenty of time. Will make sure I have some taxi phone numbers should there be none at the rank.
Getting to Southampton from Guildford is a pain as you have to double back to Woking to get the right line. Think I will give it a miss as there are too many variables to go wrong.
Cheers again guys, much appreciated
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Age: 36
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Guys,
Just spent the last few days reading through the entirety of this topic, feels weird stopping now I can tell you, and have found lots of useful information about the recruitment process, and certainly a load of my questions have been already answered.
A friend of mine last year started on the NATS DEG scheme and encouraged me to join as a trainee ATCO. I went for the stage 1 back in December however with only 4 days preparation (of which I was working my current job) I unfortunately didn’t succeed.
Upon finding out I wasn’t successful I contacted NATS HR with the hope on finding out if I had totally failed and might as well give up (aptitude (the cubes J ) is after all something you either you have or you don’t), or if it was just the motivation paper (I knew I hadn’t fared to well on it).
I have to admit I was expecting an interview and a few tests, not solid tests and hoped that I could emphasize the fact I had little time to prepare for the day.
They advised me that I had successfully passed both the spatial awareness and diagrammatical tests, data checking could have been a little faster (I skipped a question and had to go back K ) however I had done really, really badly on the motivation paper.
Now I am entering aviation interest for the first time. I know little about how it works; aircraft types, rules / regulations etc. I was just wondering if anyone knew of any useful information resources (be it books, websites, articles etc) that would act as an introduction to the airline industry, as a whole.
I have been going through the various resources aforementioned and a few books I have purchased with aptitude tests but now I’m looking for information not only from an ATC perspective but something like an overview of the industry as a whole exists.
Thanks for taking your time to read through my post.
Ian
ps. Sorry about the font. I write all my posts in Word so I can spell check them and copy and paste.
Just spent the last few days reading through the entirety of this topic, feels weird stopping now I can tell you, and have found lots of useful information about the recruitment process, and certainly a load of my questions have been already answered.
A friend of mine last year started on the NATS DEG scheme and encouraged me to join as a trainee ATCO. I went for the stage 1 back in December however with only 4 days preparation (of which I was working my current job) I unfortunately didn’t succeed.
Upon finding out I wasn’t successful I contacted NATS HR with the hope on finding out if I had totally failed and might as well give up (aptitude (the cubes J ) is after all something you either you have or you don’t), or if it was just the motivation paper (I knew I hadn’t fared to well on it).
I have to admit I was expecting an interview and a few tests, not solid tests and hoped that I could emphasize the fact I had little time to prepare for the day.
They advised me that I had successfully passed both the spatial awareness and diagrammatical tests, data checking could have been a little faster (I skipped a question and had to go back K ) however I had done really, really badly on the motivation paper.
Now I am entering aviation interest for the first time. I know little about how it works; aircraft types, rules / regulations etc. I was just wondering if anyone knew of any useful information resources (be it books, websites, articles etc) that would act as an introduction to the airline industry, as a whole.
I have been going through the various resources aforementioned and a few books I have purchased with aptitude tests but now I’m looking for information not only from an ATC perspective but something like an overview of the industry as a whole exists.
Thanks for taking your time to read through my post.
Ian
ps. Sorry about the font. I write all my posts in Word so I can spell check them and copy and paste.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Scotland
Age: 40
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you've read Graham Duke's ATC book - a very good introduction, although a little dated until the new 10th edition comes out next month - you've probably got a good picture of ATC and how it works.
I don't know if there's a book like 'Aviation for Dummies' (!) as it's a huge industry, but Flight International magazine (and the other magazines in the same place in the newsagents) is probably worth a shot - it reports news about all sorts of aviation related things - manufacturers, airlines, ATC, routes, etc etc.
I don't know if it's possible, but if you could get a week's work experience at an airport, you might find that interesting if they let you visit ATC, Ops, and other bits too.
There certainly isn't a requirement to be a real aviation enthusiast to be a successful NATS applicant and eventually ATCO - I'm definitely not a planespotter although with my aircraft recognition preparation for the college, I might be becoming one!
Hope that helps a bit...
I don't know if there's a book like 'Aviation for Dummies' (!) as it's a huge industry, but Flight International magazine (and the other magazines in the same place in the newsagents) is probably worth a shot - it reports news about all sorts of aviation related things - manufacturers, airlines, ATC, routes, etc etc.
I don't know if it's possible, but if you could get a week's work experience at an airport, you might find that interesting if they let you visit ATC, Ops, and other bits too.
There certainly isn't a requirement to be a real aviation enthusiast to be a successful NATS applicant and eventually ATCO - I'm definitely not a planespotter although with my aircraft recognition preparation for the college, I might be becoming one!
Hope that helps a bit...
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Hamilton,ON, Canada
Age: 59
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Deemo888,
That is some relief kkind of information you have provided to all of us, I have my test in mid July i guess the day you get your result Good luck , i have been trying to do some preparation for diagramming and cubes , but unfortunately i could not get anything even close on the net , and i am feeling i have wasted much of the time in searching but still it is n't waste , any way can i ask is there any thing on the net which is similar to the samples of cubes and diagramming ....
finally are the d/s/t mostly related to aviuation or they were just simple physics numericals where you are given the data and find the value of one of the missing , i still hav 13 more days to do some prep, i feel ican do it, i would be flying from Canada on july 11. so i am hoping to do well before that.
That is some relief kkind of information you have provided to all of us, I have my test in mid July i guess the day you get your result Good luck , i have been trying to do some preparation for diagramming and cubes , but unfortunately i could not get anything even close on the net , and i am feeling i have wasted much of the time in searching but still it is n't waste , any way can i ask is there any thing on the net which is similar to the samples of cubes and diagramming ....
finally are the d/s/t mostly related to aviuation or they were just simple physics numericals where you are given the data and find the value of one of the missing , i still hav 13 more days to do some prep, i feel ican do it, i would be flying from Canada on july 11. so i am hoping to do well before that.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: hampshire
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
repetition
Am i going to say it or is somone else ??????
Blah Blah Blah !!!
On a better note, has anyone got stage 3 on 7th July ??? No-one seems to mention it, maybe ill be doing the group tests on my own !!!!
Blah Blah Blah !!!
On a better note, has anyone got stage 3 on 7th July ??? No-one seems to mention it, maybe ill be doing the group tests on my own !!!!
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cheshire, UK
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Am i going to say it or is somone else ??????
Just because you're at stage 3 and no one else is you find it 'repetitive'?!
Bit of superiority complex perhaps?
On a better note, has anyone got stage 3 on 7th July ??? No-one seems to mention it, maybe ill be doing the group tests on my own !!!!
Yes, bear in mind that not all NATS candidates will have come across these forums?!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Stoke-on-Trent, England
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ImramKhan - Stage 1 D/S/T tests
In response to your question about the D/S/T test at Stage 1 above (I took my stage one tests with Deemo888 on Monday) I can confirm that the questions are aviation related rather than just random data not scenario specific...
e.g. A plane is cruising at such an altitude, travelling at X knots, suffers engine failure and is falling from sky at rate of X ft per min. How far until it hits the ground - that kind of thing.
Good luck with your stage 1.
Charlie
e.g. A plane is cruising at such an altitude, travelling at X knots, suffers engine failure and is falling from sky at rate of X ft per min. How far until it hits the ground - that kind of thing.
Good luck with your stage 1.
Charlie
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: hampshire
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
T250
Thanks for the response. Point taken. I don't at all feel superior to anyone nor was it meant that way.I just felt these questions have been answered. I also know not ALL candidates know of this forum, I was merely asking a question.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
jimmy780
Lol. And there was me thinking jimmy was snoozing at the bus timetable above. 
I've read this forum front to back and yes, my post was pretty repetitive agreed but personally I took comfort reading about someone elses Stage 1 experience just a couple of days before I took mine and was only happy to pass my experience onto others.
I've read this forum front to back and yes, my post was pretty repetitive agreed but personally I took comfort reading about someone elses Stage 1 experience just a couple of days before I took mine and was only happy to pass my experience onto others.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Passed S2! Yeeeaaah! Thanks a lot for your PMs to all of you who helped me out prior to the test! Those were some nasty days before the test but got my results in 3 working days! Maybe they've been reading up on our complaints on pprune
Seeing as we're all in the "helping each other out" mood... Has anyone booked their S2 or S3 lately? On my gtios page it tells me there are no slots available (for S3 in my case), please try again later - but confusingly the news banner on the top says dates for S2 & S3 were added on the 29th of June. I've been keeping track for days and phoned HR but none seem to be appearing for me. Anyone having this problemo?
Hope I'll still be in time to book a slot before my August holiday! Does anyone know when the next available S3 slots are more or less? I read someone's thread saying none until END of August!....
Thanks guys and gals, appreciated
Nick
Seeing as we're all in the "helping each other out" mood... Has anyone booked their S2 or S3 lately? On my gtios page it tells me there are no slots available (for S3 in my case), please try again later - but confusingly the news banner on the top says dates for S2 & S3 were added on the 29th of June. I've been keeping track for days and phoned HR but none seem to be appearing for me. Anyone having this problemo?
Hope I'll still be in time to book a slot before my August holiday! Does anyone know when the next available S3 slots are more or less? I read someone's thread saying none until END of August!....
Thanks guys and gals, appreciated
Nick
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Woking, Surrey
Age: 43
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think jimmy was referring to one particular request for practice/preparation links when all that people have previously found has already been re-posted for that specific requestor a couple of times already.
I don't think he was referring generally to any other repetition! I may be wrong...
I don't think he was referring generally to any other repetition! I may be wrong...
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Off The Radar
Age: 34
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm a bit confused.
If I could pick a specific bit to work at, I would choose the london approach sector. But apparently I'm only given the choice of area and aerodrome. Does this mean approach won't be an option for me? Or is the training done under one of these..
I recon if I get the choice I'll pick area. Maybe.
But, if I chose aerodrome.. What are the chances I would get posted to a very quiet airport? Because I'd choose heathrow, because I like the challenge, but I know the choice isn't mine..
Can anyone advise me??
And I have my caa medical certificate, where do I fax it to?
And is hr STILL moving offices or whatever?
Helen
If I could pick a specific bit to work at, I would choose the london approach sector. But apparently I'm only given the choice of area and aerodrome. Does this mean approach won't be an option for me? Or is the training done under one of these..
I recon if I get the choice I'll pick area. Maybe.
But, if I chose aerodrome.. What are the chances I would get posted to a very quiet airport? Because I'd choose heathrow, because I like the challenge, but I know the choice isn't mine..
Can anyone advise me??
And I have my caa medical certificate, where do I fax it to?
And is hr STILL moving offices or whatever?
Helen
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Woking, Surrey
Age: 43
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Helen, you are in exactly the same predicament as I am - a London Approach sector appeals, but you can't choose that directly. So I'm pretty sure I will choose area and perhaps end up as an area controller in TC - but who knows!
I will PM you the Fax number for your medical certificate.
JB.
I will PM you the Fax number for your medical certificate.
JB.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Scotland
Age: 40
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I vaguely remember a discussion a while back about getting into London Approach - hopefully someone can double check this, but I think we came to the conclusion that you can actually get there through either Area or Aerodrome.
Helen/Jonathan: For me with Area, you have to accept that you will either work at Swanwick or Prestwick, and you might not get a choice of which one that is. At least with Aerodrome there's more than two locations... And to be honest, not many of them are very quiet any more!
Helen/Jonathan: For me with Area, you have to accept that you will either work at Swanwick or Prestwick, and you might not get a choice of which one that is. At least with Aerodrome there's more than two locations... And to be honest, not many of them are very quiet any more!
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Woking, Surrey
Age: 43
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the answer is if you go Aerodrome, you can end up in Terminal Control (TC) at Swanwick as an Approach Controller. If you go Area you can go to TC as an Area Controller (who deals with inbounds to pass onto approach and outbounds to pass onto Area controllers in AC).
For me, either option appeals (with perhaps approach slightly taking the edge). I also would be happy with a tower job or a combined tower/approach job, but not so keen on all the possibilities of location - I would prefer to stay in the south, but wouldn't be too miffed to have to move somewhere between Glasgow & Edinburgh (commutable* for Prestwick).
In a way I hope I don't get a choice, but I know as of a couple of weeks ago there were spaces on both courses.
* where by commutable means, to me at least, a drive of up to just over an hour
For me, either option appeals (with perhaps approach slightly taking the edge). I also would be happy with a tower job or a combined tower/approach job, but not so keen on all the possibilities of location - I would prefer to stay in the south, but wouldn't be too miffed to have to move somewhere between Glasgow & Edinburgh (commutable* for Prestwick).
In a way I hope I don't get a choice, but I know as of a couple of weeks ago there were spaces on both courses.
* where by commutable means, to me at least, a drive of up to just over an hour