NATS interview process
Join Date: Aug 2009
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Remembering all the details regarding the aircraft is time consuming but certainly not impossible.
Look at the way the info is displayed, some of the descriptions jumple and waffle the info a bit rather than cutting to the chase. (Intentional?)
Eg "Seating on the A300 252 and on the A300-600 a maximum of 375 standard seating is 266.
This can be re-written as Seating: A300 - 252. A300/600 Standard - 266 Max - 375.
Sooo... if your prepared to (I was) think like a journalist and cut away the chaff and re-write the info and attach a photo or two. This really makes it less daunting and easier to remember. I can do all the Boeings now and it took me aprox 7 hours to learn them, and there the ones with the most info....
Look at the way the info is displayed, some of the descriptions jumple and waffle the info a bit rather than cutting to the chase. (Intentional?)
Eg "Seating on the A300 252 and on the A300-600 a maximum of 375 standard seating is 266.
This can be re-written as Seating: A300 - 252. A300/600 Standard - 266 Max - 375.
Sooo... if your prepared to (I was) think like a journalist and cut away the chaff and re-write the info and attach a photo or two. This really makes it less daunting and easier to remember. I can do all the Boeings now and it took me aprox 7 hours to learn them, and there the ones with the most info....
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When you get accepted to the college you have to learn 400 bits of information about 50 different aeroplanes. I have done 300 bits so far off by heart, so yes it is possible...it just takes time and effort...don't forget that when you get to the college you have to appreciate being there otherwise you will get complacent! Study EVERY opportunity you get!!!!
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grrr
Join Date: Dec 2008
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When you get accepted to the college you have to learn 400 bits of information about 50 different aeroplanes. I have done 300 bits so far off by heart, so yes it is possible...it just takes time and effort...don't forget that when you get to the college you have to appreciate being there otherwise you will get complacent! Study EVERY opportunity you get!!!!
Join Date: Jan 2009
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And I would say that "Study EVERY opportunity you get!!!!" is a little over the top. Our course did a fair bit of group studying when approaching an exam. But we also did a fair bit of drinking & socialising at the weekend (and sometimes during the week after summatives had finished 
). Work hard and play hard but most of all do it as a group and you'll be fine.
). Work hard and play hard but most of all do it as a group and you'll be fine.
Join Date: Aug 2009
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NATS - Heathrow House
Kitkat86 - for someone driving from near Heathrow, I wonder why u would go all the way to fareham a day before for stage 1 when you could book for it at Heathrow house; which should be more cost effective and time efficient?
Heathrow House dates are available just in case you were not aware from the 9/10/09
Heathrow House dates are available just in case you were not aware from the 9/10/09
Join Date: Jun 2009
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A question for new starters :
are they still streaming new courses into Area / Aerodrome, or is it just Area at the moment ?
Heard a rumour that the Aerodrome requirement might have been met for the time being.
(Heard other rumours about the Aerodrome courses too... But best not get carried away just yet, eventhough this is still, after all, a news and rumours forum)
are they still streaming new courses into Area / Aerodrome, or is it just Area at the moment ?
Heard a rumour that the Aerodrome requirement might have been met for the time being.
(Heard other rumours about the Aerodrome courses too... But best not get carried away just yet, eventhough this is still, after all, a news and rumours forum)
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I think its more or less decided ad-hoc when you get onto the course depending on projected/present requirements, so I'd imagine you just have to wait and see. I'd be suprised if they were training no new aerodrome controllers... but who am I to know. You could ask HR, they might be able to give you an answer.
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I was down for an aero course starting this october but it was cancelled. We were given the opportunity to switch to novembers area or hold out until jan for another aero one.
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Currently I beleive there are spaces on the november Area course. The next Aero course is January as Octobers was cancelled.
Go on, what are the other rumours about aero (since I am currently booked onto the Jan course).
Go on, what are the other rumours about aero (since I am currently booked onto the Jan course).
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Hi guys. I'm Shaun from Ayrshire. Must say, absolutely fantastic forum. Picked up some brilliant points. I have my stage 1 at Prestwick this coming Friday (11th September). Having spent a good few days reading through the document ... hardest part being the whole list of aircrafts! Suppose I better get used to it. lol. Could anyone tell me roughly from stage 1 how long the application process takes. I'm aware of the different steps, but how long does it take? I simply can't wait as its been something I've been looking forward to for months now! Be on here more often as well I think to see how everyone's getting on.
Join Date: Jun 2008
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ShaunL
Could anyone tell me roughly from stage 1 how long the application process takes. I'm aware of the different steps, but how long does it take?
Bear in mind process time for results (up to 15 working days).
hardest part being the whole list of aircrafts!
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Hi everybody,could anyone tell me how far is Heathrow house from Heathrow airport?,I would like to know if it is possible when I arrive to the airport the day before to have a look where the test will be,thanks.
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SebbyK,
I've just been arranging a visit to Southampton control tower. There doesn't seem to be any centralised process for it, but if you can get through to the staff at the tower in question I found them to be really helpful. In the end I just phoned the airport help desk, got the number for the admin office in the control tower, and left a message for the watch manager. They got back to me that day and arranged a visit for the following week (though I had to cancel because of swine flu
.. but I'm just waiting for a call today to confirm they are ok for me to come in this week). If you explain that you are sitting the selection tests they are quite understanding and happy to help.
I've just been arranging a visit to Southampton control tower. There doesn't seem to be any centralised process for it, but if you can get through to the staff at the tower in question I found them to be really helpful. In the end I just phoned the airport help desk, got the number for the admin office in the control tower, and left a message for the watch manager. They got back to me that day and arranged a visit for the following week (though I had to cancel because of swine flu
.. but I'm just waiting for a call today to confirm they are ok for me to come in this week). If you explain that you are sitting the selection tests they are quite understanding and happy to help.
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Shaun L,
When I sat my stage 1 the lady overseeing the tests told us it generally takes most successful candidates about a month per stage (so three months). But this will depend on how fast you want to progress (i.e. do you take the soonest available date as soon as it is offered... or do you take it at a slightly more leisurely pace). Also depends on how fast HR process your results at each stage, they can take the full 15 working days (3 weeks), which obviously slows things down a little, or on the other hand if you're really lucky they can get then back to you super quick (think someone said they got their S2 results back on the same day!)
Once you've got your S3 you've also got to get your medicals and security clearance and then wait for the next start date at the college (think they said they run 4 courses a year, so if you're unlucky that could be a 3 month wait, meaning the whole process could take over 6 months from S1 to starting the course)
When I sat my stage 1 the lady overseeing the tests told us it generally takes most successful candidates about a month per stage (so three months). But this will depend on how fast you want to progress (i.e. do you take the soonest available date as soon as it is offered... or do you take it at a slightly more leisurely pace). Also depends on how fast HR process your results at each stage, they can take the full 15 working days (3 weeks), which obviously slows things down a little, or on the other hand if you're really lucky they can get then back to you super quick (think someone said they got their S2 results back on the same day!)
Once you've got your S3 you've also got to get your medicals and security clearance and then wait for the next start date at the college (think they said they run 4 courses a year, so if you're unlucky that could be a 3 month wait, meaning the whole process could take over 6 months from S1 to starting the course)
Last edited by Pat42; 7th Sep 2009 at 08:04. Reason: spelling