NATS interview process
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PAT42
Passed the medical, received an e-mail the next day and they informed me they'll contact me soon with my start date information.....been a couple of weeks! Been trying to call them and nothing! I'll have to e-mail now 
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Scrotchidson
I had the same problem. Waited 2 weeks following email "contact you shortly" sent an email to nikki on the thursday, no reply so rang nikki and joe on tuesday, couldn't get through so tried lucy tigwell, she sorted me out there and then for area 225 november
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Skill to Sharpen Your mental calculation
Since your are not allowed calculator nor scrap paper for the motivation test and it contains some numerical questions, how do you cope with time ?
Exam Cheat
Knots = miles per hour so you can interpret 40 knots as 40mph.
To convert minutes to hours , divide that number by 60.
To convert hours to minutes multiply that number by 60.
Interpret FL290 as 29000ft.
Descend rate is measured in ft per minute. You usually use descend rate to find time in minutes which need to be divided by 60 to convert it to hour in order to calculate distance if you know your speed limit.
Working in fractions is easier to compute mentally than working in decimals.
e.g (120 ÷18 ) * 36 = 240. Dividing 36 by 18 and multiply 120 by 2 will be faster to compute than if decide to divide 120 by 18 to multiply 36 by 6.66 mentally.
So watch your style or method.
Practice long division and times table especially 6 times because you are likely to divide a number by 60 when converting from minutes to hours.
If you encounter fraction in your test, think of what you want to do with the result if it is not your final answer, you may likely use the result to multiply another number, by bringing that number into the equation could simplify things. E.g
If you sell a packet of 20 smoke for 5.98 US dollars ,how much would you sell 2 smoke ?
Two ways to do this:
If you divide 5.98 by 20 to multiply the result by 2 will take longer to compute mentally than if you divide 5.98 by 10 = 0.598. because 20 divide by 2 is 10.
( 5.98/20 ) * 2 = 0.598
therefore you can buy two smoke for 59.8 cent.
If you want to divide a number by a fraction, is the same as to multiply that number by inverse of the fraction.
e.g
450 ÷ 1.5 is equal to 450 ÷ 3/2, however if you do 450*2/3, you can quickly see that 450/3 is 150 and if you multiply 150 by 2 you get 300.
Since your are not allowed calculator nor scrap paper for the motivation test and it contains some numerical questions, how do you cope with time ?
Exam Cheat
Knots = miles per hour so you can interpret 40 knots as 40mph.
To convert minutes to hours , divide that number by 60.
To convert hours to minutes multiply that number by 60.
Interpret FL290 as 29000ft.
Descend rate is measured in ft per minute. You usually use descend rate to find time in minutes which need to be divided by 60 to convert it to hour in order to calculate distance if you know your speed limit.
Working in fractions is easier to compute mentally than working in decimals.
e.g (120 ÷18 ) * 36 = 240. Dividing 36 by 18 and multiply 120 by 2 will be faster to compute than if decide to divide 120 by 18 to multiply 36 by 6.66 mentally.
So watch your style or method.
Practice long division and times table especially 6 times because you are likely to divide a number by 60 when converting from minutes to hours.
If you encounter fraction in your test, think of what you want to do with the result if it is not your final answer, you may likely use the result to multiply another number, by bringing that number into the equation could simplify things. E.g
If you sell a packet of 20 smoke for 5.98 US dollars ,how much would you sell 2 smoke ?
Two ways to do this:
If you divide 5.98 by 20 to multiply the result by 2 will take longer to compute mentally than if you divide 5.98 by 10 = 0.598. because 20 divide by 2 is 10.
( 5.98/20 ) * 2 = 0.598
therefore you can buy two smoke for 59.8 cent.
If you want to divide a number by a fraction, is the same as to multiply that number by inverse of the fraction.
e.g
450 ÷ 1.5 is equal to 450 ÷ 3/2, however if you do 450*2/3, you can quickly see that 450/3 is 150 and if you multiply 150 by 2 you get 300.
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Hey Gaznut,
my email is [email protected]
Exam Cheat
Knots = miles per hour so you can interpret 40 knots as 40mph.
To convert minutes to hours , divide that number by 60.
To convert hours to minutes multiply that number by 60.
Interpret FL290 as 29000ft.
Descend rate is measured in ft per minute. You usually use descend rate to find time in minutes which need to be divided by 60 to convert it to hour in order to calculate distance if you know your speed limit.
Working in fractions is easier to compute mentally than working in decimals.
e.g (120 ÷18 ) * 36 = 240. Dividing 36 by 18 and multiply 120 by 2 will be faster to compute than if decide to divide 120 by 18 to multiply 36 by 6.66 mentally.
So watch your style or method.
Practice long division and times table especially 6 times because you are likely to divide a number by 60 when converting from minutes to hours.
If you encounter fraction in your test, think of what you want to do with the result if it is not your final answer, you may likely use the result to multiply another number, by bringing that number into the equation could simplify things. E.g
If you sell a packet of 20 smoke for 5.98 US dollars ,how much would you sell 2 smoke ?
Two ways to do this:
If you divide 5.98 by 20 to multiply the result by 2 will take longer to compute mentally than if you divide 5.98 by 10 = 0.598. because 20 divide by 2 is 10.
( 5.98/20 ) * 2 = 0.598
therefore you can buy two smoke for 59.8 cent.
If you want to divide a number by a fraction, is the same as to multiply that number by inverse of the fraction.
e.g
450 ÷ 1.5 is equal to 450 ÷ 3/2, however if you do 450*2/3, you can quickly see that 450/3 is 150 and if you multiply 150 by 2 you get 300.
my email is [email protected]
Exam Cheat
Knots = miles per hour so you can interpret 40 knots as 40mph.
To convert minutes to hours , divide that number by 60.
To convert hours to minutes multiply that number by 60.
Interpret FL290 as 29000ft.
Descend rate is measured in ft per minute. You usually use descend rate to find time in minutes which need to be divided by 60 to convert it to hour in order to calculate distance if you know your speed limit.
Working in fractions is easier to compute mentally than working in decimals.
e.g (120 ÷18 ) * 36 = 240. Dividing 36 by 18 and multiply 120 by 2 will be faster to compute than if decide to divide 120 by 18 to multiply 36 by 6.66 mentally.
So watch your style or method.
Practice long division and times table especially 6 times because you are likely to divide a number by 60 when converting from minutes to hours.
If you encounter fraction in your test, think of what you want to do with the result if it is not your final answer, you may likely use the result to multiply another number, by bringing that number into the equation could simplify things. E.g
If you sell a packet of 20 smoke for 5.98 US dollars ,how much would you sell 2 smoke ?
Two ways to do this:
If you divide 5.98 by 20 to multiply the result by 2 will take longer to compute mentally than if you divide 5.98 by 10 = 0.598. because 20 divide by 2 is 10.
( 5.98/20 ) * 2 = 0.598
therefore you can buy two smoke for 59.8 cent.
If you want to divide a number by a fraction, is the same as to multiply that number by inverse of the fraction.
e.g
450 ÷ 1.5 is equal to 450 ÷ 3/2, however if you do 450*2/3, you can quickly see that 450/3 is 150 and if you multiply 150 by 2 you get 300.
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HR response
i've been trying to get through to HR for over a month now, got turned down atstage 3 and trying to get feedback, received an email saying we'll have feedback in two weeks and thats the last i heard, i keep leaving answerphone messages but no call back yet or response to emails!
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Skyslater
I failed stage 3 last year and i got feedback from them, but it does take a while. I got the same response about needing to wait 2 weeks - it is becuase the interview notes go off to a third party to be verified, and then they are returned to NATS HR to deal with and file away (i guess) I did have to wait a good few weeks but they did get back to me.
It is definitely worth pursuing, especially if you are going to try again, as the points they give you are very handy. Be sure to have a pen/paper handy when they call back as she will give you lots of info. Or she was kind enough to give me her mobile number and i called her back when i had 15-20mins free to talk properly.
She also let me know that i wasn't "barking up the wrong tree" and it was worth me trying again, which is nice to know !!!
Good luck with it and do make sure you get the info you want.
It is definitely worth pursuing, especially if you are going to try again, as the points they give you are very handy. Be sure to have a pen/paper handy when they call back as she will give you lots of info. Or she was kind enough to give me her mobile number and i called her back when i had 15-20mins free to talk properly.
She also let me know that i wasn't "barking up the wrong tree" and it was worth me trying again, which is nice to know !!!
Good luck with it and do make sure you get the info you want.
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Oh dear ...
[Edit: This message relates to post #5729]
Pilot here (not an ATC wannabe) but I just came across this posting ...
Your Q1 answer is so deeply wrong on so many levels.
For a start - 10 minutes at 260 mph groundspeed gives you 43 miles travelled, not 4.3 miles ... so the answer is 243 miles, not 204.3. That's the easy part to point out.
The "deeply wrong" part is how you could possibly have typed all that in to the computer without so much as a single one of your (presumably) 400 billion plus neurones firing a little "hang on a sec" ...
I mean, look back at your "answer". Your aircraft spends 10 minutes on climb and travels a grand total of 4 miles (i.e. you can still see it from the tower window), but as soon as he levels out at FL150 it's off to 400 mph and covering 200 miles in 0.5 hours (i.e. 6 miles a MINUTE). Doesn't sound right now, DOES IT?!
And somehow all of that just passed you by? Gotta say guys, I see why ATC run these tests. And as a pilot I thank God that they do!
Direct ... Cancel Speed ... Cya.
Pilot here (not an ATC wannabe) but I just came across this posting ...
Your Q1 answer is so deeply wrong on so many levels.
For a start - 10 minutes at 260 mph groundspeed gives you 43 miles travelled, not 4.3 miles ... so the answer is 243 miles, not 204.3. That's the easy part to point out.
The "deeply wrong" part is how you could possibly have typed all that in to the computer without so much as a single one of your (presumably) 400 billion plus neurones firing a little "hang on a sec" ...
I mean, look back at your "answer". Your aircraft spends 10 minutes on climb and travels a grand total of 4 miles (i.e. you can still see it from the tower window), but as soon as he levels out at FL150 it's off to 400 mph and covering 200 miles in 0.5 hours (i.e. 6 miles a MINUTE). Doesn't sound right now, DOES IT?!
And somehow all of that just passed you by? Gotta say guys, I see why ATC run these tests. And as a pilot I thank God that they do!
Direct ... Cancel Speed ... Cya.
Last edited by CKJ; 15th Apr 2010 at 13:16. Reason: Relating to post #5729
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Some calculation here..
Hi all,
I am having a bit of problem trying to sort out the following calcultion:
"You travel 65miles in 2hours and 36minutes, how fast are you going?"
Can anyone please help me to find the answer, and if it can come with a bit of explanation it would be much appreciated.
Thanks a lot!
I am having a bit of problem trying to sort out the following calcultion:
"You travel 65miles in 2hours and 36minutes, how fast are you going?"
Can anyone please help me to find the answer, and if it can come with a bit of explanation it would be much appreciated.
Thanks a lot!
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ok, you cover 65 miles in 156 minutes
so:
156min/65miles=2.4min/mile
this means you cover 1 mile in 2.4 minutes
to get how many miles you cover in an hour you subtract 2.4 from 60
60/2.4=25
so your speed is 25mph
or you can do it this way:
2h 36min = 2.6h
and than you can calculate speed straight from that, which is
65miles/2.6h=25mph
hope this is understandable
so:
156min/65miles=2.4min/mile
this means you cover 1 mile in 2.4 minutes
to get how many miles you cover in an hour you subtract 2.4 from 60
60/2.4=25
so your speed is 25mph
or you can do it this way:
2h 36min = 2.6h
and than you can calculate speed straight from that, which is
65miles/2.6h=25mph
hope this is understandable
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Energyintake,
The key is the Speed = Distance/Time equation.
In this case it is slightly complicated because you need to be able to express 2 hours 36 minutes as a fraction in terms of hours only (i.e. no minutes). To do this you need to identify 36 as a fraction of 60 minutes. If you get used to numbers which are whole factors of 60 minutes you will find this gets easier: the key numbers are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 & 12. In 60 minutes there are 2 x 30 minute periods, 3 x 20 minute periods, 4 x 15 minute periods, 5 x 12 minute periods, 6 x 10 minute periods, 10 x 6 minute periods, 12 x 5 minute periods... etc. (you could keep going but the numbers become less helpful for standard examples).
In this example we can see that 36 is a multiple of 6 (6x6=36) which corresponds with the factor of 10, so we can describe 36 minutes as 6/10 of a hour.
Having worked this out you can now define your time period purely in terms of a number of hours (no minutes) - 2 hours 36 minutes becomes 2+(6/10) hours or 26/10 hours.
Now you just put this into the equation: Speed = 65/(26/10)
= 650/26
= 25 mph
The key is the Speed = Distance/Time equation.
In this case it is slightly complicated because you need to be able to express 2 hours 36 minutes as a fraction in terms of hours only (i.e. no minutes). To do this you need to identify 36 as a fraction of 60 minutes. If you get used to numbers which are whole factors of 60 minutes you will find this gets easier: the key numbers are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 & 12. In 60 minutes there are 2 x 30 minute periods, 3 x 20 minute periods, 4 x 15 minute periods, 5 x 12 minute periods, 6 x 10 minute periods, 10 x 6 minute periods, 12 x 5 minute periods... etc. (you could keep going but the numbers become less helpful for standard examples).
In this example we can see that 36 is a multiple of 6 (6x6=36) which corresponds with the factor of 10, so we can describe 36 minutes as 6/10 of a hour.
Having worked this out you can now define your time period purely in terms of a number of hours (no minutes) - 2 hours 36 minutes becomes 2+(6/10) hours or 26/10 hours.
Now you just put this into the equation: Speed = 65/(26/10)
= 650/26
= 25 mph
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Thank you very much for your help.
I am okay with the equation, my problem is when I have to work out with numbers and I do not spot the logic that is in them. When you both explained to me, I understood it quickly, I am practising loads of examples and I can solve most of them, but from time to time I get stucked! My background is Socials Science....however, I will keep working hard.
The funny point will come when I start timming myself!!!
Well guys, thanks again. You can not imagine how much you help me.
I am okay with the equation, my problem is when I have to work out with numbers and I do not spot the logic that is in them. When you both explained to me, I understood it quickly, I am practising loads of examples and I can solve most of them, but from time to time I get stucked! My background is Socials Science....however, I will keep working hard.
The funny point will come when I start timming myself!!!
Well guys, thanks again. You can not imagine how much you help me.
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Uuuufssss,
Believe me, I am practising a lot!! a lot!!
I close my eyes and just can see numbers!!! I go to sleep and in my dreams I am doing calculations! And when I am practising with fractions is when I have nightmares!!
Anyway....life is wonderful
Believe me, I am practising a lot!! a lot!!
I close my eyes and just can see numbers!!! I go to sleep and in my dreams I am doing calculations! And when I am practising with fractions is when I have nightmares!!
Anyway....life is wonderful
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Spot the error
This is a reply to CKJ message 5741
That was error was there for a purpose. So that you do not believe everything you see. check it out yourself.
Any way, can you help me with this.
(1) A/C flying at 18 miles per hour, hour long did it take to reach 140 miles ?
A. 7 hours and 8 mins
B. 7 hours and 7 mins
C. 7 hours and 48 mins
D. 7 hours and 42 mins
thanks for your help.
That was error was there for a purpose. So that you do not believe everything you see. check it out yourself.
Any way, can you help me with this.
(1) A/C flying at 18 miles per hour, hour long did it take to reach 140 miles ?
A. 7 hours and 8 mins
B. 7 hours and 7 mins
C. 7 hours and 48 mins
D. 7 hours and 42 mins
thanks for your help.
