NATS interview process
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 7
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From: Hornchurch
Speed Distance Time | OASC: RAF Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre
Practice the speed distance time test and the fuel calculation test. Not sure if the fuel one will come up or not, but it's good practice.
Practice the speed distance time test and the fuel calculation test. Not sure if the fuel one will come up or not, but it's good practice.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 562
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From: Home away from home
I can only say that without Gonzo's collegue my visit would never had happened. She really did everything in her power to make my stay the best possible and it was a great day. She even asked favours of people to allow me to stay an extra hour in the tower since I had flown in from abroad for the visit and had a few hours until my flight left.
Gonzo, when you see her next time give her a pat on the back from me! As I said in an email to her the other day that visit really inspired me coming into my interview and reminded me why I want to do this job.
Not to mention, without her I wouldn't have been able to meet all of the great people working in the tower, several of them also took their break time to talk to me and help me out with my questions.
I have also made a visit to a smaller unit though and I would recommedn that, Heathrow is very special and I'm glad I got to see it but I think that if you come up there with no clue about how ATC works you will find yourself having a hard time to keep up. I only managed to keep up with what they were doing at a few times during the day, most of the time you're just wondering how they do it
Gonzo, when you see her next time give her a pat on the back from me! As I said in an email to her the other day that visit really inspired me coming into my interview and reminded me why I want to do this job.
Not to mention, without her I wouldn't have been able to meet all of the great people working in the tower, several of them also took their break time to talk to me and help me out with my questions.
I have also made a visit to a smaller unit though and I would recommedn that, Heathrow is very special and I'm glad I got to see it but I think that if you come up there with no clue about how ATC works you will find yourself having a hard time to keep up. I only managed to keep up with what they were doing at a few times during the day, most of the time you're just wondering how they do it
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Manchester
Diagraming
Thanks posijohn, i can see it now. Can't beleive i had been looking at wrong so many days. Im gonna have to take my time on Friday and not rush things.
Just to confirm for those who have sat stage 1, is it all multiple choice? how much is based on the written information from the material? Have read it like a 100 times and it doesn't feel like anything has sunk in.
Just to confirm for those who have sat stage 1, is it all multiple choice? how much is based on the written information from the material? Have read it like a 100 times and it doesn't feel like anything has sunk in.
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Reading
To start with you have two multiple choice tests. The first one is about all the information you were given. It helps to really know the material as it's never an obvious answer, a lot of them are similar. The second is the mental arithmetic. Again, a lot of the answers are very similar. I found going through a lot of the s/d/t questions linked on here helped me a great deal for this section.
If you've passed those two, then you do the diagramming and spatial awareness tests.
If you've passed those two, then you do the diagramming and spatial awareness tests.
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 12
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From: United Kingdom
Well, stage 1 tomorrow, and I can say I have never been so nervous! but excited also, and if I fail it's not the end of the world I guess, been learning it since March, I know quite a lot of the 25page booklet, and before it all started I couldn't do one bit of s/d/t, but now I can do that OASC test with about 20seconds on average getting about 1 wrong, so I should be okay right? And then the cubes and diagramming are more logic than anything else, anyway..
What suitable ID should I take? Will Birth Certificate, Provisional Driving License, Bank Statement and P45 do?
Cheers, and good luck
What suitable ID should I take? Will Birth Certificate, Provisional Driving License, Bank Statement and P45 do?
Cheers, and good luck
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Manchester
Stage 1 failed:-(
Hey guys, for those who were at prestwick today in the morning hope you didwell. I left after the first 2 tests, i was in the brownshirt and tie. Found the first test finewith all preperation but i struggled with the timingon the second and only answered half questions. my mistake was not guessing the ones i skipped. anyway onwards and upwards
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Manchester
yeah, ill try again. avaition is my passion and never going to give up. I felt so prepared but i wasn't prepared for the time pressure. my mistake was not taking a watch, not guessing an answer i didn't know and reading the question properly. i need to brush up on digesting the information quickly and knowing fractions a lot better.
were you there today or are you working/at another selection stage?
were you there today or are you working/at another selection stage?
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: ..
Stage 1
Hey guys,
Like a few others, I was at the Stage 1 interview at Prestwick yesterday with around 40 other hopefulls. Done well in the first test, only found around 3 questions difficult. The second test was very hard,. I thought I had failed, actually i was waiting for my name to be read out and it was a huge surprise when it wasnt.
Felt for the people who never got through.
Went on to do the final 2 tests, i think i done ok but will soon see!
Good luck to everyone who got through.
Like a few others, I was at the Stage 1 interview at Prestwick yesterday with around 40 other hopefulls. Done well in the first test, only found around 3 questions difficult. The second test was very hard,. I thought I had failed, actually i was waiting for my name to be read out and it was a huge surprise when it wasnt.
Felt for the people who never got through.Went on to do the final 2 tests, i think i done ok but will soon see!
Good luck to everyone who got through.
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Home
@ aerospace83
I'm sorry to see you didn't progress through stage 1 this time.
Like you, I only answered half of the questions in the mental arithmetic test. The guy to my left had his watch out and timed it so he could answer all of the questions and the fellow to my right got all but three done.
... I passed with only half of the questions filled in and I had lots of elbow room to my left and right after the names were read out.
My point is that having a watch doesn't make anyone's math better. Just work away at the questions you can answer as quickly and accurately as you're able to and if you get enough of them right then you should be fine.
Good luck for next time.
@ kris123
Done.
I'm sorry to see you didn't progress through stage 1 this time.
Like you, I only answered half of the questions in the mental arithmetic test. The guy to my left had his watch out and timed it so he could answer all of the questions and the fellow to my right got all but three done.
... I passed with only half of the questions filled in and I had lots of elbow room to my left and right after the names were read out.
My point is that having a watch doesn't make anyone's math better. Just work away at the questions you can answer as quickly and accurately as you're able to and if you get enough of them right then you should be fine.
Good luck for next time.
@ kris123
Done.
Last edited by MrFrost81; 27th June 2011 at 19:09.
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Manchester
Thanks Frost.
Where were you sat Mark? you have the agonising 15 day wait now for your results, good luck, hope you do well. It was an intense atmosphere yesterday, you could sense the nerves and passion in the room.
Where were you sat Mark? you have the agonising 15 day wait now for your results, good luck, hope you do well. It was an intense atmosphere yesterday, you could sense the nerves and passion in the room.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 0
From: The foot of Mt. Belzoni.
kris,
sorry to appear pedantic, but many years ago, GCE 'O' Level English Language was a basic requirement to become an ATCA, let alone an ATCO. I think the GCSE requirement is still there. Members of the selection panel may read these pages. Occasionally we all make mistakes, but surely we should be on a constant drive to 'raise the bar', in all that we do, be it sport, music and especially ATC.
I hope that your 15 day wait is worthwhile, (don't panic, I am nothing to do with ATC selection).
Very Best Wishes, from the foot Of Mt. Belzoni.
sorry to appear pedantic, but many years ago, GCE 'O' Level English Language was a basic requirement to become an ATCA, let alone an ATCO. I think the GCSE requirement is still there. Members of the selection panel may read these pages. Occasionally we all make mistakes, but surely we should be on a constant drive to 'raise the bar', in all that we do, be it sport, music and especially ATC.
I hope that your 15 day wait is worthwhile, (don't panic, I am nothing to do with ATC selection).
Very Best Wishes, from the foot Of Mt. Belzoni.
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: ..
Hi Mate,
I had the red jumper on and was one of the last people to come in the room. I was sat at one of the small tables to the right hand side of the door (when facing).
I think i remember seeing you, everyone looked very nervous!
Thanks mate, I just hope I can make it through!
I had the red jumper on and was one of the last people to come in the room. I was sat at one of the small tables to the right hand side of the door (when facing).
I think i remember seeing you, everyone looked very nervous!
Thanks mate, I just hope I can make it through!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 0
From: The foot of Mt. Belzoni.
kris123,
someone has, (sadly), removed your initial post. However I did manage to confirm my theory on the meaning of "wee buns" using the online 'Dictionary Of Urban Slang'.
Very interesting, and I also look forward to investigating the 'Dictionary Of Rural Slang'.
The "wee buns" were only part of the problem. Unfortunately, due to the removal of the initial post, the other errors are no longer visible for us to discuss.
ATC is partly about accuracy and checking information. It takes about a minute to proof-read and check your posts.
It may sound old fashioned, but the end result looks far more professional.
And PPRuNe is, a professional rumour network.
someone has, (sadly), removed your initial post. However I did manage to confirm my theory on the meaning of "wee buns" using the online 'Dictionary Of Urban Slang'.
Very interesting, and I also look forward to investigating the 'Dictionary Of Rural Slang'.
The "wee buns" were only part of the problem. Unfortunately, due to the removal of the initial post, the other errors are no longer visible for us to discuss.
ATC is partly about accuracy and checking information. It takes about a minute to proof-read and check your posts.
It may sound old fashioned, but the end result looks far more professional.
And PPRuNe is, a professional rumour network.
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Home
Since this is a "Rumour Network" I'd like to ask if anyone here has heard any recent rumours about the move to Whitely or any clues about when the application proccess will start back up? Are they even out of Bournmouth yet?
Personally I can't reapply until the beginning of next year but I'd rather not be competing for selection day places with all of the people who've been waiting to apply since April.
I'd really appreciate it if someone knows something.
Thanks in advance.
Personally I can't reapply until the beginning of next year but I'd rather not be competing for selection day places with all of the people who've been waiting to apply since April.
I'd really appreciate it if someone knows something.
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by MrFrost81; 27th June 2011 at 19:08.