NATS interview process
Joined: Jan 2016
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From: Portugal
To be honest with you, NATS has around 3000 applications for their training (20 end up being selected), so bearing in mind they are denying 2980 applicants, I believe they have the authority to make the rules as they want without the need to change it (imagine paying all these people to come to the CTC to have only 0.5% being selected).
If you got Stage 2 coming up and are scared about the details of the aircrafts, just study them. I know it can be harsh to say that "If you can't handle the study materials, you shouldn't be attempting" but it's true, as said before, you will go under one year of intense training and if you can't bother to memorize 5 pages of aircraft information (that is more than essential if you are going to be handle them everyday), then I can't see you studying manuals of 200 pages each :/
If you got Stage 2 coming up and are scared about the details of the aircrafts, just study them. I know it can be harsh to say that "If you can't handle the study materials, you shouldn't be attempting" but it's true, as said before, you will go under one year of intense training and if you can't bother to memorize 5 pages of aircraft information (that is more than essential if you are going to be handle them everyday), then I can't see you studying manuals of 200 pages each :/
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: The foot of Mt. Belzoni.
It's a lot more than one year of intense training, often up to 3 or more, depending on where you are posted to at the end of the course. I'd put the workload up there along with a medical, science, or law degree.
It doesn't stop there though. Each year there are competency checks, emergency training and a bi-annual medical examination, (which becomes an annual event after the age of 40). There will be further examinations on new airspace/procedures as they are introduced. There are some excellent controllers, who for various reasons, (often no fault of their own), have failed to validate at units they were subsequently posted to later in their careers.
And for BwatchGRUNT, I found the paperwork, and yes, I failed the aptitude tests by 5%.
It doesn't stop there though. Each year there are competency checks, emergency training and a bi-annual medical examination, (which becomes an annual event after the age of 40). There will be further examinations on new airspace/procedures as they are introduced. There are some excellent controllers, who for various reasons, (often no fault of their own), have failed to validate at units they were subsequently posted to later in their careers.
And for BwatchGRUNT, I found the paperwork, and yes, I failed the aptitude tests by 5%.
Last edited by ZOOKER; 4th February 2017 at 20:13.
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8
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From: Cumbria
Does anyone have a success story about getting in the second time round? Just got back from stage 2 and sadly failed the DART. I'm wondering if I should just park this dream up and move on to something else.
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 29
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From: Scotland
Hello
Hi folks.
I have just come across this forum doing some research into the application process for trainee controller.
I have passed both online assessments and have booked onto a stage 2 assessment centre in April, a long wait because I can't get the time off work before then and I have to travel from the north of Scotland so a decent financial investment too!
Good luck to all those who are in the process of applying and I will follow the progress here quietly.
I have just come across this forum doing some research into the application process for trainee controller.
I have passed both online assessments and have booked onto a stage 2 assessment centre in April, a long wait because I can't get the time off work before then and I have to travel from the north of Scotland so a decent financial investment too!
Good luck to all those who are in the process of applying and I will follow the progress here quietly.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 562
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From: Home away from home
I had at least one person on my course who made it on the third attempt and last I heard they were doing very well (not based at the same unit as me these days).
I would suggest you consider your options, this didn't go as planned so what would you do if this doesn't happen? If you don't know maybe time to try to some other things in life and see. Then you can try again in the future if you still want it, or you can leave it. But that decision is not best made now just after failure I think, rather make it when it's time to reapply. Also then there is nothing stopping you giving it some more time before reapplying if you're not sure. Just don't build your life around reapplying because you are certain you will get in next time, there are no gaurantees in this unfortunately.
I would suggest you consider your options, this didn't go as planned so what would you do if this doesn't happen? If you don't know maybe time to try to some other things in life and see. Then you can try again in the future if you still want it, or you can leave it. But that decision is not best made now just after failure I think, rather make it when it's time to reapply. Also then there is nothing stopping you giving it some more time before reapplying if you're not sure. Just don't build your life around reapplying because you are certain you will get in next time, there are no gaurantees in this unfortunately.
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3
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From: manchester
FEAST and DART
Thanks MNAsantos and other regarding info, I just wanted to give myself a bit more time to prepare the best I can
I am not worried about ATC Knowledge test as I have info available and I can do some research but I am worried about FEAST and DART, I don't know what to expect if any clues on how to prepare It will be great help.
Fear of unknown is the worst fear
I am not worried about ATC Knowledge test as I have info available and I can do some research but I am worried about FEAST and DART, I don't know what to expect if any clues on how to prepare It will be great help.
Fear of unknown is the worst fear
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2
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From: UK
Hello Everyone,
This thread has been so useful. I have a question for anyone who knows the answer :P
I was watching a video recently that mentioned that once you commence college training that if you do not pass a test with at least 75% then you automatically are kicked off the course. Is this true? Are there really no second chances?
This thread has been so useful. I have a question for anyone who knows the answer :P
I was watching a video recently that mentioned that once you commence college training that if you do not pass a test with at least 75% then you automatically are kicked off the course. Is this true? Are there really no second chances?
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: UK
Hello there,
This thread has been very useful. I just have one question:
The other day I was watching a NATs video. In the video, on of the instructors at the college was talking and mentioned that if trainees do not achieve at least 75% first time round in all of the tests that they are automatically taken off the course. Are there really no second chances?
This thread has been very useful. I just have one question:
The other day I was watching a NATs video. In the video, on of the instructors at the college was talking and mentioned that if trainees do not achieve at least 75% first time round in all of the tests that they are automatically taken off the course. Are there really no second chances?
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 12
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From: Aberdeen
Stage 2 coming up...
So I'm heading to my stage 2 assessment on the 23rd of Feb. I'm super excited but also terrified!
I've passed the aptitude tests for the RAF SNCO ATC position last April but this FEAST and DART thing seems really easy to mess up going by the amount of people who seem to fail stage 2!
Any advice on the format of the assessments? I downloaded the FEAST Test app and it seems pretty good in that it covers the general idea of what my RAF tests were but obviously I'm accepting that it won't be identical to what I'll be doing with NATS.
Any advice on the tests and how they're structured would be much appreciated!!
I've passed the aptitude tests for the RAF SNCO ATC position last April but this FEAST and DART thing seems really easy to mess up going by the amount of people who seem to fail stage 2!
Any advice on the format of the assessments? I downloaded the FEAST Test app and it seems pretty good in that it covers the general idea of what my RAF tests were but obviously I'm accepting that it won't be identical to what I'll be doing with NATS.
Any advice on the tests and how they're structured would be much appreciated!!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 562
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From: Home away from home
@questioner, there is generally one resit allowed (not sure if it's mandated but that has as far as I known always been the standard).
However there are never gauranteed second chances, there are cases where training is suspended and the trainee is recoursed onto another course or into another disciplin. However there are also many cases where training is not resumed and the trainee terminated.
The harsh reality of it all is that if you make it to a basic course start you are by no means gauranteed to make it to unit or to validate at that unit. All I can say though is if you make it that far don't fail on theory. There is no real excuse (in my mind) for failing the theory, most of it is fairly simple it's just a case of memorising large chunks of data. Anyone can be taught ATC theory, the practical side is what gets people and if you fail on theory you've not even given yourself a proper chance at the job.
However there are never gauranteed second chances, there are cases where training is suspended and the trainee is recoursed onto another course or into another disciplin. However there are also many cases where training is not resumed and the trainee terminated.
The harsh reality of it all is that if you make it to a basic course start you are by no means gauranteed to make it to unit or to validate at that unit. All I can say though is if you make it that far don't fail on theory. There is no real excuse (in my mind) for failing the theory, most of it is fairly simple it's just a case of memorising large chunks of data. Anyone can be taught ATC theory, the practical side is what gets people and if you fail on theory you've not even given yourself a proper chance at the job.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 77
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From: UK
It is definitely possible, don't give up!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: UK
Hello there,
This thread has been very useful. I just have one question:
The other day I was watching a NATs video. In the video, on of the instructors at the college was talking and mentioned that if trainees do not achieve at least 75% first time round in all of the tests that they are automatically taken off the course. Are there really no second chances?
This thread has been very useful. I just have one question:
The other day I was watching a NATs video. In the video, on of the instructors at the college was talking and mentioned that if trainees do not achieve at least 75% first time round in all of the tests that they are automatically taken off the course. Are there really no second chances?
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 562
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From: Home away from home
or do what the course me and Kimmikins was on and just bake every opportunity, exams, resits, summatives, birthdays, it's a tuesday, I'm sure it didn't hurt our standing with the instructors anyway!
Joking aside I will second what Kimmikins said, there is no easy way in this job, well worth the hard work though!
Joking aside I will second what Kimmikins said, there is no easy way in this job, well worth the hard work though!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 77
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From: UK
Don't forget a run gone awry, somebody had mentioned cake or the ever popular "just because"!
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1
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From: London
So I failed the second round of online tests. Have been out of education for a while now and haven't really used that part of my brain for a long time so was pretty pleased to pass the first round and was then hoping to have a longer time to sharpen up for the second stage but received an email stating it had to be completed by five days.
Failed the second round of online tests. By how much, I don't know, but would be interesting to know if I was close or not.
Sent an email to NATS asking them to clarify if/when I could re-apply as I've heard stories of current ATC's failing and then trying again a year, two years later and passing.
The answer was below:We are afraid that the role is a one time application only and therefore you will not be able to take the test again or reapply.
Shame if that is the case as I was hoping to retake in the future.
Failed the second round of online tests. By how much, I don't know, but would be interesting to know if I was close or not.
Sent an email to NATS asking them to clarify if/when I could re-apply as I've heard stories of current ATC's failing and then trying again a year, two years later and passing.
The answer was below:We are afraid that the role is a one time application only and therefore you will not be able to take the test again or reapply.
Shame if that is the case as I was hoping to retake in the future.