NATS interview process

[TOM787]

Originally Posted by desrudy

Does anyone have or know what date are available for the stage 3 ?

Not sure whether they are awaiting on some new stage 3 dates. I had my email about passing stage 2 on Friday, and I am still waiting for my stage 3 invitation/dates.

[ahmad221]

Originally Posted by mashman156

Congratulations, have you had any further information since submitting your reference forms etc? All I’ve had so far is a medical appointment booked. I had a March start date quoted but nothing in stone yet. I can’t pm on here either.

I've got my medical booked for mid December. That's it so far.
When's your medical?
They have also told me March start date. Nothing confirmed yet.
Lets hope its soon.

[ahmad221]

Originally Posted by Igi

Hi all, congratulations everyone who recently passed their stages 2 and 3.

I was hoping that someone here could tell me how long does a medical assessment day in Swanwick take? I am booked for 14th of December, but the timeframe (apart from starting time) is not mentioned in the email. It would help me to know what time I will finish so I can plan my journey and other things too.

I know I should just ask them directly, but I thought I would ask here first anyway

Thanks!

My medical is in London and the email states that it takes at least 4 hours. Its probably same in Swanwick.
Good Luck

[mashman156]

Originally Posted by ahmad221

I've got my medical booked for mid December. That's it so far.
When's your medical?
They have also told me March start date. Nothing confirmed yet.
Lets hope its soon.

Medical is Jan 11th.

Not heard anything since I sent in my forms, hopefully hear some kind of confirmation that everything is moving forward at some point.

[Issy93]

Hello! I've recently been added onto the January 2018 course and am wondering if there are any others out there! In particular if any groups are set up for that course too?

Good luck to all going through the process

[Prototoes]

Originally Posted by Issy93

Hello! I've recently been added onto the January 2018 course and am wondering if there are any others out there! In particular if any groups are set up for that course too?

Good luck to all going through the process

When did you sit stage 3 and when did you hear back?

Congratulations for getting a place

[Aviation67]

Originally Posted by ahmad221

Hi, Congratulations on passing. I've also passed stage 3. Attended on 1st November and found out on 6th.

How should we get in touch? I'm unable to send pm here. Let me know.

I also passed stage 3 and attended on November 1st. Is there a whatsapp group or something like that??

[Issy93]

Hi!

I've recently been allocated to the January course and saw this post a little while back. I've joined a group on facebook but it's quite small! I was wondering if there is a group that has managed to locate many others from the course?

Congratulations on passing!

[Issy93]

Originally Posted by Prototoes

When did you sit stage 3 and when did you hear back?

Congratulations for getting a place

I passed Stage 3 back in mid July! Found out about 8 days later that I had been successful and the medical took a few months after that. I think someone has dropped out of January which meant I could join it.

Where abouts are you in the process?

[Prototoes]

Originally Posted by Issy93

I passed Stage 3 back in mid July! Found out about 8 days later that I had been successful and the medical took a few months after that. I think someone has dropped out of January which meant I could join it.

Where abouts are you in the process?

Sat stage 3 last week, still waiting to hear back! I assume they have quite a large influx of applicants. I heard it normally takes about a week to hear back, but they say anything up to 30 working days from the end of the week you sat the stage.

Nervous, can't really tell how the interviews went - I don't think anybody can. MULTIPASS was pretty straightforward, I thought.

Edit: Just heard today that I was successful! I won't be joining until at least July next year as I'm still at University, but I'm incredibly pleased!

[emiliete1990]

hi guys.

I have just received the email that I passed stage 0!

But I read that the whole process must be done within 1 month and specifically the stage 1 must be done within 5 days.

Is that true? I'm worried because I booked holidays to go abroad during christmas and I'd like to attend the FEAST and DART after christmas.

Regards
Emilio

[ATCOnoob1]

Originally Posted by emiliete1990

hi guys.

I have just received the email that I passed stage 0!

But I read that the whole process must be done within 1 month and specifically the stage 1 must be done within 5 days.

Is that true? I'm worried because I booked holidays to go abroad during christmas and I'd like to attend the FEAST and DART after christmas.

Regards
Emilio

No - thats just for stage 1. Stage 2 you pick from a suite of dates that stretch about 3 months if I remember correctly. Just get stage 1 done and if you pass you have more freedom with regards to picking dates for the next few stages.

[ManUtd1999]

Hi all,
I'm thinking about finally biting the bullet and applying for ATC and have a couple of questions...

1) Are there any up-to-date estimates of the average length of time from submitting an application to (hopefully) passing Stage 3? And after that how long do people normally wait before starting a course?

2) Is there any flexibiity to move between units once validated? I understand NATS can place you wherever and don't really have a problem with that but moving to (insert less than desirable base here) for 3-5 years then possibly transferring is a different proposition to moving there full stop forever.

3) What's the age range of trainee's like? I'm led to believe that it's anything from 18-35+ with an average around mid-20s but I don't know if that's accurate?

[norse12]

Originally Posted by ManUtd1999

Hi all,
I'm thinking about finally biting the bullet and applying for ATC and have a couple of questions...

1) Are there any up-to-date estimates of the average length of time from submitting an application to (hopefully) passing Stage 3? And after that how long do people normally wait before starting a course?

2) Is there any flexibiity to move between units once validated? I understand NATS can place you wherever and don't really have a problem with that but moving to (insert less than desirable base here) for 3-5 years then possibly transferring is a different proposition to moving there full stop forever.

3) What's the age range of trainee's like? I'm led to believe that it's anything from 18-35+ with an average around mid-20s but I don't know if that's accurate?

1) Depends on a few factors including how quick you are to book on to the different assessment days when you receive an email invite. But roughly the time from submitting an application to starting a course is likely to be anywhere from 4 months - 1 year at the moment.

2) You can be sent to any aerodrome/area unit in the country. You might be asked what your preferences are but no guarantees. However people do occasionally move around after being posted (less so with area units). Definitely a bit of a gamble!

3) A real spread of ages so don't worry about this, most courses will have a range between 18-35, however most tend to be Mid 20s.

[LEGAL TENDER]

2) Postings rarely take preferences into account. You get sent where the business needs you to be and from there it's very difficult to move. Sounds discouraging but it's the reality of things.

[ManUtd1999]

Cheers for the replies. Obviously moving between area units is going to be pretty limited in scope. I was more asking about aerodrome. It sounds like moving between aerodromes is possible but not usual?

[Daleboy93]

Hi All,

Anyone had a place confirmed on NATS 251 basic in Jerez?

Had my contract through earlier, keen to see if any ppruners will be making the trip out to Spain with me.

[LEGAL TENDER]

Jerez? wow things have changed!!

[norse12]

@Daleboy93

I had heard that they were going to send some trainees to Spain, but I haven't heard any details yet. Very interesting though! Would you mind sharing a bit about how it is going to work? Like how long you will be training there for, and is NATS organising accommodation for you etc? Pretty cool, i'm sure it will be fantastic experience living in Spain for a while.

[Daleboy93]

Originally Posted by norse12

@Daleboy93

I had heard that they were going to send some trainees to Spain, but I haven't heard any details yet. Very interesting though! Would you mind sharing a bit about how it is going to work? Like how long you will be training there for, and is NATS organising accommodation for you etc? Pretty cool, i'm sure it will be fantastic experience living in Spain for a while.

Yeah it'll be a nice way to spend the rest of the winter months definitely! I studied Spanish at Uni and lived out in various parts of Spain for 18 months or so during my degree. So a pretty great stroke of luck to be going back for a bit on the first NATS course in Spain

So the information we've had is 21 consecutive weeks training at FTE Jerez completing the basic course (start early Feb, back to UK early July). NATS have organised flights out from Heathrow after an initial induction at CTC Whiteley.

Accommodation is full board on-site at FTE Jerez, basically uni-style rooms with a bathroom, WiFi etc. NATS have part-funded but we're required to pay a weekly supplement. The part-funding comes in place of any allowances trainees in Southampton may be entitled to. I suspect Jerez will still work out a fair bit cheaper though considering your outlay will be zero during the week bar some exploring money on weekends.

Other than that, I'm led to believe the course structure will be very similar and everything else should run as usual. I suspect this outsourcing of training will continue for some time given the sheer number of new trainees. coming in... Exciting stuff!