NATS interview process
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Falkirk
Stage 3
Hello Everyone!
I'm another long-time lurker finally making my first post. I've got my Stage 3 booked on Tuesday 22 Jan. I also initially received an 08:00-16:00 timeslot for the Stage 3 Assessment Day but have now been provided a later start time.
I'm also wondering if anyone has had to go into their NATS profile pages to update any details? I had to update a change of address and this is where you can do that. I noticed that in my profile there is the option of filling in education history, work history and skills. I'm not sure now if this is something we must fill in. It probably wouldn't do any harm to. Has anyone else encountered this?
I'm another long-time lurker finally making my first post. I've got my Stage 3 booked on Tuesday 22 Jan. I also initially received an 08:00-16:00 timeslot for the Stage 3 Assessment Day but have now been provided a later start time.
I'm also wondering if anyone has had to go into their NATS profile pages to update any details? I had to update a change of address and this is where you can do that. I noticed that in my profile there is the option of filling in education history, work history and skills. I'm not sure now if this is something we must fill in. It probably wouldn't do any harm to. Has anyone else encountered this?
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 321
Likes: 3
From: United Kingdom
Quite a few people seem to be being offered courses at Global / Jerez these days. Seeing as I'm not going to be applying for 1 year or so, are these locations likely to still be around or is it more of a temporary thing to resolve capacity issues?
A couple of other questions regarding the 'new' training locations::
- Do you get to submit a preference for which training location you would like or is it completely random?
- Is the full 6-9 months of college based training delivered at Global/Jerez, or just the 2 month basic course?
- Do students at these locations all go down the aerodrome/approach route or do they also deliver area training?
Cheers
A couple of other questions regarding the 'new' training locations::
- Do you get to submit a preference for which training location you would like or is it completely random?
- Is the full 6-9 months of college based training delivered at Global/Jerez, or just the 2 month basic course?
- Do students at these locations all go down the aerodrome/approach route or do they also deliver area training?
Cheers
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 836
Likes: 2
From: Costa del Swanwick
Quite a few people seem to be being offered courses at Global / Jerez these days. Seeing as I'm not going to be applying for 1 year or so, are these locations likely to still be around or is it more of a temporary thing to resolve capacity issues?
A couple of other questions regarding the 'new' training locations::
- Do you get to submit a preference for which training location you would like or is it completely random?
- Is the full 6-9 months of college based training delivered at Global/Jerez, or just the 2 month basic course?
- Do students at these locations all go down the aerodrome/approach route or do they also deliver area training?
Cheers
A couple of other questions regarding the 'new' training locations::
- Do you get to submit a preference for which training location you would like or is it completely random?
- Is the full 6-9 months of college based training delivered at Global/Jerez, or just the 2 month basic course?
- Do students at these locations all go down the aerodrome/approach route or do they also deliver area training?
Cheers
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 321
Likes: 3
From: United Kingdom
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 31
Likes: 2
From: UK
Don't know if it's changed, I was offered a place in Jerez but didn't have to accept it. There was no choice in either Whiteley or Global.
If you go to Global you'll go down the aerodrome/approach radar route, doing all your training there and then get posted to a unit. Can't speak for the other places.
If you go to Global you'll go down the aerodrome/approach radar route, doing all your training there and then get posted to a unit. Can't speak for the other places.
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: UK
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Hong Kong
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: UK
Quite a few people seem to be being offered courses at Global / Jerez these days. Seeing as I'm not going to be applying for 1 year or so, are these locations likely to still be around or is it more of a temporary thing to resolve capacity issues?
A couple of other questions regarding the 'new' training locations::
- Do you get to submit a preference for which training location you would like or is it completely random?
- Is the full 6-9 months of college based training delivered at Global/Jerez, or just the 2 month basic course?
- Do students at these locations all go down the aerodrome/approach route or do they also deliver area training?
Cheers
A couple of other questions regarding the 'new' training locations::
- Do you get to submit a preference for which training location you would like or is it completely random?
- Is the full 6-9 months of college based training delivered at Global/Jerez, or just the 2 month basic course?
- Do students at these locations all go down the aerodrome/approach route or do they also deliver area training?
Cheers
- Do you get to submit a preference for which training location you would like or is it completely random?
If successful, you are a student and you get sent where there is a training space. You do not get a choice over Aerodrome/Approach/Area. That said, I believe you can opt out of the Spain option given that it is overseas.
- Is the full 6-9 months of college based training delivered at Global/Jerez, or just the 2 month basic course?
Global: 3 months Baisc, 3 Months ADI and/or 3.5 months APS as I understand it. This does not take into account breaks between courses. Spain: European basic course (4 months) and then back to the UK to do ratings at CTC as I understand it although stand to be corrected! There were rumours on here they were starting to deliver Area training at Jerez too but I am not sure.
- Do students at these locations all go down the aerodrome/approach route or do they also deliver area training?
Global do not deliver UK Area ratings and so if you went to Global you would do ADI/APS ratings. This does not mean you would go to an airport though.... there are plenty of APS only units such as Aberdeen Offshore, Aberporth Ranges, and of course a very big APS group at Swanwick providing approach radar for the main London airports. I believe there is currently a group at Global who have done Basic and APS and are destined for Swanwick approaches. I often read stories on here of people thinking "oh it'll never happen to me" to then find out they are off to Bonnie Scotland to do Aberdeen Offshore (which is a very interesting operation let it be said!)
Hope this helps. I cannot stress this enough..... you really need to understand and accept that if successful NATS will place you where THEY need you. This includes both training space and posting should you complete the course. E.g. Aberdeen is a very realistic posting, as is Belfast, Glasgow, Aberporth Ranges, Swanwick etc..... regardless of whether you have family in the south of the UK, children at school etc. If this is something you are not happy with, then I would really suggest another route into ATC!
Good luck
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Norwich
Hey guys,
I keep coming across NATS and the ATC course and it was recommended to me a few times as people thought it would suit ex-military people, but I was convinced I needed a degree to do the role so didn't apply or even look much further into it. Well a few days ago curiosity got the better of me and I realised I was eligible to apply and so I did. I sailed through the Stage 1 Online Assessments no problem.
Now I have received an email telling me to stand by and wait for my Stage 2 invite and I have suddenly realised, I have NO IDEA how I am going to get to Fareham lol. I am currently unemployed and the missus just started maternity leave so our funds are low at the moment. Has anyone been in a similar situation and received help from the jobcentre?
I keep coming across NATS and the ATC course and it was recommended to me a few times as people thought it would suit ex-military people, but I was convinced I needed a degree to do the role so didn't apply or even look much further into it. Well a few days ago curiosity got the better of me and I realised I was eligible to apply and so I did. I sailed through the Stage 1 Online Assessments no problem.
Now I have received an email telling me to stand by and wait for my Stage 2 invite and I have suddenly realised, I have NO IDEA how I am going to get to Fareham lol. I am currently unemployed and the missus just started maternity leave so our funds are low at the moment. Has anyone been in a similar situation and received help from the jobcentre?
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Uxbridge
Hey guys,
I keep coming across NATS and the ATC course and it was recommended to me a few times as people thought it would suit ex-military people, but I was convinced I needed a degree to do the role so didn't apply or even look much further into it. Well a few days ago curiosity got the better of me and I realised I was eligible to apply and so I did. I sailed through the Stage 1 Online Assessments no problem.
Now I have received an email telling me to stand by and wait for my Stage 2 invite and I have suddenly realised, I have NO IDEA how I am going to get to Fareham lol. I am currently unemployed and the missus just started maternity leave so our funds are low at the moment. Has anyone been in a similar situation and received help from the jobcentre?
I keep coming across NATS and the ATC course and it was recommended to me a few times as people thought it would suit ex-military people, but I was convinced I needed a degree to do the role so didn't apply or even look much further into it. Well a few days ago curiosity got the better of me and I realised I was eligible to apply and so I did. I sailed through the Stage 1 Online Assessments no problem.
Now I have received an email telling me to stand by and wait for my Stage 2 invite and I have suddenly realised, I have NO IDEA how I am going to get to Fareham lol. I am currently unemployed and the missus just started maternity leave so our funds are low at the moment. Has anyone been in a similar situation and received help from the jobcentre?
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Norwich
Hey 
I agree, it most definitely would! I am based in Norwich so its a good 185 miles. I had a look at trains and they are around £90 open return but I cant get one early enough to get me there on time so would need to arrive the night before, then the 2 nearest hotels are £60ish a night. £150 is worth it for the chance to get a role with NATS, but with this maternity pay its a lot of money 
I have an appointment at the Jobcentre on Wednesday so will ask then, but as I don't actually claim anything (I am just attached to my partners claim) I don't know if I will have all the help someone claiming would.
On the plus side, all the stage 2 slots are booked up so it gives me a little time to study and get something sorted
I agree, it most definitely would! I am based in Norwich so its a good 185 miles. I had a look at trains and they are around £90 open return but I cant get one early enough to get me there on time so would need to arrive the night before, then the 2 nearest hotels are £60ish a night. £150 is worth it for the chance to get a role with NATS, but with this maternity pay its a lot of money I have an appointment at the Jobcentre on Wednesday so will ask then, but as I don't actually claim anything (I am just attached to my partners claim) I don't know if I will have all the help someone claiming would.On the plus side, all the stage 2 slots are booked up so it gives me a little time to study and get something sorted
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 321
Likes: 3
From: United Kingdom
The additional training venues are to increase training capacity given the level of demand across the UK and the reduction in training facilities at CTC that happened a few years ago. The Union are also keen for training to be brought back totally in house.
- Do you get to submit a preference for which training location you would like or is it completely random?
If successful, you are a student and you get sent where there is a training space. You do not get a choice over Aerodrome/Approach/Area. That said, I believe you can opt out of the Spain option given that it is overseas.
- Is the full 6-9 months of college based training delivered at Global/Jerez, or just the 2 month basic course?
Global: 3 months Baisc, 3 Months ADI and/or 3.5 months APS as I understand it. This does not take into account breaks between courses. Spain: European basic course (4 months) and then back to the UK to do ratings at CTC as I understand it although stand to be corrected! There were rumours on here they were starting to deliver Area training at Jerez too but I am not sure.
- Do students at these locations all go down the aerodrome/approach route or do they also deliver area training?
Global do not deliver UK Area ratings and so if you went to Global you would do ADI/APS ratings. This does not mean you would go to an airport though.... there are plenty of APS only units such as Aberdeen Offshore, Aberporth Ranges, and of course a very big APS group at Swanwick providing approach radar for the main London airports. I believe there is currently a group at Global who have done Basic and APS and are destined for Swanwick approaches. I often read stories on here of people thinking "oh it'll never happen to me" to then find out they are off to Bonnie Scotland to do Aberdeen Offshore (which is a very interesting operation let it be said!)
Hope this helps. I cannot stress this enough..... you really need to understand and accept that if successful NATS will place you where THEY need you. This includes both training space and posting should you complete the course. E.g. Aberdeen is a very realistic posting, as is Belfast, Glasgow, Aberporth Ranges, Swanwick etc..... regardless of whether you have family in the south of the UK, children at school etc. If this is something you are not happy with, then I would really suggest another route into ATC!
Good luck
- Do you get to submit a preference for which training location you would like or is it completely random?
If successful, you are a student and you get sent where there is a training space. You do not get a choice over Aerodrome/Approach/Area. That said, I believe you can opt out of the Spain option given that it is overseas.
- Is the full 6-9 months of college based training delivered at Global/Jerez, or just the 2 month basic course?
Global: 3 months Baisc, 3 Months ADI and/or 3.5 months APS as I understand it. This does not take into account breaks between courses. Spain: European basic course (4 months) and then back to the UK to do ratings at CTC as I understand it although stand to be corrected! There were rumours on here they were starting to deliver Area training at Jerez too but I am not sure.
- Do students at these locations all go down the aerodrome/approach route or do they also deliver area training?
Global do not deliver UK Area ratings and so if you went to Global you would do ADI/APS ratings. This does not mean you would go to an airport though.... there are plenty of APS only units such as Aberdeen Offshore, Aberporth Ranges, and of course a very big APS group at Swanwick providing approach radar for the main London airports. I believe there is currently a group at Global who have done Basic and APS and are destined for Swanwick approaches. I often read stories on here of people thinking "oh it'll never happen to me" to then find out they are off to Bonnie Scotland to do Aberdeen Offshore (which is a very interesting operation let it be said!)
Hope this helps. I cannot stress this enough..... you really need to understand and accept that if successful NATS will place you where THEY need you. This includes both training space and posting should you complete the course. E.g. Aberdeen is a very realistic posting, as is Belfast, Glasgow, Aberporth Ranges, Swanwick etc..... regardless of whether you have family in the south of the UK, children at school etc. If this is something you are not happy with, then I would really suggest another route into ATC!
Good luck
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Ayrshire
Looking for some advise or recommendations regarding travel to CTC. I will be travelling from Glasgow on Sunday most likely for Stage 2 on Monday however I still haven't pinned down what would be the best travel arrangements, whether I fly or drive.
I can fly direct to Southampton which I'm assuming would be the best method or I can go via Gatwick but both involve a bit of public transport travel that can take a few hours from what I've found alternatively I could drive down but would be looking at 12-15 hour round trip which could be time spent doing final reading of the NATS booklet. How did everyone else arrange their travel, how did you find it and is there anything you would do different?
I can fly direct to Southampton which I'm assuming would be the best method or I can go via Gatwick but both involve a bit of public transport travel that can take a few hours from what I've found alternatively I could drive down but would be looking at 12-15 hour round trip which could be time spent doing final reading of the NATS booklet. How did everyone else arrange their travel, how did you find it and is there anything you would do different?
Darren
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Devon
Looking for some advise or recommendations regarding travel to CTC. I will be travelling from Glasgow on Sunday most likely for Stage 2 on Monday however I still haven't pinned down what would be the best travel arrangements, whether I fly or drive.
I can fly direct to Southampton which I'm assuming would be the best method or I can go via Gatwick but both involve a bit of public transport travel that can take a few hours from what I've found alternatively I could drive down but would be looking at 12-15 hour round trip which could be time spent doing final reading of the NATS booklet. How did everyone else arrange their travel, how did you find it and is there anything you would do different?
I can fly direct to Southampton which I'm assuming would be the best method or I can go via Gatwick but both involve a bit of public transport travel that can take a few hours from what I've found alternatively I could drive down but would be looking at 12-15 hour round trip which could be time spent doing final reading of the NATS booklet. How did everyone else arrange their travel, how did you find it and is there anything you would do different?
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Margate
Hey Darren, how did your Stage 3 go?
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Uxbridge
stage 2 complete. DART potentially flopped
Just finished my stage 2. Passed the Feast and now just waiting on the DART result. Feel like I made some stupid and costly errors on and collisions however so have no idea have it will turn out 
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Aberdeen
For my stage 2 I flew down from Aberdeen via Manchester to Southampton the night before, stayed at a B&B 5 mins from CTC, and just walked up in morning! Then flew home via Manchester again. When I went down for my medical though my flight home was delayed so I got train from Southampton to Woking then the national express straight to T5 at Heathrow and flew from there, so that could be an option for you also!
