NATS interview process
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Knutsford
Hello
I’m due to take the Stage 3 on the 5th of November. Just received an email with a change of location. Looks like we’ll take stage 3 at a hotel next door to NATS centre.
Anyone else on the same date?
(nervous) Cheers and see you there!
Anyone else on the same date?
(nervous) Cheers and see you there!
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow
I think technically there's no upper age limit (in the UK at least) due to age discrimination laws. As far as I understand things, some (many?) ATCOs retire when they are in their late 50s (but I could be wrong about this), and you also need to factor in that it could be 2-3 years before you are validated. So, I'd say work out how many years that leaves you in between and decide if you think it's worth the investment in terms of time and money (because during the training years you have to get by on a very low salary). I'm in my late 30s... I'm not sure if that put me at the "older end of the age range" or not, as I know some trainees are older than me, but at the same time I'd never have been accepted by many ANSPs, such as Eurocontrol.
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Moray
Currently at CTC and there are a few older folk there. I know of a couple of guys who will be 40 in the next year and there was until recently a guy on one of the courses who was at the upper end of his 40s and possibly 50 I’m not 100% sure on his exact age. He was definitely up there though. Hope this helps
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Manchester
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: West Midlands
Hi all, just a quick question - How long does the ATC recruitment process usually take? I'm currently in my second year of Uni and was just wondering if there's any point in applying if applications open up in the next few months or whether I should just wait until I'm in my final year? Thanks for the help
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: UK
Hi all, just a quick question - How long does the ATC recruitment process usually take? I'm currently in my second year of Uni and was just wondering if there's any point in applying if applications open up in the next few months or whether I should just wait until I'm in my final year? Thanks for the help
So, I guess there is no real answer. However, my start date is exactly 1 year after I applied if that’s any help.
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: West Midlands
Hi GandalfGaming2144 I know that most other companies (in other sectors) do have yearly graduate schemes available so would of course apply for 2021 schemes (year of graduation). But since ATC schemes are far less abundant I thought I should just apply for any schemes which arise over the next few months.
Last edited by AppleUK; 7th November 2019 at 18:19.
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: UK
In any case, it’s best to apply for a job you have at least a little bit of passion for. No point being stuck in a job you don’t enjoy just for the money.
And who knows what the future holds for ATC, esp. over the course of 40 years?! In many ways, it’s the perfect industry for AI to take over many jobs. Satellite surveillance over the Atlantic is currently being trialled, traditional towers are being replaced with digital ones. All sorts of changes going on...
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: England
i'm not doing it for the money im just saying that if your doing a degree and your worried that ATC is risky because you may not be able to pay for bills or something like that then you don't need to be because the trainee air traffic controller if a good job to provide for yourself. plus i was on about the ATC