NATS interview process
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Well HR have got better since I went through the system.
I applied in April 2002 and started at the college in December 2004 - and that was without failing anything through the application process
Good luck to you all going through it at the moment and see you on the other side of the college
I applied in April 2002 and started at the college in December 2004 - and that was without failing anything through the application process
Good luck to you all going through it at the moment and see you on the other side of the college
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Stage 1 sellection test
Hi everybody,what an interesting forum. Just what i have been looking for to help me through stage 1!
I have my stage 1 in two days, just a few questions regarding motivation test.
*Is it multiple choice?
*How many questions are there?
*Are the answer choices very similar to each other,to trick you?
*I have prety much covered the motivation document which you are required to learn, but havn't covered the types of aircraft, looks painfull! Do questions come up on the types of aircraft, is it an essential read?
*What do you advise for smart/casual?
*Is there any 1-2-1 discussions/interviews or is all group based to start with?
Look forward to your replys!
thanks
Ali
I have my stage 1 in two days, just a few questions regarding motivation test.
*Is it multiple choice?
*How many questions are there?
*Are the answer choices very similar to each other,to trick you?
*I have prety much covered the motivation document which you are required to learn, but havn't covered the types of aircraft, looks painfull! Do questions come up on the types of aircraft, is it an essential read?
*What do you advise for smart/casual?
*Is there any 1-2-1 discussions/interviews or is all group based to start with?
Look forward to your replys!
thanks
Ali
Join Date: Dec 1999
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The answers are all in the thread.
The questions you will face (multiple choice) are based on the whole document. So learn it all. Sorry to be so blunt, but you might as well start as you mean to go on......When you come to finally qualify as an ATCO, you need to know your unit's Manual of Air Traffic Services back to front, left to right and upside down. And that document could easily run into hundreds of pages.
To summarise the thread: Stage 1 is all group testing, no interviews. I'd recommend looking smart (I'd hate to be the one guy there in jeans and a t-shirt when everyone else is smart). Can't remember off hand how many questions on the motivation paper.
The questions you will face (multiple choice) are based on the whole document. So learn it all. Sorry to be so blunt, but you might as well start as you mean to go on......When you come to finally qualify as an ATCO, you need to know your unit's Manual of Air Traffic Services back to front, left to right and upside down. And that document could easily run into hundreds of pages.
To summarise the thread: Stage 1 is all group testing, no interviews. I'd recommend looking smart (I'd hate to be the one guy there in jeans and a t-shirt when everyone else is smart). Can't remember off hand how many questions on the motivation paper.
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Just practise with random numbers...
a/c doing 420 knots/mph, how far will it fly in 20mins...
a/c flies 40 miles in 10 mins, what speed is it doing...
a/c needs to travel 120 miles, is doing 480mph, how long will it take...
Be comfortable finding any of the missing numbers and you'll be fine.
a/c doing 420 knots/mph, how far will it fly in 20mins...
a/c flies 40 miles in 10 mins, what speed is it doing...
a/c needs to travel 120 miles, is doing 480mph, how long will it take...
Be comfortable finding any of the missing numbers and you'll be fine.
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Medical
I recently submitted an application form having sucessfully passed stage one. I got a reply from HR telling me that the form had been to sent to the medical specialists at NATS and following that I would be invited to stage two. Is this normal? I have a funny feeling that my eyesight will fail me.
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Also for the DST stuff, everything was based on multiples of 6 making it very easy to work out how far stuff goes every minutes etc. Eg 120kts 2mile/min 180kts (3) 480kts etc made it very quick and easy for me, just knock a 0 off and treat it as 6 times table!
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Hi guys,
Got my stage 2 on Tuesday but I've been wondering....
I'm only 18 and have noticed on the NATS website it says you can't hold a radar licence until you're 21 - Any idea how long it would be before I'd start the training?
Or is it a question better asked at the end of my interview?
Got my stage 2 on Tuesday but I've been wondering....
I'm only 18 and have noticed on the NATS website it says you can't hold a radar licence until you're 21 - Any idea how long it would be before I'd start the training?
Or is it a question better asked at the end of my interview?
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urbanfox,
Don't worry about this too much. I believe this has been the case for at least 30 years. Basically you are embarking on a 'degree level' course of study and by the time you graduate, you will be old enough to hold a radar rating!
Best of luck
Don't worry about this too much. I believe this has been the case for at least 30 years. Basically you are embarking on a 'degree level' course of study and by the time you graduate, you will be old enough to hold a radar rating!
Best of luck
Join Date: Apr 2008
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uordom,
I think every application which has information about corrected eyesight is submitted to NATS medical for approval - as i guess this is something that a computer can't automatically check. As long as you fall within the guidelines on the NATS website, you'll be fine.
This happened to my application, because I submitted information about my corrected eyesight - and then when it had been checked over by NATS medical, I was then invited to the next stage. After your stage 3, you will also have a medical where they check parts of your eyesight - it's much like visiting the optician.
Hope this puts your mind at rest - and if you've got queries - just print out the page of the NATS website about eyesight, visit your optician, and ask if you fit in to the set guidelines.
I think every application which has information about corrected eyesight is submitted to NATS medical for approval - as i guess this is something that a computer can't automatically check. As long as you fall within the guidelines on the NATS website, you'll be fine.
This happened to my application, because I submitted information about my corrected eyesight - and then when it had been checked over by NATS medical, I was then invited to the next stage. After your stage 3, you will also have a medical where they check parts of your eyesight - it's much like visiting the optician.
Hope this puts your mind at rest - and if you've got queries - just print out the page of the NATS website about eyesight, visit your optician, and ask if you fit in to the set guidelines.
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Oral Boards
Hello all,
I don't envy the guys who are going through the recruitment process just now, I just started the college in July and I remember how stressful it was waiting for results, studying for your next stage etc
Our course has oral boards starting on Thursday and everyone is mega stressed so you guys about to start the college have all this to look forward to!!!
If anyone has any questions about the workload at the college, studying for exams etc or even just general chat about Bournemouth, then just gimme a shout.
Cheers
Kev
I don't envy the guys who are going through the recruitment process just now, I just started the college in July and I remember how stressful it was waiting for results, studying for your next stage etc
Our course has oral boards starting on Thursday and everyone is mega stressed so you guys about to start the college have all this to look forward to!!!
If anyone has any questions about the workload at the college, studying for exams etc or even just general chat about Bournemouth, then just gimme a shout.
Cheers
Kev
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Hurn.
Hi Kev,
How's things going for you in Hurn? I'm starting in Jan. and hoping to get onto the aerodrome course! It sounds like you're on the area side as you mentioned "oral boards"....... or are these a part of aerodrome as well? Are you prepared for them? What do you have to learn and how much effort is needed?? Finally,I'd just like to know how tough the course is and how much studying do you need to do each evening to keep up with things?
I'll leave you peace now,
Best of luck,
Stephen.
How's things going for you in Hurn? I'm starting in Jan. and hoping to get onto the aerodrome course! It sounds like you're on the area side as you mentioned "oral boards"....... or are these a part of aerodrome as well? Are you prepared for them? What do you have to learn and how much effort is needed?? Finally,I'd just like to know how tough the course is and how much studying do you need to do each evening to keep up with things?
I'll leave you peace now,
Best of luck,
Stephen.
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Chedchenko,
Yes there are oral boards on the aerodrome stream as well, you need to study pretty damn hard for them (there will be others who will tell you otherwise and claim otherwise - they're either lying or a one of the lucky few who just absorb everything instantly)
Aerodrome and Area are pretty different from day 1, although i havent done Area so cant comment on that side of things
PM me if you want more Aerodrome info
Cheers
Yes there are oral boards on the aerodrome stream as well, you need to study pretty damn hard for them (there will be others who will tell you otherwise and claim otherwise - they're either lying or a one of the lucky few who just absorb everything instantly)
Aerodrome and Area are pretty different from day 1, although i havent done Area so cant comment on that side of things
PM me if you want more Aerodrome info
Cheers
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Stephen,
Just to follow up on what AJ7 said, I've never done an oral board before but I've been studying like a demon because there is so much ground to cover. Our course has just finished the written exam last week(where you have to learn parts of MATS part 1 verbatim) and now we are all busting a gut to study for our oral boards so be under no illusions buddy, its hard work but good fun at the same time. In fact I don't think they do a written exam on oral boards, maybe AJ7 can confirm that for you.
Hope you get aerodrome if thats what your after
Again, any questions just gimme a shout, if not, I'll see you in January
Kev
Just to follow up on what AJ7 said, I've never done an oral board before but I've been studying like a demon because there is so much ground to cover. Our course has just finished the written exam last week(where you have to learn parts of MATS part 1 verbatim) and now we are all busting a gut to study for our oral boards so be under no illusions buddy, its hard work but good fun at the same time. In fact I don't think they do a written exam on oral boards, maybe AJ7 can confirm that for you.
Hope you get aerodrome if thats what your after
Again, any questions just gimme a shout, if not, I'll see you in January
Kev
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Echo kevs comments... aerodrome doesnt have verbatim learning though 
Oral boards can cover anything in the course... but they tend to pick on stuff that wasnt in any written exam, or stuff that you performed poorly in on the written exam. Usually 30mins long, feels like 3 hours... No written assessment as such but you may be asked to draw a diagram of airfield markings or something relevant.
My board (and many others) take the line of start-off question then the questions flow from linked topics such as...
Shown a model of an a/c... what type is it?
What routes would you expect this type to operate on?
PAX capacity of this type?
Vortex wake category?
Vortex spacing between this type and a.n. other type?
etc etc.
Key - Don't mention anything you're not comfortable expanding on in the next answer
Its not too bad... honest
Best of luck Kev
Adrian
Oral boards can cover anything in the course... but they tend to pick on stuff that wasnt in any written exam, or stuff that you performed poorly in on the written exam. Usually 30mins long, feels like 3 hours... No written assessment as such but you may be asked to draw a diagram of airfield markings or something relevant.
My board (and many others) take the line of start-off question then the questions flow from linked topics such as...
Shown a model of an a/c... what type is it?
What routes would you expect this type to operate on?
PAX capacity of this type?
Vortex wake category?
Vortex spacing between this type and a.n. other type?
etc etc.
Key - Don't mention anything you're not comfortable expanding on in the next answer
Its not too bad... honest
Best of luck Kev
Adrian
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At the college, do graduates have a better success rate than those who don't hold degrees? If so, would this mean that NATS are more likely to hire graduates, because they tend to perform better at the college? I'm part of the 30% of applicants who don't have a degree and I'm curious as to how this might affect my chances! Also, how important are A-Level grades? For example, if at Stage 3 they have to decide between 2 equally good applicants, and one has 3 grade As at A-Level and the other has 3 grade Cs, would this affect who is picked? I'd appreciate any thoughts on this! Thanks.