NATS interview process
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Salsaboy,
Thanks very much for the detailed answer buddy, I really appreciate it.
The types of sdt questions that are asked are for example:
"BAW123 is flying at a constant speed of 480 knots, he passes VOR A at time 15 and the distance between VOR A and VOR B is 32 nms, what time will he arrive at VOR B? Answer : Time 19"
Hope this makes sense
Cheers
Kev
Thanks very much for the detailed answer buddy, I really appreciate it.
The types of sdt questions that are asked are for example:
"BAW123 is flying at a constant speed of 480 knots, he passes VOR A at time 15 and the distance between VOR A and VOR B is 32 nms, what time will he arrive at VOR B? Answer : Time 19"
Hope this makes sense
Cheers
Kev
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Salsaboy,
There will be no questions calculating top of descent points at the stage 2 interview. If you mean the rule of thumb that is 3 times the height to lose in nms (eg aircraft has to lose 20,000 feet so give 60/70 nms to do so) That is something that is taught at the college.
Cheers
Kev
There will be no questions calculating top of descent points at the stage 2 interview. If you mean the rule of thumb that is 3 times the height to lose in nms (eg aircraft has to lose 20,000 feet so give 60/70 nms to do so) That is something that is taught at the college.
Cheers
Kev
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hey paper clip
phoned HR and they had sent me 3emails and i hadn't received any of them and they have my right email address so god know's whats going on. now, they have my brothers email address and he forwards any mail from them on to me since my email address doesn't seem to want to accept them! I was wondering if anyone could tell me what type of questions are in the motivation paper? i've read the material NATS have sent out, learnt it from cover to cover but not a clue what type of questions they are gonna ask?! how many tests am I going to sit and what are they? can u tell im totally clueless!! i don't have the slightest idea what i'm going to be getting tested on, the SHLGroup link is totally different from the NATS practice leaflet.
HELP!!
Clairey Fairy xx
p.s am i going to be asked questions using distance speed and time?
phoned HR and they had sent me 3emails and i hadn't received any of them and they have my right email address so god know's whats going on. now, they have my brothers email address and he forwards any mail from them on to me since my email address doesn't seem to want to accept them! I was wondering if anyone could tell me what type of questions are in the motivation paper? i've read the material NATS have sent out, learnt it from cover to cover but not a clue what type of questions they are gonna ask?! how many tests am I going to sit and what are they? can u tell im totally clueless!! i don't have the slightest idea what i'm going to be getting tested on, the SHLGroup link is totally different from the NATS practice leaflet.
HELP!!
Clairey Fairy xx
p.s am i going to be asked questions using distance speed and time?
Join Date: May 2008
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S3 Help
Hey guys, know this is cheeky and will appreciate if no-one replies but have my S3 next month and wondered if anyone could provide any pointers.
I have done what I would class as the obvious stuff,
looked over my application
Graham Duke
Airliners.net
Stuff from S1 and S2
NATS.co.uk
Occasional Aviation World/Flight International
Visits to both area/aerodrome centres.
plus a few other bits and pieces, am I missing anything glaringly obvious? I know the interview will be completely different depending on candidate, and where ATC/candidate lead the interview, but any help would be greatly welcomed, trying not to panic
shugs
I have done what I would class as the obvious stuff,
looked over my application
Graham Duke
Airliners.net
Stuff from S1 and S2
NATS.co.uk
Occasional Aviation World/Flight International
Visits to both area/aerodrome centres.
plus a few other bits and pieces, am I missing anything glaringly obvious? I know the interview will be completely different depending on candidate, and where ATC/candidate lead the interview, but any help would be greatly welcomed, trying not to panic
shugs
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I'm in the same boat Shugs
Interview on the 30th, Struggling with learning planes and plane information.
Clairey Fairy
Read the whole thread.... long but helps, If you have learnt the documentation and can do simple maths you will be absoloutley fine with the tests.
Speed = distance / time
That is all you need.
Oh and some very basic geological knowledge
Read the email... read the thread, has all the answers.
Interview on the 30th, Struggling with learning planes and plane information.
Clairey Fairy
Read the whole thread.... long but helps, If you have learnt the documentation and can do simple maths you will be absoloutley fine with the tests.
Speed = distance / time
That is all you need.
Oh and some very basic geological knowledge
Read the email... read the thread, has all the answers.
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Just to back up what mixmastermike has said,
I found stage 3 the most stress free part of the recruitment process. If you have done the work and prepared well then there is no reason why you won't get through.
Learn the motivation papers, visit some ATSU's and have answers prepared for the HR questions like "Tell me about a time when you were heavily scrutinised? How did you deal with it? Would you deal with it differently if it happened to you now? etc etc
Best of luck guys, maybe see some of you at the college soon!
Kev
Oh, and I never got asked to identify any aircraft in my stage 3 interview, although that was a year ago, its possibly changed!
I found stage 3 the most stress free part of the recruitment process. If you have done the work and prepared well then there is no reason why you won't get through.
Learn the motivation papers, visit some ATSU's and have answers prepared for the HR questions like "Tell me about a time when you were heavily scrutinised? How did you deal with it? Would you deal with it differently if it happened to you now? etc etc
Best of luck guys, maybe see some of you at the college soon!
Kev
Oh, and I never got asked to identify any aircraft in my stage 3 interview, although that was a year ago, its possibly changed!
Join Date: Jul 2008
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shugs,
after having read what you have done the only thing I can say is do NOT panic, you should be in good shape.
Like the others have said, I found stage 3 to be the least stressful stage. If you are genuinely interested in ATC and have prepared as you say, the only thing left is to stay calm and just be yourself.
Good luck!
after having read what you have done the only thing I can say is do NOT panic, you should be in good shape.
Like the others have said, I found stage 3 to be the least stressful stage. If you are genuinely interested in ATC and have prepared as you say, the only thing left is to stay calm and just be yourself.
Good luck!
Join Date: Jan 2009
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aphelio : I can only repeat what others have already said.
Make sure you learn all the materials provided as best you can. Stay calm and relaxed. Just be yourself and make sure you do all they've asked you to in preparation for each stage of the process. It's down to personality really- different people prepare themselves differently.
Don't worry about arranging any visits to ATC Units for Stage 2, although if you get through to stage 3 i'd recommend it as it gives you a lot to talk about in your formal interview. Between now and Stage 2 learn the booklets, have a think about times when you've shown leadership, teamwork skills etc. If you have a browse through this thread there are some useful tips hidden among it.
Make sure you learn all the materials provided as best you can. Stay calm and relaxed. Just be yourself and make sure you do all they've asked you to in preparation for each stage of the process. It's down to personality really- different people prepare themselves differently.
Don't worry about arranging any visits to ATC Units for Stage 2, although if you get through to stage 3 i'd recommend it as it gives you a lot to talk about in your formal interview. Between now and Stage 2 learn the booklets, have a think about times when you've shown leadership, teamwork skills etc. If you have a browse through this thread there are some useful tips hidden among it.
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Hi everyone
I have got my interview with nats next month for trainee ATC, stage 1 . I have read the posts given here about wat to expect at the interview. Also i was sent an email by nats tat the interview will last for 4 hours and they will be testing various aptitude tests and few motivation questions would be based on the information they send via email. Now the aptitude test will be of basic checking, rotating 3-d shapes into 2 and following diagramatically coded instructions. I am struggling here with 3-d shapes rotating into 2-d. Well I have got two books from local library on spatial reasoning and tryin to prepare for the tests. Is there any other book for spatial reasoning which could help to prepare in more detail?
I have got my interview with nats next month for trainee ATC, stage 1 . I have read the posts given here about wat to expect at the interview. Also i was sent an email by nats tat the interview will last for 4 hours and they will be testing various aptitude tests and few motivation questions would be based on the information they send via email. Now the aptitude test will be of basic checking, rotating 3-d shapes into 2 and following diagramatically coded instructions. I am struggling here with 3-d shapes rotating into 2-d. Well I have got two books from local library on spatial reasoning and tryin to prepare for the tests. Is there any other book for spatial reasoning which could help to prepare in more detail?
Last edited by hardik; 10th Jan 2009 at 14:44.
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Spatial awareness
Hi, Im just embarking on this journey and am busy revising for my S1 in Manchester on 13 Feb.
Does anyone have any links to some online spacial awareness/cube tests?
Cheers guys and good luck!
Does anyone have any links to some online spacial awareness/cube tests?
Cheers guys and good luck!
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Hey Shugs
Just wanna say I am in exactly the same boat as you, on my stage 3 and have been looking over pervious documents, airliners.net and the graham duke book that was kindly given to me from Cardiff ATC.
I'm really struggling with plane recognition though, and am worried about how much in depth information they can expect you to know at this stage.
I have even started look at the manual of air traffic services.... is this perhaps a step too far?
Just wanna say I am in exactly the same boat as you, on my stage 3 and have been looking over pervious documents, airliners.net and the graham duke book that was kindly given to me from Cardiff ATC.
I'm really struggling with plane recognition though, and am worried about how much in depth information they can expect you to know at this stage.
I have even started look at the manual of air traffic services.... is this perhaps a step too far?
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Nick,
Personally I don't think looking at the MATS is necessary for S3, they dont expect you to know it, and it's a very dry document as well. S3 is more along the lines of applying logic and common sense to situations that the interviewer will present to you. Any decisions you make, make them based on reasons that you can explain, and be flexible if necessary in the wake of new information being introduced to the scenario. A little bit of ATC knowledge may help, but by the same token it may hinder. They are not necessarily looking for the answer a controller would give, but looking for the skills and decision making that are needed to be trained to be a controller.
To re-iterate what others have said, try and be as relaxed as possible, my S3 was the most relaxed interview of my life, it really helps you to think through your decisions. If you have made it this far, you're not far away
Personally I don't think looking at the MATS is necessary for S3, they dont expect you to know it, and it's a very dry document as well. S3 is more along the lines of applying logic and common sense to situations that the interviewer will present to you. Any decisions you make, make them based on reasons that you can explain, and be flexible if necessary in the wake of new information being introduced to the scenario. A little bit of ATC knowledge may help, but by the same token it may hinder. They are not necessarily looking for the answer a controller would give, but looking for the skills and decision making that are needed to be trained to be a controller.
To re-iterate what others have said, try and be as relaxed as possible, my S3 was the most relaxed interview of my life, it really helps you to think through your decisions. If you have made it this far, you're not far away
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nickhopkinsjnr,
Definitely a step (or two) too far. You seem to have done all the right things so do not worry.
I went to my stage 3 with a lot of information and knowledge that was never used.... I read Graham Duke's book a few times plus "Air Band Radio Handbook" and "International Air Band Radio Handbook". Reading them helped me get a better understanding of ATC (and it increased my confidence for the interview) but, if I think of my interview, all the questions could have been answered without reading them. My visits to TWRs and ACCs had more relevance during the interview.
I personally think stage 3 is not an exam about ATC knowledge, they do want to see some ATC knowledge but they also want to see genuine interest, motivation, how you think, how you justify your decisions, ...
Bear in mind that stage 3 is the first time they can get a bit of an idea of your personality face to face (the structured interview in stage 2 is not used for that)... and getting through college is not exclusively about previous knowledge but about personality, work ethic...
Good luck
Definitely a step (or two) too far. You seem to have done all the right things so do not worry.
I went to my stage 3 with a lot of information and knowledge that was never used.... I read Graham Duke's book a few times plus "Air Band Radio Handbook" and "International Air Band Radio Handbook". Reading them helped me get a better understanding of ATC (and it increased my confidence for the interview) but, if I think of my interview, all the questions could have been answered without reading them. My visits to TWRs and ACCs had more relevance during the interview.
I personally think stage 3 is not an exam about ATC knowledge, they do want to see some ATC knowledge but they also want to see genuine interest, motivation, how you think, how you justify your decisions, ...
Bear in mind that stage 3 is the first time they can get a bit of an idea of your personality face to face (the structured interview in stage 2 is not used for that)... and getting through college is not exclusively about previous knowledge but about personality, work ethic...
Good luck
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Thanks guys, Once again this forum has been a great help. If anyone has questions about what to expect in stage 1 or 2 send me a message as i have been through it recently.
Cheers
Cheers
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Stage 2
nickhopkinsjnr,
I have my stage 2 on Thursday and I'm starting to get pretty nervous about it. I was wondering what bit about stage 2 did you find the hardest? Also is there any kind of preparation that I can do for the interview part of it because that's the bit I'm worried about. What prep did you do for it?
I await your reply.
I have my stage 2 on Thursday and I'm starting to get pretty nervous about it. I was wondering what bit about stage 2 did you find the hardest? Also is there any kind of preparation that I can do for the interview part of it because that's the bit I'm worried about. What prep did you do for it?
I await your reply.
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stage one
I have my stage one on 16th Feb. I just wanted any information/advice people have really.
I've been reading through the doc given out for stage one. I'm working my way through all the aircraft information, trying to commit it to long term memory so i wont have to re learn it again later.
I've also gone through the practice test that NATS give out in the email. I didnt have any problems with them, but would like to do a bit more practice. So any links to websites or other sources of infomation for practice tests would be much appreciated.
Are the tests computer based?
I've been reading through the doc given out for stage one. I'm working my way through all the aircraft information, trying to commit it to long term memory so i wont have to re learn it again later.
I've also gone through the practice test that NATS give out in the email. I didnt have any problems with them, but would like to do a bit more practice. So any links to websites or other sources of infomation for practice tests would be much appreciated.
Are the tests computer based?