NATS interview process

[Flying184]

Originally Posted by Mohammad Khan

Thanks for your reply. I meant rejecting a posting, in case it's too far from my home. I guess I might have to contact them to find out for sure. Thanks again, though.

You need to appreciate that you are applying for a mobile job grade, and therefore the company has the right to post you to where their business needs are. If you are successful in your application, and decide to go to NATS, on the first few days of your course you will sign paperwork agreeing to this, in addition to it being written into your employment contract. You are also bonded to the company, therefore you cannot complete your NATS funded ATCO training and then quit/run off without owing approx £40k.

Therefore if you wish to "pick and choose" where you are posted I would really think twice about applying/joining. I know it sounds harsh and I really understand it can be disruptive for a family but this is the choice you have to make.

[The GP]

locations

Hi Guys/Girls

I was lucky enough to get through the stage 3 recently, medical next month and early 2020 start for training, I understand its a mobile grade etc but I am pretty sure they will ask us for preferences at some point, so have started to give it some thought.

Does anyone have any firm info on what occurs where? As i understand it Area is split between Swanwick and Prestwick, London approaches are all done from Swanwick? and Tower is always located on each individual site? anyone know if other approaches are centralised, and if so, to where? or do they work out of the individual sites?

thanks in advance

[Runway26]

Originally Posted by The GP

Hi Guys/Girls

I was lucky enough to get through the stage 3 recently, medical next month and early 2020 start for training, I understand its a mobile grade etc but I am pretty sure they will ask us for preferences at some point, so have started to give it some thought.

Does anyone have any firm info on what occurs where? As i understand it Area is split between Swanwick and Prestwick, London approaches are all done from Swanwick? and Tower is always located on each individual site? anyone know if other approaches are centralised, and if so, to where? or do they work out of the individual sites?

thanks in advance

look at the tower for London city!

[FlightStrip]

Originally Posted by The GP

I was lucky enough to get through the stage 3 recently, medical next month and early 2020 start for training

Congrats!

Originally Posted by The GP

Tower is always located on each individual site?

Normally Towers are where they are expected, unless they switch to Digital/Remote Towers like in London City or Cranfield.

[Flying184]

Originally Posted by The GP

Hi Guys/Girls

I was lucky enough to get through the stage 3 recently, medical next month and early 2020 start for training, I understand its a mobile grade etc but I am pretty sure they will ask us for preferences at some point, so have started to give it some thought.

Does anyone have any firm info on what occurs where? As i understand it Area is split between Swanwick and Prestwick, London approaches are all done from Swanwick? and Tower is always located on each individual site? anyone know if other approaches are centralised, and if so, to where? or do they work out of the individual sites?

thanks in advance

Be aware that, whilst preferences are taken near the end of the course, subject to you passing, out of 15 on my course 3 got one of their preferences.

In terms of what occurs, you normally get an email from HR going "you are welcome to submit 3 preferences if you wish." Be aware that postings vary from Aberdeen in the north to Southampton in the south, including Aberporth in the west and everything in between. Area courses will be sent to either Swanwick (TC or AC) or Prestwick. Radar only rated people will be sent to either Swanwick to do London approaches, Aberporth ranges, or Aberdeen to staff the offshore function. There are also many trainees holding at units awaiting to start their unit training, so factor all of this into your expectations throughout training. It is definitely worth it in the end though!

It is a great job and a great company to work for, who really do look after you. Again I just cannot stress enough to expect the unexpected with regards to postings. Just because someone has a family with kids does not mean they will get posted where they want.... I can say this with 100% certainty.....!!!

[The GP]

Thanks, That is an impressive looking facility, I had heard that remote towers were being considered but didn't know this was operational yet.

[The GP]

Thanks, yes that London City Tower is impressive! I would expect these will become more common over the next few decades as traditional tower operational life spans expire.

[The GP]

Thank you, that does help clear things up for me, it was pretty much what i was expecting with the 3/15 figure, i guess as you say I'll just have to wait and see. Exciting times ahead!

Do you know how far in until you find out your unit placement? I'm assuming most stay on where they complete unit training?

Sorry for all the questions btw, and thanks in advance.

[Flying184]

Originally Posted by The GP

Thank you, that does help clear things up for me, it was pretty much what i was expecting with the 3/15 figure, i guess as you say I'll just have to wait and see. Exciting times ahead!

Do you know how far in until you find out your unit placement? I'm assuming most stay on where they complete unit training?

Sorry for all the questions btw, and thanks in advance.

You complete your college training. At the end of this, you receive your posting. Once you begin at your posting/unit this is where you will train and validate your license, and thus your place of work as an ATCO.

[chiranjib]

Hi new here,
NATS UK is wanting work visa before applying.But the rules say that you either
1. need a job offer in hand to apply for a work visa
2.a sponsorship from your company who is recruiting you
In both the cases NATS UK is not going to take the responsibility.I have asked them but they said you need to have a work permit before applying.
I would request all of you here,my respected seniors or my loved juniors or my mates if anybody have any idea please help me out.
I would be thankful to you.

[GandalfGaming2144]

Has anyone got any news when NATS will be opening there recruitment stages

[tf412]

Originally Posted by chiranjib

Hi new here,
NATS UK is wanting work visa before applying.But the rules say that you either
1. need a job offer in hand to apply for a work visa
2.a sponsorship from your company who is recruiting you
In both the cases NATS UK is not going to take the responsibility.I have asked them but they said you need to have a work permit before applying.
I would request all of you here,my respected seniors or my loved juniors or my mates if anybody have any idea please help me out.
I would be thankful to you.

I can understand your predicament, but I don’t think it’s that unusual for a company to only accept applications from people who already have a right to live and work in the country concerned, while at the same time being unable to assist you in terms of sponsorship.

From what I understand, NATS get thousands of applications a year, and although I suppose they *could* assess overseas candidates who don’t currently have a right to work here, that is probably a gamble they don’t want or need to take.

[tf412]

Originally Posted by GandalfGaming2144

Has anyone got any news when NATS will be opening there recruitment stages

Probably not the answer you want, but given the current wait to start courses for those who have passed Stage 3, and the delay for those who have recently completed Stage 2 moving on to Stage 3, I can’t imagine it will be in the next 12 months. Pure speculation, though... so who knows?

[TJJC]

TATC Application Reopening

Hi,.does anyone know roughly when the application process will reopen for new applications?

[Quilt]

Originally Posted by TJJC

Hi,.does anyone know roughly when the application process will reopen for new applications?

See the post directly above yours.

[TJJC]

Originally Posted by Quilt

See the post directly above yours.

Cheers, noticed the ANS are open for applications with the process starting early next year.

[Flying184]

Originally Posted by TJJC

Cheers, noticed the ANS are open for applications with the process starting early next year.

Remember that ANS only have contracts (currently....) at 2 airports though, each of those with around 20 ATCOs so can't imagine there is a huge demand for new ab-initio ATCOs!

My advice would be to definitely stick out the temporary stop on applications at NATS, get experiences that you can talk in your interview about, and apply when the recruitment window reopens.

[Quilt]

Has anyone heard from NATS recruitment recently? I got in on the last batch of the old process and we were due to hear about course dates in August but nothing so far.

[tf412]

Originally Posted by Quilt

Has anyone heard from NATS recruitment recently? I got in on the last batch of the old process and we were due to hear about course dates in August but nothing so far.

Nope, not a peep! However, I did email a few weeks ago and was told there had been a slight delay in confirming the dates, but hopefully we’ll be hearing something in the next week or two...

[GandalfGaming2144]

thxs at least they contacted you