NATS interview process

[AdamOliver]

Yeah, you should be alright I think! Good luck!

[Jof_1999]

@flyingblinduk,

I wore smart casual to all the stages apart from stage three which was the actual interview. The invitations you get to attend CTC detail the dress code for each stage.

[ollie999]

It took just over a week for me also.

[FlyingBlindUK]

I appreciate the response Jof. Thank you. You never want to be over dressed (tuxedo) or under dressed (naked) so I thought it was worth asking

[Danny212]

Just got my email confirming that I passed the intial tests.
Now onto the Spatial Reasoning and Diagrammatical Reasoning.
Anyone got an tips/ information on these tests?

[FlyingBlindUK]

I feel like crap now. Just failed Stage 1. Can't believe it... I finally managed to arrange a tower visit at Luton as well.

Is there anything I can do? They said in the email that I would have to wait two years but that's far too long..

[Danny212]

@FlyingBlindUK sorry to hear that buddy! Were the stage 1 tests difficult? What did it involve?

[FlyingBlindUK]

I thought I did okay. Spatial you just have to look for shapes that stand out and pick them. For diagrammatic you are given some symbols and have to work out what the command means. Search it online it's the same.

[747BOLT]

I've just got the email I expected. I failed stage 0.

24 months is a long time to wait! I've got no idea what I want to do with my life now, I've only just finished Uni and got a bit ahead of myself with becoming an ATC.

Good luck to everybody else.

[FlyingBlindUK]

Ah man even with a degree they didn't take you. Tough customers. I'm looking into alternative routes at the moment and it seems this is another one:
Contacts | Air Traffic Control Training ? Global ATS Limited

Thought I'm not sure how to apply or what sort of salary you could expect. The website isn't as organised.

[Famzy]

You don't get a salary while training with global ATS. You also have to pay a substantial amount of money for the courses and assessments. They also have no funding/financing schemes, meaning they expect payment upfront. Your also not guaranteed a job upon completion of the course.

Price list - http://www.global-ats.com/wp-content...rochure-V1.pdf

[FlyingBlindUK]

Thank you for the link Famzy. Unbelievable... looks as if my days of becoming an Air Traffic Controller are over. I can't afford that. Well now I'm lost.

[Danny212]

Completed Stage 1 tests.
Don't think it went too well

Fingers crossed though

[FlyingBlindUK]

That's how we all generally felt buddy. The questions were generally easy but it's the time limit that trips you out. Luckily spacial and diagrammatic reasoning are both more lax when it comes to time. Personally however diagrammatic got considerably harder to the point where my brain just switched off and left me wandering if this was real life.

[Jof_1999]

Flying Blind if you are dead set on Air Traffic then there are still some options open to you.

In the civilian world you could try Eurocontrol because you are still young enough to try them. I think their recruitment process is very similar to NATS though.

You can also try the RAF or Royal Navy and then after a career with them try NATS but with the ATC experience you have gained. This is the route I have gone down and it worked pretty well but you have to be the type of person that will thrive in a military environment for this to work.

Good luck with which ever avenue to take.

[JackFloyd]

Stage 2 / 6th June

Hi.

I'm going to Swanwick for stage 2 on the 6th June. Anyone else going on this date?
I'm gonna go on the 5th . Know any good and cheap hotels nearby?

[wannabegirl]

Anyone aware how long the bond is with NATS on completion of training or validation?
It certainly didn't used to be any length of time but I have since read 3 - 5 years? Can't find anything on NATS website

[sambatc]

3 years after validation

[sambatc]

see above...

[FlyingBlindUK]

Thank you, Joff. I appreciate the information. In fact I applied to the RAF a week ago. Their response will likely take up to six weeks total so we'll see.