Airservices Australia Psychometric Testing

[Liabella]

Hi to All & ATC Academy

Hi All,
I would firstly like to say congrats to all the get through and sorry to all that don't. Its tough but rewarding from my experience so far.

I would also like to thank Kieran17 and KiwiChick. Your posts have been very informative, as have everyone elses.

I attended the ATC Testing Day in Brisbane last week. Feel pretty good but won't know until I get told. I know they have a reference check however from here can be another 3-4 weeks. By the look of some posts, even longer. Patience is the key.

Fingers crossed I am accepted to the Brisbane Academy due to family requirements (young family) but if Melbourne is the only option then the bags will be packed and off I go. Hopefully can organise some accomodation??

I really just wanted to say hi, introduce myself and make myself available.
I am really looking forward to attending the academy and busting those books hard. I know it will be a hard slog, but easy is not rewarding.
Also loooking forward to speaking and meeting like minded people that I hopefuly will be training and working with (fingers crossed)

Regards
MIK

[constipated]

Anyone heard back from their referees yet?

If our referees have been contacted by ASA (and our referees give a positive feedback), is it pretty much guaranteed that we have made it through?

Also wondering if anyone who was recently in the academy, or currently in the academy can give their own personal experiences? I've read this entire thread, and I know there has been several posts with people's experiences, but I guess it won't hurt to have more/other perspective.

I am most worried about the passing rate within the academy; where only around 50-70% of students pass. Perhaps I am getting cold-feet; but the thought of quitting my job and moving interstate, and spend 1 year studying only to find out that I 'don't have it in me' is gut-wrenching.

To those that have done the course, and seen people who didn't 'make it' or 'didn't have it in them'; what exactly did they not have? I know we talk about having a natural ability to be an ATC, but can you guys give a more specific trait/skill/ability that they lacked?

Is it:
- their lack of motivation to study/learn the theory
- their ability to remember information; eg. rules, laws, etc
- their lack of calculation/maths skills (not sure if this is important)
- their lack of ability to visualize things spatially/3d
- their ability to think on their feet/ make quick decisions

I guess I would just like to know why some students fail/dropout; other than the generic reasons of 'just didn't have it in them to be an ATC'.

[jonmayyyy]

Hi Liabella,

I also would have to move to Melbourne if accepted. I have been waiting a while after applying for the testing day, and debated this before applying to be an ATC. It will be a major uproot for me to move, but I really really want to do this for life!
All the best of luck, our accessors said they were attempting to get smaller turn around times than previous years, when they estimated 4 weeks I would guess they are pulling all strings possible to not have 2 month wait times any more
It is very hard to sit and wait, but I don't think emailing them and pestering them would help any, so we all must squirm in our seats for 4+ weeks

[djhaslett]

Liabella, check your PMs....

[Liabella]

WooHoo

Just got the call saying that I was accepted. WooHoo!!!

Djhaslett - thanks for the PM. Just shot you an email.

Fingers crossed i can get into the Brisbane Academy, but by the sounds of it it will be Melbourne. Now comes the first challenge of finding accomodation close by and also making sure the family is provided for in Brisbane, if I have to go to Melbourne.

[BigSkyTheory]

I am most worried about the passing rate within the academy; where only around 50-70% of students pass. Perhaps I am getting cold-feet; but the thought of quitting my job and moving interstate, and spend 1 year studying only to find out that I 'don't have it in me' is gut-wrenching.

Perfectly natural to feel this. Gut-wrenching it undoubtedly would be, but putting it brutally it's simply something you're going to have to deal with along the way. Your quoted pass rate is pretty close to what happened on my course and anecdotally is probably not far off the mark overall. The following may help a bit, bearing in mind I'm writing from an enroute perspective.

What was lacking in those who fell by the wayside in my course? Your list is pretty close to the mark:

- their lack of motivation to study/learn the theory

Those who have trouble motivating themselves for studying will not pass the initial theory component, simple as that. I think, having been selected, moved to Melbourne and gotten stuck into it, most of my course had already invested enough in the 'idea' of being an ATC that this was not an issue (at least initially). Later on, as the course dragged on a little, some people did lose this motivation but overall, it's probably the one thing that is entirely in your conscious control. So you put up with it and do the work, or you do not finish the course.

- their ability to remember information; eg. rules, laws, etc

There is a LOT to remember, yes. The things you use every day become easy before too long but you will need to dig deep into the back of your brain every so often to come up with something different. Lots of practice - extra sim runs and so on - help solidify a lot of the content in your mind, so you can to some extent control this one too.

- their lack of calculation/maths skills (not sure if this is important)

Not as important as you might think (at least it isn't where I ended up), but you might need to be able to think in sixes, and multiples thereof. Another easy one to fix yourself!

- their lack of ability to visualize things spatially/3d

I'd add a fourth dimension there too - time. Things never stop moving in this job. This one's a harder factor to control yourself. ATC is very much a unique job and the skillset needed for it isn't really found anywhere else. This is one that you won't really know til you have a go at it.

- their ability to think on their feet/ make quick decisions

I'd call this one 'flexibility' - ie you need a Plan A, but if that doesn't work, you also need a Plan C, D, E and sometimes F too. The flexibility bit is the ability to shift between those plans seamlessly when required. And sometimes you will make the wrong decision - rather than sitting there thinking 'hope no-one noticed' (I guarantee your instructors, both in the college and in the field, will have noticed), FIX IT!! Then move on. You may have to sit there looking a bit silly for the moment, but that beats a smoking hole in the ground.

So, really, most of the factors you've mentioned are very much within your control. A failure for one of those reasons is, brutally, entirely youir problem. As for the rest? I don't think it's really a case of 'you either have it or you don't.' Some people have a certain amount of natural ability and that helps, but the rest of it can be learned - through hard work, practice, humility, patience and an ability to laugh at yourself occasionally.

Bear in mind the aim is to get a rating - not to simply finish the course. You think the college is tough? Watch the learning curve go vertical when you get into the field. I've seen a not insignificant number of people come out of the college and fail final field checks (one was from my course). But at the end of it, it is possible for people to get through. Hey, they even gave ME a rating! Livin' the dream, and all that. Hang in there.

BST

[constipated]

Thanks for your input BigSkyTheory, really appreciate it!

Just curious, out of the people of pass the college, how many fail their final fields check?

Did most students who fail/get drop from the college know it? - eg. they find themselves struggling with the theory/sim, or do most of them think they are doing fairly well, and then suddenly they get told by the instructors that they have to pack their bags?

I think I should stop worrying, and just jump in and make the best of it.

[stevep64]

Did most students who fail/get drop from the college know it? - eg. they find themselves struggling with the theory/sim, or do most of them think they are doing fairly well, and then suddenly they get told by the instructors that they have to pack their bags?

It won't be sudden, you get regular reviews in the sim and you generally get the tap on the shoulder when you've been 'at risk' several times in a row. You'll know if you're not making the grade and there are usually options, like recoursing or extra sim runs. It really depends on the individual.

In my case, I chose to leave because I was struggling and knew it was just going to get harder. I got through the theory okay, with lots of studying in the evenings and weekends. Once I got to the sims I just couldn't keep up with the pace. I was forgetting phraseology, missing possible conflicts, you name it, it all added up to me getting further and further behind in each sim run. Once I started going to work with a knot in my stomach, I knew it was time to go.

[Konsalgs]

ACT online test

Hi mates, I was happy to be short listed by the recruitment team and finished my online test with full of excitement but that wasn't long. Got result next day about not been competent. Did anyone faced that I know test is not tough but time limit make u nervous. Do they review result and recall to sit for another go.

[le Pingouin]

their ability to think on their feet/ make quick decisions

As an experienced controller I'd say that is the killer. Most of the other things mentioned become evident early on and can be addressed to a degree by self application but it's how the whole package comes together at the end under real pressure that counts. It isn't always evident until that pressure is applied that there's a problem.

how many fail their final fields check?

20% +/-

[Elias.K]

ACT online test

Hi Konsalgs,

I did the online test last night. I thought I totally botched one of the sections, I accidentally skipped the practice questions on that one and then didn't know what to expect when the questions came up. In the end looks like I did better than I thought as I got an email this morning to book my phone interview. So tracking well so far.

[arnhem flyer]

assessment centre brissie

Hi Guys,

I also attended the assesment centre in brissie recently (9th) and really unsure how I did, (pretty average in the maths stuff im sure!) not sure about the sim, I had to be reminded a few times on how I worded things. Hopefully we hear back soon. interested to know if anyone from those 3 days has heard anything.

[Liabella]

Accomodation and Transport - Enroute Course July 1

Hi All,

I have been accepted to the Enroute Course in Melbourne commencing 1 July 2013.

While i don't like my chnaces I am hoping that I may get placed in Brisbane even if it starts later. Would be perfect for my situation, but then again if it's Melbourne only, I'll be there with bells on.

I'll be looking for accomodation while there. I'm not fussy as long as its clean and close to the Academy. Transport will be the killer as the family will keep the car in Brisbane (young family, school runs etc).

If you know of anywhere that fits in with these dates please let me know.
How do others get started with transport etc. Sounds a silly question but hoping to not have to buy a car for only 12 months.

Good Luck to all the other applicants who have applied.
MIK

[Liabella]

Brisbane 9 April Testing Day

Hi Arnham Flyer,
I attended the Wednesday Test Day (10 April).
Reference check done on 15th, and got the call yesterday to say I was selected.
Good luck to you and your chances

[Ubix]

online test

Just completed the online test. Oh my god, missed questions & messed up the maths part damn!!! I don't think I'll get in this time!

[constipated]

Liabella, from what I have read in this thread, most people are saying that the only way to get to the academy is really by car. Public transport is non-existent, as the academy is on the other side of the airport.

Although, some people have mentioned that there were a few people who rode bikes to the academy...

[Elias.K]

Public Transport

Liabella,

Here is info on public transport to Melbourne Airport. Airport travel - Public Transport Victoria

This would only get you to the Terminal though. I mapped out a walk with mapmyrun and it works out to over 7.5km from Tower Rd to the Terminal were the bus would drop you off, so walking from there is not a good option. Maybe a cheap bicycle you can lock up somewhere near there is an idea.

I would contact Melbourne Airport or Melbourne Centre and see if they know of any other service that might run between the two locations.

Personally, if I was in a course I would be happy to pick anyone up on my way from the bus stop, so maybe there is someone in the course who is willing to help you out, most people going onto the Tullamarine freeway would be passing by there anyway.

Have you been given an option on waiting for a course to start in Brisbane or are you locked into the Melbourne course?

[arnhem flyer]

Hmm, no call yet. Although no rejection either hate waiting!

[constipated]

arnhem flyer, perhaps check with your referees? they might have been contacted - thats always a good sign.

[cadetkid]

Just for reference guys, the next Brisbane course starts in May, which I imagine is full if you are getting offered July courses. The next Brisbane one after that wont start until sometime around September/October or later.