Airservices Australia Psychometric Testing
Rostering in general (from what I've heard, both from an ATC on the interview panel and an ATC friend-of-a-friend (so take with approximately 3 but no more than 5 grains of salt)) is largely organised by whatever group you're with - so for MEL enroute, basically the team that works that sector, within limits set by supervisors/FMS/etc and the need to cover the 24 hour period, but also with reference to when the busy periods are for that sector(s).
An example I was given is the 2/2/4(or is it 5? I think it was 4.) 2 mornings, 2 afternoons, 2 overnights, 4 days off which would look something like this:
Monday 06-14
Tuesday 06-14
Wednesday 14-22
Thursday 14-22
Friday 22-06
Saturday 22-06
Sunday not counted
Monday Off
Tuesday Off
Wednesday Off
Thursday Off
Friday 06-14 and repeat...
Of course, that's an idealised model roster. In addition to the (somewhat compulsory) overtime, people swap shifts to varying degrees depending upon the team and everything mentioned above.
That's my understanding at the moment. It could very well prove to be inaccurate!
An example I was given is the 2/2/4(or is it 5? I think it was 4.) 2 mornings, 2 afternoons, 2 overnights, 4 days off which would look something like this:
Monday 06-14
Tuesday 06-14
Wednesday 14-22
Thursday 14-22
Friday 22-06
Saturday 22-06
Sunday not counted
Monday Off
Tuesday Off
Wednesday Off
Thursday Off
Friday 06-14 and repeat...
Of course, that's an idealised model roster. In addition to the (somewhat compulsory) overtime, people swap shifts to varying degrees depending upon the team and everything mentioned above.
That's my understanding at the moment. It could very well prove to be inaccurate!
But your example gives 132 days off a year @ 61hrs/fortnight, (if u get offered this u have won the rostering lotto !), however with 3 off it gives only 109 days off a year and 67hrs/fortnight which is still 5hrs short so would need a few 40hr/5day cycles with 2 off in roster or similar to get back square again with the hours and then also your days off reduce even more. Like 104/yr which is worse than an office worker who gets all PH off as well. Hope you enjoy shiftwork ? Imagine always getting up at 430am next day after days off ? That pattern looks awful tbh ? Am sure there are better ways to draft rosters though its not rocket science is it ?
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I've got a few tips which I feel helped me out. They're pretty general too so even if the specific tests change down the track they should still be relevant for anyone applying in the future.
1. Put safety first! This becomes relevant from the Interrupt test onwards. I'm putting it first here to support the point. ATC is a safety based role. If you're unsure what to prioritise or have multiple options, go with the safer, more conservative action.
2. Listen to/read the instructions carefully. Some tasks require accuracy, so you should only answer once you're confident with your result. Other tests require you to finish all questions, so you need to manage your time. Others don't punish at all so you might as well guess if you don't know the answer. Understand the test parameters and plan accordingly.
3. Give yourself the best chance you can to perform at your best. Don't drink alcohol before a test, get plenty of sleep, eat and drink well etc. Make sure you're comfortable and won't get distracted or interrupted. Then settle in and focus. Some people try to do the tests during a lunch break at work which is definitely going to give you a handicap.
Good luck and hopefully I see you at the academy!
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Rumour for everyone, heard from someone involved in training in Aus that they might be getting NZ to train a course for them since they are low on instructors. Who knows if it will actually happen.
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If we got rejected due to no instructors and AsA insists that this attempt still counts as one of the max two applications, it doesn't seem quite right.
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Having said all that, I just got my feedback call from Holly.
She said I did really well throughout however I just fell short in the Verbal reasoning assessment after an adjustment of the bench mark.
When this adjustment was made, was hopefully prior to my assessment but had it been made after completion sounds a bit of a rip job.
But alas, it was a fun journey and Holly was really constructive with her feedback.
She said I did really well throughout however I just fell short in the Verbal reasoning assessment after an adjustment of the bench mark.
When this adjustment was made, was hopefully prior to my assessment but had it been made after completion sounds a bit of a rip job.
But alas, it was a fun journey and Holly was really constructive with her feedback.
Might this be why it appears that nobody got through from the Brisbane assessment day? Has anyone heard of anyone who has, yet?
If we got rejected due to no instructors and AsA insists that this attempt still counts as one of the max two applications, it doesn't seem quite right.
If we got rejected due to no instructors and AsA insists that this attempt still counts as one of the max two applications, it doesn't seem quite right.
On my course only a quarter or so knew of PPRune, so it's probably a case of non-PPRune users from the Brisbane AC making it through. However, definitely try again when you can! On my course, plenty of people got through the second time.
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We haven't had a sudden exodus of instructors here, but the college has been short on them for years. Unfortunately, given the massive failure rates on the course, recruitment has to prioritise the "strongest candidates". But it's definitely a bit of a rub that you didn't make it through, due this selection process having a glut of candidates, I'm with you there.
On my course only a quarter or so knew of PPRune, so it's probably a case of non-PPRune users from the Brisbane AC making it through. However, definitely try again when you can! On my course, plenty of people got through the second time.
On my course only a quarter or so knew of PPRune, so it's probably a case of non-PPRune users from the Brisbane AC making it through. However, definitely try again when you can! On my course, plenty of people got through the second time.
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Having said all that, I just got my feedback call from Holly.
She said I did really well throughout however I just fell short in the Verbal reasoning assessment after an adjustment of the bench mark.
When this adjustment was made, was hopefully prior to my assessment but had it been made after completion sounds a bit of a rip job.
But alas, it was a fun journey and Holly was really constructive with her feedback.
She said I did really well throughout however I just fell short in the Verbal reasoning assessment after an adjustment of the bench mark.
When this adjustment was made, was hopefully prior to my assessment but had it been made after completion sounds a bit of a rip job.
But alas, it was a fun journey and Holly was really constructive with her feedback.
Seems a bit of an odd decision to alter benchmarks after an assessment centre during an intake, sure-fire way to make it seem like you just wasted 4 months of someone's time.
Join Date: Jul 2023
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First of all good luck with your application and thanks for the congrats
I've got a few tips which I feel helped me out. They're pretty general too so even if the specific tests change down the track they should still be relevant for anyone applying in the future.
1. Put safety first! This becomes relevant from the Interrupt test onwards. I'm putting it first here to support the point. ATC is a safety based role. If you're unsure what to prioritise or have multiple options, go with the safer, more conservative action.
2. Listen to/read the instructions carefully. Some tasks require accuracy, so you should only answer once you're confident with your result. Other tests require you to finish all questions, so you need to manage your time. Others don't punish at all so you might as well guess if you don't know the answer. Understand the test parameters and plan accordingly.
3. Give yourself the best chance you can to perform at your best. Don't drink alcohol before a test, get plenty of sleep, eat and drink well etc. Make sure you're comfortable and won't get distracted or interrupted. Then settle in and focus. Some people try to do the tests during a lunch break at work which is definitely going to give you a handicap.
Good luck and hopefully I see you at the academy!
I've got a few tips which I feel helped me out. They're pretty general too so even if the specific tests change down the track they should still be relevant for anyone applying in the future.
1. Put safety first! This becomes relevant from the Interrupt test onwards. I'm putting it first here to support the point. ATC is a safety based role. If you're unsure what to prioritise or have multiple options, go with the safer, more conservative action.
2. Listen to/read the instructions carefully. Some tasks require accuracy, so you should only answer once you're confident with your result. Other tests require you to finish all questions, so you need to manage your time. Others don't punish at all so you might as well guess if you don't know the answer. Understand the test parameters and plan accordingly.
3. Give yourself the best chance you can to perform at your best. Don't drink alcohol before a test, get plenty of sleep, eat and drink well etc. Make sure you're comfortable and won't get distracted or interrupted. Then settle in and focus. Some people try to do the tests during a lunch break at work which is definitely going to give you a handicap.
Good luck and hopefully I see you at the academy!
What are things like at the academy?
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Negative. Given that the Oct 2023 cohort received their calls in June (i.e. 4 months prior to starting), then I'd expect the calls for Dec 2023 to also be 4 months prior (i.e. Aug 2023). Clearly August has passed and no-one that I know of has received a call regarding that intake. So I suspect that they didn't get enough people to fill the Dec 2023 intake and thus why they're currently going through another round of assessments to fill the Feb 2024 intake. So if my 4-month hunch is correct, then we should expect to hear sometime in October. To me, this makes sense since based on the recent posts here on pprune and other forums, it appears that a few people are just past half-way through all the application tests - meaning that they're likely to finish in October. Thus, I'm expecting a call from Holly in October. I'd suspect that we'll both be in the same cohort in Feb 2024
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Got offered to start tower course starting Dec 4th. Finally!
Only catch is that training will be in Christchurch but will be shorter.
I’m told there are 6 in my group. Maybe its unlikely but I wonder if anyone is from here?
Only catch is that training will be in Christchurch but will be shorter.
I’m told there are 6 in my group. Maybe its unlikely but I wonder if anyone is from here?
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All the best!
Training in Christchurch? That's a new one. Can you elaborate on this?