Airservices Australia Psychometric Testing

[ElFynn1214]

Originally Posted by MGAAG

G'day guys,

Just putting it out there since I've read offers for accommodation in the past, as well as advice that it's better to live with your classmates; I am moving interstate to commence the ENR course on the 2nd July.

If anyone would like to arrange accommodation together, or offer somewhere, please PM me. Look forward to meeting you all then.

Cheers.

MGAAG providing everything goes to plan my end I'd be keen. I won't know until late May/early June however.

[WDags]

Hey all,

Just thought I'd chip in, I'm attending an assessment day on the 17th. If all goes well, I'd be looking for accommodation within Melbourne too. Anyone know how many more assessment days they are running in this block?

Cheers

[ElFynn1214]

Originally Posted by WDags

Hey all,

Just thought I'd chip in, I'm attending an assessment day on the 17th. If all goes well, I'd be looking for accommodation within Melbourne too. Anyone know how many more assessment days they are running in this block?

Cheers

Hi,

I'm there for mine on the 16th.
I think they're running for the 5 days that week.

[mikewil]

Originally Posted by ElFynn1214

Hi,

I'm there for mine on the 16th.
I think they're running for the 5 days that week.

When did everyone who is going to this current round of assessment days actually apply? Is this still from the applications of late last year or have there been new ones since?

Any one know what the success rate is from the assessment days? Do you have a pretty good chance of being selected or do they only choose the top 10% or something?

[ElFynn1214]

Originally Posted by mikewil

When did everyone who is going to this current round of assessment days actually apply? Is this still from the applications of late last year or have there been new ones since?

Any one know what the success rate is from the assessment days? Do you have a pretty good chance of being selected or do they only choose the top 10% or something?

Yeah I applied late last year.
Not too sure of the success rate from the Assessment Centres.

[parishiltons]

Originally Posted by mikewil

Is it possible that the large number of En-route students suggests a higher staff turnover in this area?


Maybe they don't run tower courses as often for this very reason...

mikewil

No, the turnover in en route is not markedly more than in towers, it's simply a reflection that the overwhelming percentage of controllers are employed in centres and to a lesser extent, the TCUs, rather than in towers. A typical shift in a capital city tower has 5-6 controllers, a bit more in Sydney, and as low as one in a provincial location, while a typical shift in a centre will have over 50 controllers on deck.

[parishiltons]

Originally Posted by mikewil

When did everyone who is going to this current round of assessment days actually apply? Is this still from the applications of late last year or have there been new ones since?

Any one know what the success rate is from the assessment days? Do you have a pretty good chance of being selected or do they only choose the top 10% or something?

No, it's not the top 10 per cent or anything like that. Every candidate that the panel on the assessment day considers to have made the cut on the day goes into a pool of potentially eligibles. In some sessions a significant proportion of candidates make the cut at this point, on other days it can be much less. It's all up to how each person performs on the day. It's then up to the recruiting (HR) people to fill the number of places made available in the training courses. If your referees have been contacted, than you know that you have made it successfully through the assessment day. If your referees have not been contacted, that either means that you have not made it through the assessment day (and you will receive written communication at some point to the effect that your application was unsuccessful), or that the pool of eligibles exceeds the number of training places available and you have been parked for the moment, but that does not mean that you are dead in the water, and may just have to be patient until the backlog is cleared.

Of course, just because your referees have been contacted does not mean you have got through - first the referee reports have to be suitable! And then you need to pass the police and security checks and gain a Class 3 medical certificate.

[MrAvGeek]

Airservices have opened their Air Traffic Control trainee applications again. Closing date is 21 Jun 18.

[Seph90]

Does anyone know if they are strict on the 10 year old qualification? My qualification just passed the 10 year mark (2007), if they won't accept it whats the quickest qualification I could do for ATC?

[parishiltons]

Originally Posted by Seph90

Does anyone know if they are strict on the 10 year old qualification? My qualification just passed the 10 year mark (2007), if they won't accept it whats the quickest qualification I could do for ATC?

Yes, they are strict on it. The idea is that you can't be too rusty about being in a mental study mode (and I suspect as a way of screening out older people who have been out of gaining educational qualifications for some time). There is a fair bit of study discipline required over at least an 18 month period or more. As for what is accepted - that is clear on the careers ATC trainee page on the Airservices website.

[Chopz]

Testing

Hi all,

Long time reader here, first time poster.

I have recently reapplied for the position with Airservices. Does anyone know what changes have happened with the testing since 2016?

It seems aptitude and personality testing are done simultaneously? I recall reading above that you can still be invited to an assessment centre even if you don't pass the aptitude test?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[le Pingouin]

It's still only two chances - hidden away on this page: "You can only apply for this position twice, so if your first application is unsuccessful, you can only apply one more time. Once your application is submitted it will be counted as one attempt."

Trainee air traffic controllers | Airservices

Shifts are typically 8 hours with some longer, some shorter. Console time depends on how busy it - when quiet it might be 60 on 30 off, when really busy it might be 150 on 30 off, but 90 on 30 off would be typical. Night shifts are a different kettle of fish and some towers are single man at least part of the time so you're it until your relief arrives.

[sunnySA]

Originally Posted by le Pingouin

I...when really busy it might be 150 on 30 off

Trouble is there are 2 conflicting paragraphs in the EA - total of 30 minutes break in 8 hour shift and not being able to work longer than 120 minutes without a break. Bit silly really, yet the Union doesn't do anything about it.

[le Pingouin]

The clause is "ATCs should not work more than 2 hours without a break but must not exceed 3 hours without a break, except in extraordinary circumstances....". It doesn't specify how long a break should be - 3 x 10 minute breaks between 2 hour stints obeys both rules.

[le Pingouin]

The hours worked without a break isn't really an issue, at least in Melbourne Centre - working in excess of two hours is unusual. The numbers have improved but there are still plenty of us in our 50s, so heading out the door sooner rather than later.

[Chopz]

Originally Posted by hansfalkenhagen

I am not sure if there are any "changes" as such to the testing. But the type of questions for each domain MIGHT change. For instance, one could study spatial tests with 3d cubes (because they used these in the test on the applicant's first attempt) only to end up with a different spatial test using rotated shapes, if that makes sense.

If you're not aware already, the tests involve verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, numerical calculations, spatial reasoning and checking tests. On successful completion of this, you will be invited to complete the OPQ (occupational personality questionnaire). To my understanding, you will only go to the assessment centre if you pass both the Online Ability Assessment and OPQ.

Feel free to PM me and I'll link you some of the sites I am doing practice tests with.

Hi mate,

Thanks for the advice, tried to PM you but it won't let me unfortunately.

You can’t use the Private Messaging system, add url links or images until you have an established posting history.

[lollenchilla]

Hi Guys

I'm on the July en route course and moving over to Melbourne from interstate soon. Would be great to hear from anyone on my course. If anyone is looking for accomodation please let me know. I keep hearing it is a good idea to be with people on course.

[parishiltons]

Originally Posted by hansfalkenhagen

I couldn't message you either, so just emailed. Hope you don't mind.

For those in the know...

I was reading some articles that suggested only 30 applicants make it through the application process and offered a job per year. Surely these figures can't be right? 30 applicants would be split between Tower, Enroute (AND between Melbourne and Brisbane), etc. Does anyone know roughly how many ATC's are taken on per year for all roles Australia wide?

The actual number of applicants accepted for training (in whatever stream) in a given time period can vary. The main factors impacting on this are the outcome of calculations done by the workforce planning people, that is designed to assure that the numbers of qualified people will be appropriate at any given time, and the extant training capacity.

[parishiltons]

Originally Posted by hansfalkenhagen

Thanks for the info!

As an outside observer, it's hard to judge whether the union should crack down on this with their next EBA negotiations, or whether they simply need to be a little lenient with extended work times due to staffing issues during busy periods.

I remember reading a few years ago that there was a massive shortage in ATC's as the last generation were all retiring around the same time. Is their still a "massive shortage" or have Airservices caught up to the required numbers?

Mate, if you want to join up I suggest that you focus first on your application process, then your training. If you start being concerned about industrial issues before you are even hired then your priorities are wrong.

For what it's worth all shift workers in Airservices are subject to a fatigue risk management system (FRMS) that is part of the organisation's safety management system (SMS). The figures quoted by le Pengouin are part of the industrial agreement, which is applied in conjunction with the FRMS.

[kusinka]

June application

Hi! Anyone else applied in June and was invited for the online assessment?