Nats College Course - Basic Rundown
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Agree with AJ. 60-70% sounds about right. There are a lot of people who might fail a course and get recoursed, or even a mini recourse where they go back to the start of that phase/section and do it again, running a few weeks behind the original course. eg on the last aerodrome course of 10 folks, 5 completed without fail, 2 a few weeks later after a mini recourse at some point, then 3 did not complete. I would guesstimate that 40-50% of students go through college without failing something at some point, when the bad pass rates get waved about it is more towards this. The main thing about all the courses is that there are many hurdles to jump over, there's the written tests, sim exams (aka summatives) then oral boards, but they are all passable! The approach course which finished in January had 7 out of 7 pass! Just go there, enjoy, but work at it. 
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Thank you to all of you guys!!
I'm starting in July and I was reading other threads saying that the rate was aroun 15%-20%, so I get very worried considering how many things I'm sacrifying in order to join NATS. Furthermore, I'm not English so my competences on English Language are less than any other trainee.
I'm really encourage to work hard from DLP to the last exam so hop to see some of you at the college.
I'm starting in July and I was reading other threads saying that the rate was aroun 15%-20%, so I get very worried considering how many things I'm sacrifying in order to join NATS. Furthermore, I'm not English so my competences on English Language are less than any other trainee.
I'm really encourage to work hard from DLP to the last exam so hop to see some of you at the college.
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SimFly,
I can get on board with the 60-70% pass rate overall, although some courses are certainly lower, but 40-50% first time pass rate is way off for Area Guys
Basic pass rates seem to have improved to around about 70-80 but Foundation is consistently around 50% (sometimes lower) and ADV around 70%+. I'd say 10-25% first time pass rate is more realistic for Area.
As has been mentioned before, the stats mean nothing to individuals starting at the college.
All you can do is work hard and hope you're good at it!!#
Good luck
I can get on board with the 60-70% pass rate overall, although some courses are certainly lower, but 40-50% first time pass rate is way off for Area Guys
Basic pass rates seem to have improved to around about 70-80 but Foundation is consistently around 50% (sometimes lower) and ADV around 70%+. I'd say 10-25% first time pass rate is more realistic for Area.
As has been mentioned before, the stats mean nothing to individuals starting at the college.
All you can do is work hard and hope you're good at it!!#
Good luck
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This is a very interesting thread. Hope its not too far off topic, but I'm interested to know what the main differences are between the Area course & the Aerodrome course... I know Area is a longer overall course - does that mean its tougher, and has a lower pass rate?
I'm just wondering what makes people have a preference for one or the other? Would aerodrome on the whole be a little less pressured / stressful than area, or vice versa? Would Aerodrome be more varied? Does Area pay better?
I guess the direction you want to go is an important decision to be made from the outset, as I believe you cannot cross-train afterwards?
I'm just wondering what makes people have a preference for one or the other? Would aerodrome on the whole be a little less pressured / stressful than area, or vice versa? Would Aerodrome be more varied? Does Area pay better?
I guess the direction you want to go is an important decision to be made from the outset, as I believe you cannot cross-train afterwards?
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Some good questions there JetSet, which I also would like the answers too! I'm due to start at the college in October and my preference was to go 'Aerodrome' but looks like i've been streamed into 'Area'.
There are other threads, if you do a quick search for Area vs Aerodrome on the differences, but I've read all those and would like some more info. From what I've read, area seems to be a longer course, and the exams are not multi-choice? as with aerodrome. (Any current TATCOs please feel free to correct me). I'm not sure if this then means there is a lower pass rate but I've been told that is subjective - as long as you work hard then you give yourself the best chance of making it.
Although I am keen to be streamed aerodrome, everyone seems to say whatever discipline you do, you'll enjoy it. Lets hope so
There are other threads, if you do a quick search for Area vs Aerodrome on the differences, but I've read all those and would like some more info. From what I've read, area seems to be a longer course, and the exams are not multi-choice? as with aerodrome. (Any current TATCOs please feel free to correct me). I'm not sure if this then means there is a lower pass rate but I've been told that is subjective - as long as you work hard then you give yourself the best chance of making it.
Although I am keen to be streamed aerodrome, everyone seems to say whatever discipline you do, you'll enjoy it. Lets hope so
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You might wish to read some of the nats pay rise thread.
The common belief is that our esteemed leader is preparing NSL (the aerodrome side of NATS) for selling off.
I also think you shouldn't be making a choice on whether the tests are multiguess, you should reallly go for whichever one you feel will fulfill you the most but I'm sure that once you've seen one 747 in the flesh then they all look the same, what do you say Gonzo??
I've only ever known area, except for my areodrome ojt whch you wouldn't get if you were area anyway now!
The common belief is that our esteemed leader is preparing NSL (the aerodrome side of NATS) for selling off.
I also think you shouldn't be making a choice on whether the tests are multiguess, you should reallly go for whichever one you feel will fulfill you the most but I'm sure that once you've seen one 747 in the flesh then they all look the same, what do you say Gonzo??
I've only ever known area, except for my areodrome ojt whch you wouldn't get if you were area anyway now!
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In terms of time at the college (assuming no failures and no business holding) if you do area its roughly 10-11 months split over 3 courses - Basic, Foundation and Advanced.
If you do aerodrome its 4 months if you are posted to a London airport (LL, KK, SS, GW, LC) and around 7 months for any other due to the added approach course.
In terms of pay and location, Area is more predictable. Its gonna be either Prestwick or Swanwick (maybe Manchester but that means Prestwick in a couple of years) which are Band 4/5 and the higher bands of pay.
Aerodrome has the possibility of 15 different postings all over the country, varying from Band 1 to Band 5. As a rough guide the level of traffic dictates the band the unit is in (I don't want to get into a debate about complexity of traffic here...
) So Heathrow is band 5 etc etc.
The actual courses themselves... I did aerodrome so I can only comment on that. Its a lot to learn, hard work and sometimes frustrating. But at the same time its a lot of fun and really enjoyable. Yes the exams are all multi-choice on aerodrome but you still have to know your stuff for oral boards and when you go out to a unit so don't count on that being the easier route. Granted ''verbatim'' on area does seem worse
Pass rates vary from course to course in both disciplines, but for aerodrome i would estimate around 60/70% get through. Again for area i'll let someone else comment but i think they're not as high as 60%...
Someone previously mentioned pressurised courses etc. Depends on what you mean by pressure - on aerodrome you get 'summatives' (assessed practicals' coming out of your ears - we had 25 on my course: in comparison area foundation have 6. You can take that both ways, continuous assessment... or one shot at the end kind of thinking.
Hope that answers a few questions, anything else just ask or pm
Cheers
Adrian
If you do aerodrome its 4 months if you are posted to a London airport (LL, KK, SS, GW, LC) and around 7 months for any other due to the added approach course.
In terms of pay and location, Area is more predictable. Its gonna be either Prestwick or Swanwick (maybe Manchester but that means Prestwick in a couple of years) which are Band 4/5 and the higher bands of pay.
Aerodrome has the possibility of 15 different postings all over the country, varying from Band 1 to Band 5. As a rough guide the level of traffic dictates the band the unit is in (I don't want to get into a debate about complexity of traffic here...
) So Heathrow is band 5 etc etc.The actual courses themselves... I did aerodrome so I can only comment on that. Its a lot to learn, hard work and sometimes frustrating. But at the same time its a lot of fun and really enjoyable. Yes the exams are all multi-choice on aerodrome but you still have to know your stuff for oral boards and when you go out to a unit so don't count on that being the easier route. Granted ''verbatim'' on area does seem worse
Pass rates vary from course to course in both disciplines, but for aerodrome i would estimate around 60/70% get through. Again for area i'll let someone else comment but i think they're not as high as 60%...
Someone previously mentioned pressurised courses etc. Depends on what you mean by pressure - on aerodrome you get 'summatives' (assessed practicals' coming out of your ears - we had 25 on my course: in comparison area foundation have 6. You can take that both ways, continuous assessment... or one shot at the end kind of thinking.
Hope that answers a few questions, anything else just ask or pm
Cheers
Adrian
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i did aerodrome and area at the college more than a few moons ago.
they are both hard, but have to admit that aerdrome was the easier of the 2, but by no means was a walk in the park.
the main pain in the behind for area is the verbatim answers you have to commit to memory... its not easy but totally do-able. and also the actual radar work is harder and we found a few who were good at aerodrome couldnt get their heads around thinking laterally and vertically the way you need to... on aerodrome its like playing a game of chess and you can hold things at stands, tell them to stop etc etc.... on radar the things keep coming so you have no choice but to keep up or go down in flames.
like i said neither are easy and validating makes the college look like playschool. both are rewarding and i would happily go and do some tower work if ever offered just for a nice change.
KL
they are both hard, but have to admit that aerdrome was the easier of the 2, but by no means was a walk in the park.
the main pain in the behind for area is the verbatim answers you have to commit to memory... its not easy but totally do-able. and also the actual radar work is harder and we found a few who were good at aerodrome couldnt get their heads around thinking laterally and vertically the way you need to... on aerodrome its like playing a game of chess and you can hold things at stands, tell them to stop etc etc.... on radar the things keep coming so you have no choice but to keep up or go down in flames.
like i said neither are easy and validating makes the college look like playschool. both are rewarding and i would happily go and do some tower work if ever offered just for a nice change.
KL
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Question to AJ7
Hi AJ7:
As you said, area its roughly 10-11 months split over 3 courses - Basic, Foundation and Advanced, I wondered if the basic course cover basic theory(met, nav, law etc) or not, and could you please tell me the detailed duration and main subjects of these three courses? What are the differences between these three courses?
As you mentioned “If you do aerodrome its 4 months if you are posted to a London airport (LL, KK, SS, GW, LC) and around 7 months for any other due to the added approach course”, I ‘d like to know whether the aerodrome and approach courses is split or not, just like what you do in area course, and what is the duration of each part if split?
I am really interested in the ATC course in the UK, I would appreciate it if you could help me . Thank you very much.
As you said, area its roughly 10-11 months split over 3 courses - Basic, Foundation and Advanced, I wondered if the basic course cover basic theory(met, nav, law etc) or not, and could you please tell me the detailed duration and main subjects of these three courses? What are the differences between these three courses?
As you mentioned “If you do aerodrome its 4 months if you are posted to a London airport (LL, KK, SS, GW, LC) and around 7 months for any other due to the added approach course”, I ‘d like to know whether the aerodrome and approach courses is split or not, just like what you do in area course, and what is the duration of each part if split?
I am really interested in the ATC course in the UK, I would appreciate it if you could help me . Thank you very much.
