Concise is the keyword!

Thanks, and more cubes...
 

Thanks everyone for the replies, especially Fretwanger.

I have one small question regarding the format of the cube tests.

Does each indivdual question show "one cube" and then 4 exploded choices which can be "folded" into the cube.

Or

Is it the other way round with "one unfolded" example and 4 cubes, (shown at different angles) to choose from?

Would be great if someone could remember as I'm about to make a cube, a few dummy test papers and bug the family a hell of a lot...... ;)

Similar to the example given by NATS.

Sorry if this has already been asked and answered but I just wanted to know how important learning all the details about the planes such as the seat numbers and example routes and airlines is?

Mmmmm. When I did the S1 test almost a year ago I was only asked one question regarding speed and Flight level of one aircraft.

It struck me as odd that so much info was provided on the planes that use the sky yet only one question was on the test paper. Perhaps it's just NATS wanting to see just how much you want this and will be impressed if you get this question right.

I'm considering only swatting up on the Airbuses and Boeings (the main types) as my one question was on a Boeing 737, however.....

Got my Stage One tomorrow! Just wanted to say thanks for all the extremely helpful posts in this thread, i've been over it oh so many times now.. I'm still bricking it though :\

Ah, but I tried to explain how to break the question down to eaily arive at the answer.

But yes, concise is a good word...;)

mannequin Im going on my stage 1 tomorrow aswell lol

i might see u there if ur going to whitehall i think it is lol
im coming from Northern Ireland to southampton airport really early morning lol

Thanks Whitelighter and Paperclip.

That's great.

JonathanB is right it is 1 net of a cube and 4 examples, you can also answer E if you think that it can't be done!

The plane information isn't really important but any points you CAN get from a little revision are the easiest ones.

I would say its much more important to 'classify' the aircraft and remember how big the aircraft is then try to tie an average speed and distance to that 'class' of aircraft. Thats what I did anyway, if you find an aircraft hard to memorise, use google images, type it in and visualise it, this made it a lot easier for me especially with the Airbus'.

Good Luck anyway and I'll keep you all posted with my result!

Please excuse my laziness about not trawling through so many pages of this thread but can anyone tell me if I have to do a CAA medical, if i already have an IAA one. I really don't fancy having to keep both renewed, far too costly.

if you work for NATS, they pay for your medicals at the CAA.

I just had a thought in regards to the s1 tests. As im soon to take mine, one example was, point A and point B are 50 miles apart and a/c is doing 200kts how long will it take?

Now I know the answer is 15min but is it as 200 knots is 230mph and the answer would be 13 min ? or am I going loopy here :}

I think im trying to hard :D Anyway good luck to those about to take it like me.

My stage one is on my Birthday!!!!! 30/09/09.... Anybody attending then???:ok:

Well done!
 

Hi everyone,

Would just like to say congrats to everyone who has passed stage 3 and are waiting for their medicals. I have recently started at the college and I just have to say that you guys are going to thoroughly enjoy it! It's tough, but it's very stimulating. I would suggest, if you didn't take geography in school, that you brush up on some basic meteorolgy as it will only reduce the amount of new information you need to absorb and learn in such a short space of time. So, things like cloud formation, precipitation, fog formation, types of winds, how wind is created etc etc. Also, learn the pre course material they send you as it sets you up nicely for other lessons that are taught. If you can grab yourself a copy of MATS pt 1 from the CAA website then that would be good too. Don't print it, it's over 400 pages long, but just save it on your pc and have a squizz.

Just had a bit of spare time so thought I would just give you a bit of help in the meanwhile. Goodluck with the medicals - they aren't that bad at all.

Take care
ATCNoob

OMG....i can't take the wait. Waiting for S1 results which i did last tue. I know i'm not even half way through the max time but i have just finished uni, so not working. All i do is play games and check my emails!

Seb

Ha! the tension is killing me too! and I have one more day on you SebbyK :P

Dam!!! Means i won't get mine tommorow! make sure you let me know when u get yours!

Tehvon - 200 knots = 200 nautical miles per hour

Time = distance/speed so 50/200 = 0.25 and this equals 15 mins (quarter of an hour)

Hope this helps.

I have my S1 next Tuesday - Good Luck to everyone else going!

Stage 2
 

Hi all

Firstly, finally had confirmation I have passed stage 1, woo!

Now looking to book stage 2, which involves finding myself accomodation for the night as I need to stay over. I was looking at Premier Inn Southampton Airport - am I right in thinking it is right next to the car park that the free shuttle bus operates from? If not, does anyone know where it is, as i have no transport while down there so it can't be too far!

adam when did you take S1 and when did u get the results?

congrats by the way

lol I will SebbyK, you'll probably hear at the same time as me anyway!
It would be nice to hear when Adam took his S1.

Bad Timing
 

Hi guys

I sat stage 1 on 24 July, but before you start panicking about the fact it is now more than 15 working days since then;), let me explain. So here we go...
I first heard from HR 10 days after sitting stage 1, this invited me to do the OPQ, which I think i did the next day. However this was about a week before NATS moved to it's new candidate system so instead of getting an email simply saying i was through, i got one saying i now had to re-apply through the new system, then phone them and have my application moved to the correct stage. So rather than get my hopes up with all the confusion and uncertainty that followed(no way am i explaining all that) I waited until I knew for definite, which was Monday.

However, for both of you I'm sure it will be so much simpler, so I'd give it about 10 days. Good luck!:ok:

Tomorrow will have been 8 working days! Thats way too long, esp as it looks like they get marked by computer. they should know immediately.

If you think waiting for S1 is long, try the S3 result, or your corse start date, or contracts.

Its a long process, sometimes slow and often frustrating but HR really work hard, especially the TATC Recruitment team. They have many 1000s of applicants at Stage 1, and they do give you fair warning that you may have to wait three weeks (15 working days). Sure they are marked by computer, but dont forget that scores are not the be all and end all. dont know what else they may have to do, but do YOU really want to start with an organisation by bleating that the first department you meet 'could do better'?

Sit on your hands, try to find something ese to do becasue your result will come, and I ope its the right ne for you.

stage one
 

got my stage one tomorrow afternoon at heathrow house and I'm bricking it! Is anyone else there tomorrow?

This thread has been very helpful in the previous weeks so thanks to everyone whos contributed!

What sort of questions do they ask from the test material doc? Is there any specific areas I should brush up on in the morning before I go in?

Thanks!

Lucky getting heathrow!!! I suggest revising distances between london and main european airports. What routes you would expect an aircraft to do, e.g. 777

How many stacks does heathrow have?
Distance planes fly apart
Wind condition plane prefers to land in
Communication methods

Thats all i can remember really, they threw in a lot of mathematical questions in there aswell

Seb

stage one
 

Is it true that no calculators are allowed in stage one?

Correct.

This might help to start training your brain! Speed Distance Time | OASC: RAF Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre

If I remember correctly, the lady who took my S1 said that they weren't marked by a computer, hence why we didn't have to fill in the dots for our name.

If they do use something like a crib sheet or hand mark them, it must be a horrid job and I completely understand why it takes so long, lol!

Although I am not complaining about how long it takes, I imagine even if it was only an hour - that hour would be so tense.

I look forward to getting my results and am well prepared to wait another week!

S=D/T calculations are the key of a lot of the questions so do em!

what are most people averaging on these tests? Speed Distance Time | OASC: RAF Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre

I've been getting 10/10 in about 3-4 minutes on those questions, but it depends on which questions pop up and whether my brain goes into a panic!

I don't know if anyone else has been having trouble accessing the online tests which should be done before stage one? I have been for the past few days and I finally got through to both shlgroup and NATS today and they said that if you have been having trouble then tell the assessor on your test day and it would be alright to take the online tests after stage one if you let them know. She said lots of people have been calling in about it. Hopefully it will get fixed soon, but I've been panicking about it and now I'm glad to know I shouldn't be penalized because of it.

are you talking about the practice tests at http://www.shlgroup.com/ and http://natscareers.co.uk/docs/NATS_P...e_Leaflet2.pdf they sent us in the email along with the date and time of our S1?

Travelling Expenses
 

Hi,

I have sumitted a claim for my travelling expenses for S3 but does anyone know if NATS also pay travelling expenses for their medical, and also the CAA one?

Stage one
 

Stage one complete now... just gotta wait for those results!

I think I spent too much time revising the test material doc, and not enough time practising the spatial awareness. The first test is easy if you've read the book enough times. Only 20 or so questions.

The spatial awareness is about 40 questions and I only just got past the half way mark! my advice to anyone going for stge one... practice those cubes a lot!

Fingers crossed I've done enough, have to wait and see....

Daley,

As far as I know, travelling expenses are covered for both. Certainly the CAA one as that's a requirement for you to get a license.

yer i aced the first 3 tests and struggled on cubes, got about 3/4 of the way and am not asa confident with the answers as the other ones. so if i fail i know why!

grum123, if you were talking to me then no, that wasn't what I was talking about. Those worked fine. It's the actual online test we have to do before going to stage one that wasn't working for me. But that was linked to in the e-mail they sent us.

adam28
 

Well done Adam :ok: all the very best of luck for the next 2 stages, hopefully without having the same confusion.. fingers crossed

yeah, sorry lemmingsjump was talking to you, i've got S1 on tues and i didnt get a link for a test but i think i did one before getting the email saying i can book my S1