Just out of interest, are the medicals done anywhere specific or at the recruitment centres? I know they're slightly more onerous than a CAA/JAR Class 1, but if you already hold a Class 1 that does it help?

Also, does anyone know if it's a specific doctor or group of doctors? (I have a feeling my current AME does work for NATS).

NATS Medicals are all done at Swanwick.

Hey
I too got selection on Friday morning in Manchester

Well done paperclip! So you think we are likely to be put on the July/August course? My interviewer said that there were only a few spots available and that it would most likely be October/November for me.

I sooooo hope I'm going to b e joining you guys this year but considering I'm not even past stage 2 yet...think I may be jumping the gun!

Got my stage 2 coming up very soon...revising as much as I can when I can, thinking of different questions that will be asked at stage 2 (I went through it last year so roughly know what to expect) however I am still having trouble learning the difference between aircraft....aaaggghhh!!!!!

Well, if I'm the right material, I'll get through...!

Congrats to everyone who is through stage 3...Bournemouth is a lovely place to live!

Arrows, I'd say definitely ring up- basically everyone who had passed NATS medicals a couple of weeks ago got emails about the april/may courses. You're stuck in some NATS black hole :sad:

I might be wrong, but I think that the position in the queue for a course start date depends mostly on when you pass stage 3 rather than on when you pass the medical. Quite a number of people in the April/May courses had their stage 3 around last October.

However, I suppose there are situations where people, depending on personal circumstances and commitments, can potentially "jump the queue" if there are places available in an earlier course.

Windneckin,

I am not sure if you had previously posted that info about the start dates, but I have definitely read it on these forums a couple of times before.

I would love to get on the early course, gets it over with quicker :ok:

However, Thomas Cook still want me back for this summer season to fly all over the world for them. Who am I to say no to that for a few more final months. It would give me the chance to say "Thanks!" to all the pilots who helped me out too :)

Andy

Bournemouth may be but Boscombe, where most of the trainees end up staying, is a total craphole :}

As there seems to be a lot of talk about it.... I asked after my stage 3 results (Thursday) and was told on Friday that they "still have spaces in the April course."

That was on Friday - I couldn't do April which is why I assumed would be Julyish

Just to clear up general start date guessing.

Hi everyone. Just discovered this site yesterday, but has been very helpful so far. I just took and passed my stage 2 last Wednesday (Feb 4th). I got given a choice of either 12th or 20th Feb for my stage 3. Can't get the 20th off work so it'll have to be the 12th (this Thursday!) at CTC. I'm quite worried that i may not have enough time to prepare as fully as i can and thinking to call HR tomorrow to see if any later dates are available.

One thing i'd really like to do before stage 3 is a tower visit. I work at Heathrow already and have an airside pass (blue pass, internal & external airside, zones 1-2-3-4-5). How easy might it be to arrange a visit to the Heathrow tower? I could literally make my own way to the glass walkway connecting it to T3. I'm sure i wouldn't be able to get one by Thursday, but maybe if i can push my stage 3 back would it be possible?

Thanks for any help. Sorry to go on....

Dave Z: they seem to be updating the system all the time with new dates - as far as I know, if you haven't picked a date within 2 weeks of receiving the "congratulations, you're through Stage 2" email, they'll take you off the system. HR never seem too sure when new dates are added though, but I'd wait a week or so and check again. I'd definitely recommend a visit to an aerodrome and an area centre (as many before me have said, the chances of working at Prestwick/Swanwick are high, so it would be wise to see what they do over there).

Jack.raven: I now have no idea what's going on with start dates. At my stage 3 (end of Jan) we were told we'd be lucky to get to start in September/October, but to be prepared for December/January (not good for me)!! I speak to Hr a week later, and I'm told April full but July empty. I don't know.......

Thanks paperclip. I called them today and they seemed bewildered that i was booked onto a stage 3 on the 12th Feb at CTC as there isn't one being held on that date! They said it was a system error and said if i went back online i could choose some new dates just added. Now booked on 9th March at CTC. Good job i called and didn't just show up on the 12th :)

They also gave me details to arrange a Swanwick visit, but still want to try to visit the Heathrow tower as well if i can. If anyone knows a contact or number there please let me know. The HR lady said she didn't have any info on who to contact in Heathrow tower.

Dave Z, check your PM!

I did my test in May in Birmingham.
Now i booked my test for 25/02/09.
I was looking for some tips to do cubecial questions quickly.
I really want to be ATC. If someone can help me that will be gr8.

I did my test in May in Birmingham 2007.
Now i booked my test for 25/02/09.
I was looking for some tips to do cubecial questions quickly.
I really want to be ATC. If someone can help me that will be gr8.

Jan 23rd Stage 1 result email
 

Have been asked to comlpete the personality online test, so I guess that means I passed the three test areas on the day.

I know you can fail the personality test, but I am still pleased I made it past the dreaded cubes :)

One step closer to my goal, so hopefully I can ask lots of Stage 2 questions in a bit.

Thanks everyone so far, this thread has been a massive help. Good luck to the others awaiting the magic email.

crap I failed s1...

Is the wait really 12 months or 6? Email says 12months, but nats ppl at s1 kept meantioning a 6 month wait...

Ah, thats tough man. Fingers crossed you can re-sit it in 6 months rather than 12.

I was unsuccessful at S1 too. Best of luck for everyone else though.