Hello,

Sorry if this has been covered...

Just about to go to 3rd round interview next week in Glasgow. Things have been moving quite fast with all this, and initially in my application I said a notice period of 1 month, but things have changed a bit (like I need about 2 months), and if things continue this way, and if I pass, am I really going to be made to start in December?

March now is a much better idea.

Anyone know how pushy they are in putting you in a certain slot? Bit concerned now! hehe

Thanks

The December course is now a January course which starts on the 14th. But AFAIK the January course is full so the next available start date will be March/April.

Even if Neodude is incorrect about the January course, fear not...HR will not force you to join a course which is not appropriate. I had not finished uni when I was offered last January's course and, as such, deferred until June.

Best of luck with the third stage,
Ricky.

Current target course for us is April...the others are full.

Phew! ok...thanks for that. March/April it probably will be then (if all goes well). I'm looking forward to next week now. I was shocked to find out only something like 5% or so get through the first round. I was expecting more than 3 people at my stage 2 last week! At this rate, will there be anyone to play the "air traffic board game" with, or will I be on my own?! (just kidding)

Anyhow, I feel as prepared as I'll ever be, so bring it on!

Is that true? Only 5% make it through stage one?! :eek:

That makes me feel better about not making it through stage one, but more scared about when I come to do it again!

So a computer decides the fate of so many wannabe ATCs eh....

I don't know if it's true - I'm just quoting the nice HR lady that was at Fareham last week for stage 2. She could have just been making us all feel special... The 3 of us were all from the same Glasgow stage 1 day, and the lady said it was only us who got through from that day (from about 60-70 people in total). So either us Scots are really thick, or it was just a bad day!

Find it hard to believe I am in the top 3% of applicants, but if they say so...
Anyway, majority on next course are from Scotland so, yeah it must have been a bad day :)

good luck

Sounds like a bad day....the pass rate for stage one is around 20-30 per cent, as far as I know.

Of course, I have known days where very few get through.

Tower/Area Centre Visit
 

Hi all,

Sorry if this has been answered previously - I have trawled through all the posts but there are a lot!

I have progressed to the 3rd and final stage of the process (havent booked it yet but have an email confirming I have mde it! :cool:)

I have seen a lot of people mention tower/area Centre visits - is this somethign that I am supposed to be doing? Nothign has been mentioned to me about it or is this something that I am supposed to have worked out for myslef/shows motivation?! :confused: any help/advice would be great!

Thanks.

Yep, something you should really try and arrange yourself. Not a requirement by any means but it certainly won't do any harm. I visited the Scottish centre and Edinburgh tower myself and both visits were very enjoyable and informative.

Sometimes I get really depressed.

Atcowannabe, although I've replied to your post, this is not aimed by any means at just you....

To anyone out there who is going through the process or will apply.

How do you know if you really want to be an ATCO if you've not been for a visit to see what an ATCO does, and spoken with a few current ATCOs?

How would you expect to answer questions about ATC at an interview if you don't know what equipment an ATCO uses, and what they use it for?

This is a career, very rare in the contemporary job market, in which you might stay for the rest of your working life......perhaps you ought to do some research both to enhance your chances of being selected, and also to discover if it's what you think it is and if it's still attractive to you.

Can anyone think of any reason not to at least try to visit an ATC facility if you're applying to become an ATCO?

/rant on.

One (obvious) word, people.

Preparation.

It continually amazes and crushes my spirit in equal measure when I interview to find many candidates don't know anything about the job, the company, the industry etc.

My first question is usually "so, what have you done to prepare for today?..." it is usually met by a very short answer.

This is not A Good Thing.

/rant off

Hi Gonzo,

Thanks for your input, I understand your post was not just aimed at me but in resposne in relation to me personally:

I understand where you are coming from but me not attending a visit doesnt reflect on my motivation or preperation, it is more to do with me simply not considering that a visit was an option. Post Sept 11th etc etc I hadnt considered that NATS would allow (and even if they did, 'want') someone wandering around thier security conscious buildings - but clearly I was wrong in that respect.

What have I done to prepare/how do I know that I really want to be an ATCO?

1) I have trawled the internet for as much relevant information that I can on what an ATCO does, what NATS does, what organisations are above NATS, what technologies are used, how the technologies work etc etc.
2) I have tried to find as much other information as possible that contains information about how ATCOs work and what the job entails (for instance this months 'airports of world' magazine contains a good article on UK airspace and 'airliners' magazine an article on the history of air traffic control.
3) I have spent the last year and a half getting myself in a financial position to be able to go through the college year and although being offered to join a round the world trip and a share in a house I stuck to my plan :)

So all in all I feel I have (and am continuing to) prepare as much as I can, I simply didnt realise that a visit was an option (which I accept may have been short sighted on my part :O). Now that I am aware that it is an option I agree 100% that it will be extermely valuable and will certainly be looking into it today.

So hopefully when I am asked 'how did you prepare for today' I will be able to give more than a 5 word answer :)

Thanks Neo - will definately look into it.

Atcowannabe, sound work, keep it up. :D

You already have an advantage. Be sure to mention all of that at your interview.:ok:

I word of caution about your financial planning atcowannabe.There are people who has been at the college for over 2 years!! 18 months is not uncommon at the moment. A pretty small percentage sail through all the courses 1st time (i'd guess at about 15-20% including all 3 disciplines) and if you are offered a recourse there is no guarantee it will be straight onto the next one as it may be full. One of the guys who started basic back in March will be starting his recourse in january!!!! Hopefully with smaller basic courses now it will be less likely that people have to wait for recourses.
Anyway, I know that's all a bit in the future but thought I'd mention it.
Lots of luck for your stage 3 - sounds like you've been putting in a lot of work:ok::D

Thanks for the advice smellysnelly!

If I do get into the college then my girlfriend will move down with me - she is a primary school teacher so will be able to get a job no problems, so money wont be TOO much of an issue for me. I just had to get rid of the credit card and motorbike loan that was hanging over my head :}

All - just to let you know I have organised a visit to Swanwick - cant wait to get over there! Thanks for all your help and advice.

The visit.
 

atcowannabe,

The visit will really help you click things into place that you have read and researched etc.
I visited the tower at Glasgow and the centre at Prestwick and thought they were fantastic, especially Prestwick. Thanks to those with whom I was plugged in and listened for a while. It really 'wet my appetite' and thankfully I will be going to Bournemouth in January.
Although I would add, during the interview, I didn't actually get round to mentioning that I had been to the units. Not sure why, they never asked, I guess I was waiting for a good time to bring it up, and before I knew it, the interview was over. Of course I should have told the interviewers, even when they said thats us finished, I should have said "I didn't get to mention that I have ...........", so please be sure and tell them all.

Best of luck.

Visit to Swanwick
 

Sorry to be repetitive!

I'm nearly 17, hoping to join NATS at 18. Would be grateful of a chance of perhaps organising a few hours at Swanwick if its possible? I have tried calling direct but I get passed from one line to another :p

I have heard West Drayton is moving to Swanwick imminently?

Thank you

PM if necessary, cheers.

Average Age
 

What's the average ago of people starting to train as ATC's? Is 28 too old?!

Also, how do you find a contact to get in touch with Area Control Centre's for a visit? - impossible to find contact names!

31 here. Starting at the college in January.

Average Age
 

Hi NeoDude
What were you doing before you decided to train as ATC? Bit worried that is complete change of career for me if I get through. Feels like am potentially giving up good job and good salary in short term. Hopefully long term will be worth it.

I'm currently a very well paid Electronics Test Engineer but it's ultimately not what I want to do with my life. I want an aviation related career that I will enjoy (and will also fund my evil empire's plans to take over the world, *cue evil laugh*)

Started at CATC aged 33, I'm now 42 and loving every minute of it. Was the oldest on my course by some years.

Odi.....I'm confused.....And yet your profile under your username says 41!!!!

Myself, I was 18 when I started at CATC, now 28.

The only problem with starting a new career / life in older age is that NATS will not necessarily send you where you want to go.
It's easy to make new friends and start from scratch when you're 18, maybe not so easy once over 30.

Still worth a try though, especially if your current job doesn't give you satisfaction.

I don't think a half hour visit to the tower will tell you if this is the career for you. It took me 3 years in my current job to decide I wanted out of it (I loved it when I started).

I have aviation experience, several visits to Towers, Approach, ACC, and still don't know whether it's for me or not. But still gonna give it a try, you;ve got nothing to lose.... apart from your current job ;)

Ivor

Oh yeh, slight mistype there.

Maybe explains why I was banished to the Ice Station.........!!

(I am 41, honest!)

Hi folks. i joined up to get some information on a possible visit to a local airport tower/ NATS center with regards becoming an ATCO.

So, would anyone be able to post / message me contact information for airports - Leeds + Bradford and Manchester, so i can organise a visit to help me decide if i want to apply to become an ATCO? i have tried searching the relevant airports home webpages but am unsure of which numbers to use to get in contact with them, with regards a visit...

would just like to say also that reading this thread has been a real insight into how the interview process works and is invaluable.

thanks for any help folks :)

Had my stage 2 yesterday and got an email today informing me that I got through.

My stage 3 is on the 22nd, just over a week away, and I would really like to get in a visit to Swanwick or West Drayton or, preferably, both, before the next stage.

Could I get contact details for these places. I've managed to find an address for Swanwick, but I'm not sure if a letter would be fast enough, considering the short notice for stage 3.

thanks very much in advance

Ben

I would suggest that contacting HR would be the best bet.

bencoder

Check your PM on who to contact at Swanwick

Thats the email add of the person responsible for arranging visits (so i was told today) to Swanwick. WHen i phoned West Drayton, I was told they are not taking visits coz of preparations for the move

All the best mate

274

Thanks very much EIN274,

Much appreciated,

Ben

Hi everyone, first post on here and this thread has been a very interesting read. It would have been useful finding it earlier but regardless it's been invaluable info, so many thanks to everyone that contributed!

I'm currently awaiting my stage 3 on the 22nd this month, this is my first attempt. Bencoder, I also had my stage 2 same day as you so I guess I'll see you there!

I just have 1 question about the stage 3 process, if anyone happens to know the answer. With the technical interview, will there be any questions outside the scope of the motivation documents provided at stage 1 and 2? Then if so, what "extra-curricular" info would you recommend reading?

ManWithNoMouth, Hi, were you in the morning session or the 12:15 session? I was in the 12:15 session, just curious if I met you.

Have you looked at the tiscali site?

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/radar2001..._interview.htm

This page in particular has information about the technical interview. Although the website is somewhat out of date, almost all the information on there has been relevant to the process I've been through, so I expect the process hasn't changed dramatically for the technical interview.

Ben

Hello,

Just to say I had my stage 3 a few weeks back, and passed :)

For the question about technical questions within the interview, there was nothing asked that I felt was outside of the reading material you have been given. To be honest, I felt over prepared, and was a bit disappointed I wasn't asked more! But maybe they were being nice to me...the other girl I was with had a different interview pair, and she said she had a tough time :bored: yet she said that again, it was nothing out of the "knowledge" you should have from reading those booklets. I think they just asked her more questions than me!

Common sense is your best friend in the interview. Just think about what you are saying is sensible, and you can't really go wrong. I know I got some of the "technical" questions wrong, because they told me in the interview whilst I was doing it, but then you can save yourself by explaining your thought process for what you thought was the right answer...well that's what I did anyway. And I guess it worked.

All the best. Honestly, it's fine :)

Don't get hung up on the term 'technical interview'. It sounds very daunting and formal, and I expected a right grilling. However in my experience it was fairly laid back and almost a pleasant experience. I was asked questions and opinions on sets of circumstances that you may be in; some ATC related, although there were a couple of general life situations as well.

Not all of the ATC questions were based on material from the motivational documents. However, a lot of it was common sense, and stuff that anyone with more than a passing interest in the job and aviation should know. I would say though, keeping the motivational paper stuff in mind is a good idea.

My advice, keep calm (I know how hard that sounds), make sure you do read the learning materials beforehand, and try to enjoy it! Don't be daunted as it will show on the day. Within five-ten minutes of the interview starting I had relaxed a lot and felt far better about it as a whole.

Thanks for the feedback guys, that's reassured me on that aspect. So it sounds like enthusiasm and some common sense will see you through. I'm quite looking forward to it now! It's exciting anyway being this close.

I did have that link bencoder, you're right it's very relevent and it's been useful - it just mentioned a couple of technical aspects that I wasn't aware of from the material so far. I guess there's no harm in doing some extra reading on those anyway. I was indeed in the morning interview that day so I will have missed you.

Good Morning.
Is there anybody out there who can tell me if there are any stage 2 dates set for December and if so what these are?
Thank-you.

Surely if you've got through to stage 2 they will have given you the list of available dates to choose from?