Cheers Nokio, now I read over it seems obvious that's what you meant.
I'm blonde.
:8
And proud

What can anyone tell me about becoming an ATCO thorugh the RAF?
Just had a look at the website today, and found some new things.
Apparently you can start off as an ATCA (Air Traffic Control Assistant). Also, it seems that RAF want TATC's to have degrees!?
They offer what seems to be sponsership programmes whilst you study for your degree in whatever you study.
Can't help but consider RAF as a possibly better alternative to starting a career in ATC than NATS... But then, it sounds like you have to pay to be trained as opposed to NATS paying you 10K at the college.
I just don't know!

Quick question about the NATS application form -

Do they ask you specificly about areas of your application form such as for example, if you say you do a certain sport, they might pick that out and ask you about it in stage 2/3?

Just wondering how much they read if any of your initial application form?

Any ideas....

Cheers

I would suggest that you be prepared to answer a question relating to anything you have written about yourself on the application form. :ok:

It depends on what you want!!

Sure you can join as at Assisstant, but it will take a number of years before you are considered for an ATCO position.

When you finally achieve the dizzy heights, expect a job in the desert somewhere or the South Stlantic at some stage - if that's what floats your boat then go for it, there are good times to be had in the RAF (and a lot of bad :} and you'll learn a lot about yourself)

If you wish to become a civil ATCO then NATS is your best bet if you don't want to spend thousands doing it. It is alos no secret that you will be better off financially within NATS than you ever would in the RAF - but hey, money isn't everything. It depends on what you want at this stage in your life :ok:

TCR

Pm'd you!

Extra tests
 

Hi Nokio!

Thank you for all the info you've provided on here, very helpful! I was wondering if you could send some of those extra tests to me, please!? my e-mail is [email protected]. Thank you so much in advance!

just a quick info: anyone is thinkin about eurocontrol, the age limit is 25

I think that that age limit has either been abolished or is in the process of being removed due to EU employment laws. NATS used to have an age limit as well but have had to do the same thing. I have spoken to someone from NATS about this and their position has become to essentially remove the advertised and blatant restriction but in reality anyone over 30 needs to be a ridiculously strong candidate to even be considered.

Whilst they can't actually discriminate against someone for their age studies have shown that a person's capacity for learning heads south after 30 and due to the steep learning curve a TATC experiences anyone older than that tends to struggle. Since it costs so much to train someone they are very reluctant to take this risk on someone less likely to succeed.

not to mention if you start at 30, then you are available to them for a 10 years shorter period of time as a prospering investment than a 20 year old, who will still have 10 years till retirement when you go, even if you 2 started at the same time. this also means longer spans between courses for the majority of atco generations => less people to be trained => more £££ saved

At any stage of the process are the questions such as aircraft is (x) miles from airport, descending at (x) mph, will it make it to the airport?

I assume you use the standard S/D/T from school for these questions, can anyone give me a worked example if so.

Thank you

An aircraft is travelling at a speed of 480Mph and at FL280 when it runs out of fuel. It starts to descend at 3500 Ft/Min. Assuming a steady speed and rate of descent as stated will it make it to an airport 80 miles away?

Initial ATCO Test
 

Anyone going to Hilton Tower Bridge, London for the test tomorrow morning???

Ive got my initial ATCO test tomorrow, and im starting to get a little nervous :bored: Only applied on monday lol, ive revised most things but is there anything i really need to get my head down on?

By the way does aircraft knowledge (cruise speed and flight levels) come up at all on the first stage?

"Good Luck" anyone else doing it! :ok: xxx

I've going for the tests at London Bridge tomorrow as well and I've found this site very useful. I'll have to see what comes of it but all the info supplied by everybody has been very helpful so thanks.:)

Didn't get through the first stage. Disappointed but I suppose that's way these things go. Would be nice to have feedback though - it would be nice to at least know what my score was on the tests.

Best of wishes to those that got through.

Send them a mail asking for feedback. Although they state that none will be provided I sent them a mail when I failed stage 1 a couple of years ago and they replied detailing the test that I had failed.

Hey, I had my 1st stage on the 13th at the Hilton in London as well. Has anybody else heard anything back? Not sure if no news is good news!

Age question on application form
 

On the NATS website, on the application form for trainee ATCOs, in the first section, titled 'Personal Details' one of the questions asks:

Are you over 18 years old?

And this is one of the questions in light blue font, obviously meaning an answer is reuqired.

However, I will apply when I'm 18 (in just over a month) still completing my application and am unsure at what this question means as the minimum age says 18 on the requirements PDF.

I understand that a trainee has to be 20 to hold a radar license/rating but can someone shed light as to why this question is asked - is it because any 18 year olds applying are put into a slower process because of what I just mentioned about the radar age?

Thanks :ok:

The question is asked because according to the current legistlation the CAA cannot grant:

• (i) a student air traffic controller's licence to any person under the age of 18 years; or

• (ii) an air traffic controller's licence to any person under the age of 20 years.

Good luck with the application!

Someone mentioned a while ago that the training costs were in the region of £600k. With this in mind, is there a minimum term of service that I have missed? Not that i'd want to run away once qualified or anything, just that it might be something they'd ask about were I to get to an interview.

Cheers

Ginger ;)