Mine was in February. I know a few more people passed on my day and might be going with us but no idea who they were

Regarding FEAST and DART, i appreciate not too much can be done in regards to revision etc, however for all you folk who have progressed past the FEAST/DART exams in recent weeks/months, are there any final preparation tips you may provide to someone who is taking his Stage 2 next Wednesday?!

Thanks :D

I'm on the same October Jerez course! Mayeb we can get a group going?

So since I got my pass confirmation for stage 2 5 days ago I haven't had an email with a link to book my stage 3 interview. Is this normal as we were told to book them ASAP? Just wondering if I should follow up about it. Thanks

Congratulations! Do you want to pm me your number? I've created a WhatsApp group, il add you into it!

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You're very likely to have been caught between current recruitment process and the change to the new one from April. Might be an idea to contact NATS and discuss options?

Reading through the recent posts it appears I was in the same group as you (The bald guy crazy enough to travel from Sydney), so congratulations!

I have personally received the stage 3 email already so I'd definitely get onto the recruitment email and let them know, having spoken to them over the last two days they are very quick to reply and help out.

All the best for the future and perhaps we'll cross paths again sometime.

As it stands the current recruitment process will continue for people in the current pool. There are several dates in April and May being looked at for people who pass Stage 2 before April. My only advice would be that if you get through Stage 2 don't hang about choosing your third day as you may miss the boat because they won't keep those days open for ever

Hey, I was wondering if anyone that is going/has gone onto the Jerez course could enlighten me on what the timeline of length away, chances to return to the UK and general set up is like there?

I have my stage 3 interview approaching soon and whilst I understand you don't really pick where you're heading if successful, my very understanding wife (plus a very supportive family) and I will have a young child therefore a valid reason to remain in the UK if possible.
Saying that, we both see the financial benefits Jerez presents over the UK courses and that it is only for a limited time, plus the lack of distraction from being in another country could assist in keeping me on track with the intensive training.

At the moment it's all wishful thinking and planning for the sake of planning but any information you may have will be useful in aiding the tough decision making process should it arise!
Thank you in advance,
TC

TC, I can't speak about the Jerez setup with much certainty as I'm not out there yet. I know my course will last 6 and a half months, and they fly us back over Christmas and then back out again in January. The financial pluses and ability to immerse myself in the right environment steered me towards Jerez too.

If it helps I think there is some flexibility in deciding where and when you go for training. When I got the call I was offered the CTC and I didn't even finish listing 2 or 3 reasons why I'd like to go to Spain instead pretty please and the lady on the phone then started telling me the next Jerez dates. They seem fairly accommodating to me, providing you don't take the biscuit and mess them about.

Hey TC,

I had the same concerns as you. Basically I didn't want to go to Spain. When talking with the HR people after passing stage 3 they stated that to go to Jerez requires both sides to be in agreement If you don't want to go, you don't go.

I asked to go to CTC and I'm going to CTC.

Hope this helps.

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Sorry this was a while ago, so I was offered March at the CTC at the time.

We arrived out here mid-February and are leaving towards the end of July, so just under 5 and a half months here. We have a week back home in April with flights paid for by NATS. I'm not sure how that'll work for you being in Sydney though, unless you're currently in the UK? If you're in the UK, they'll get you back to either Gatwick, Manchester or Glasgow/Edinburgh but after that, you need to get your own way home from there. How long you get home for will depend on when you come out - we get a week, others who're here over Christmas get longer, it's a luck of the draw in that sense.

It is possible to have family come out to you while you're here - we've got people whose other halves are visiting for a weekend and, depending on the size of the room, they're happy to stick another bed in for a guest staying and issue (and very minimal cost) a meal card should they want to eat on site rather than out. While I'd suggest that heading back to the UK wouldn't be a great idea given flight times, there's no reason family can't come out to you.

The big reason for me coming here was financial - I'm saving a good amount being here (while other half remains in UK) which will help when it comes to finding somewhere to stay near CTC for the second half of the course. Unless you're within commutable distance, or can afford to run your home and a shared flat etc on the college salary, I'd give serious consideration to Jerez rather than dismissing it out of hand.

The secondary reason for me picking Jerez was it's an Area course - my next alternative was Global at Gloucester which would have been Aerodrome/Approach so that really firmed it up for me given my preference to have done Area (although I'd not have complained if I'd been put on the Global course with no other option).

Hope this helps!

Trevor can you elaborate on the financial side of the benefits of Jerez? I understand you will still have to undertake further training at CTC on completion of Jerez basic so I'm assuming it is to do with minisming the financial burden of CTC for the duration of your training? If so, how long are you expected to continue training at CTC?

Basically the benefit is 5-6 months of not paying for accommodation and food. That money can be put away so that when you get back to the UK for the 4-5 months (I think?) at CTC, you've got money for a deposit on somewhere and some in reserve to help cover your costs there. I've not started looking into prices within commuting distance but I'd imagine that after rent, any bills and food, you're not going to have a lot left over so anything you can put away to keep a safety net for your return, the better.

In terms of what I'm spending money on over here, it's toiletries, any food/drink (juice, biscuits, fruit etc) for in the room and any trips out and meals out/drinks.

NATS stage 2
 

I have my stage 2 assessment coming up on the 14th! Any tips?

Can understand all of that tbh especially if anyone also has a house to run at home until their assigned area is known. If I get good news from my Stage 3 I'd probably be looking at same route if possible for the reasons you mention.

First off, thanks to everyone for their input so far. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed I'll be able to use this information come mid-April time!

My time is Australia is coming to an end around August so we'll be based back in UK again. With the option of my wife living with her parents for the 6 months I'd be away it is certainly an attractive option, plus I like the idea of her being able to visit now and again.
Accommodation around CTC is insanely priced IMO (500 a month for a room in a shared house...) so being able to save up enough to cover a few months once back seems like a no brainer. On top of that the Jerez training centre does look impressive on their website.

Did you get an option for area/approach/aerodrome? I got the impression it's basically whatever they need at the time, logic suggests there would be more positions for area at any one time but when I asked at CTC they seemed to say it's relatively balanced.