Congratulations! I had the same call yesterday, and exactly the same thoughts yesterday, so pleased. Hopefully see you for training!
(I had my Stage 3 in Jan, fingers crossed for everyone still waiting, good luck).

[QUOTE=Martmart;10718928]Yeah me too. I had just boarded the plane when the email came through this morning. I was lucky they let me off the flight.[/QUOTE


Ohh damn was you going to the Heathrow one too ??

hopefully they reschedule soon, I was looking forward to it

All external recruitment has now been suspended.

[QUOTE=Krissy9;10723399]I was going to fly into Gatwick then get the train down to Fareham. Someone from NATS phone me later on that evening to make sure I got the email, they said we would still stay in the same pool of applicants and were hoping to reschedule as soon as possible.

April 27th course has been postponed, I found this out last week. Not surprising at all. The email suggested a summer start but i am skeptical... this mess doesn't look a quick one to resolve unfortunately.

Fingers crossed we hear more soon. Handed in my notice last week and i am now without a job - although i am certainly not alone in this boat right now.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news to all the prospective new ATCOs, but there’s not going to be any courses for a long time!

The industry is on its knees. Traffic numbers will not return to previous levels for a number of years. There’s likely to be many voluntary redundancies offered.

We also need to factor in the number of UK expats in the middle and far east who will, very soon, be returning to these shores looking for jobs. A unit will always try to take a previously valid controller over an ab initio. Especially in the financially crippled future of civil aviation.

I hope I’m wrong, but it would be wise to keep your career options open if you’re relying on a NATS cadetship.

I understand this - but a phone call from NATS two days ago suggested otherwise? They also offered people jobs two/three days ago also - so is this a hunch from yourself or have you categorically been told that courses won't be happening 'for a long time?'

The only official notice is that all external recruitment is suspended. Well, there’s lots of other cutbacks too but not for discussion here.

I’m just speaking from many years experience in the company. We’ve seen multi-year stoppages on ab initio training before, and not for anything nearly as bad as this!

I was told it may be rescheduled for September times

[QUOTE=Martmart;10724392][QUOTE=Krissy9;

I was going to fly into Gatwick then get the train down to Fareham. Someone from NATS phone me later on that evening to make sure I got the email, they said we would still stay in the same pool of applicants and were hoping to reschedule as soon as possible.[/QUOTE]

have you had any recent correspondence from NATS regarding this? And are you referring to your stage 3 assessment date being rescheduled or your course start date?

my course start date was due to start last Monday and I’m still waiting for official correspondence regarding what’s going to happen.

i would be grateful if you could shed light on any conversations you’ve had with NATS, feel free to PM me with any names. Thank you

Hi this is in regards to my stage 3 assessment it was supposed to be in March. They said it is likely that it will be rescheduled in September.


This was a week or so after lockdown was announced

Has anyone else heard from NATS during the lockdown period? My last correspondence was 6 weeks ago informing me that they will aim to resume in 'the summer'. I've sent two emails to two of my course contacts but heard nothing in reply - my immediate guess is they've been furloughed, my second guess is that they simply don't know yet.

Be interesting if anyone else has had any more recent contact from NATS regarding recruitment.

At this time in ATC we don't know when all the operational controllers will fully return, never mind trainees.
It's impossible to make a realistic prediction at this stage.

Help with application
 

Hey guys. Not new to pprune but new to asking questions lol. I’m about to start the application process for NATS to be an ATC. Is there any online competency tests I can have a look at before actually starting the application? I realise this question has probably been answered a million times but I genuinely can’t find an answer. Thanks in advance to any replies

As far as i am aware, new applications are currently closed and have been for some time (around 6 months before Covid-19). You can register your interest on the NATS website but won't be able to submit an application unfortunately. I am in the pool of individuals who've passed stage 3 and now awaiting a decision on my future from NATS. My course should have started two weeks ago, worst timing in the world, but hopefully good news will be round the corner. I don't mind waiting longer to start, a job for life is worth that wait.

In terms of preparing for stage 1, whenever this may be, you're best of looking at logical reasoning and spatial awareness info online. I'll be honest, they're difficult to revise and you will see what I mean when you research. But sadly, be prepared to wait, just like the rest of us.

So I’ve received word I can do my stage one just now. I’m just looking for some help regarding what to expect if that makes sense. I started stage 1 last year but due to personal reasons was unable to complete it so it’s a year on now and I’ve received confirmation I can apply again

Expect logical reasoning tests, spatial awareness tests, scrub up on basic numeracy too! But give these a google and there are plenty of examples. Unfortunately I can’t really help more than that due to instructions from NATS.

May I ask who contacted you to inform you to start your stage 1 and when did you hear from them? Thanks

[QUOTE=idloveit;10770454]I've sent two emails to two of my course contacts but heard nothing in reply - my immediate guess is they've been furloughed, my second guess is that they simply don't know yet.QUOTE]
What's the job title of the person you're talking to (should be in the footer of their e-mail).

Talent Acquisition Adviser and Human Resources.

How come you ask?

Just wondering, as I know a lot of the HR staff are on furlough, including all of the talent acquisition coordinators.