I visited Swannick last year and it was very interesting, not least because of the BA 777 crash at the end of the runway at Heathrow....it was good to see how calm everyone stayed! As an outsider, you couldn't tell that something had gone on in the approach control room at all.

You'll enjoy it...have fun!

En-route centre visit
 

I was at Prestwick last weekend - I too was thinking I'd prefer an airport but now I'm converted!

Have fun - when it is planned for?

I'm going on the 24th, I have also only seen electronical flight progress strips and want to see paper ones in use. They use paper ones at Swanwick?

Woo. Just had my medical today. Doc thinks that I will get through OK but because I took a knock to the head which warrented a visit to the Xray as a kid he wants to get my CAA medical out the way before letting me on a course. I haven't had any problems since I got through a short period of concussion so he's pretty confident I'll do fine.

I suppose in the long run alL it means is I will have my Class1 before the course so I don't need to worry all my work could be for nothing.

Big thumbs up for the medical team though. Kept me nice and relaxed even though the were touching my balls and looking at my wee.

Good luck to everyone reading these pages :)
Andy

Anyone in College (after subjects)
 

Hello all, my first post although I have been reading ots of the threads..

I have my stage 3 interview coming up - I just wanted to know if anyone can help - What general subjects are studied at college?

I went to the college the other day to ask for either a timetable for a course or if anyone could provide me with a list of subjects that are studied, unfortunately the receptionist was a somewhat unhelpful and kept saying I would find out when\if I succeed! :ugh:

Not sure what you mean by "general" subjects as the course is wholly technical dealing with such things as Air Law, Navigation, Meteorology and, of course, ATC! I'm sure someone from the college with provide you with more info.

Very best of luck and work HARD.

110% at all times is my guess. your thinkin of slacking before youve even got the job. good attitude :ok:

Well it depends whether you go down the Area or Aerodrome route.

But on the whole you do things like Navigation, Altimetry, Meteorology, Principles of Flight, Aircraft Performance, etc.

Then you get onto the specifics of the Air Traffic Control of your chosen path. I wouldn't worry too much about what is taught at the college for the stage 3 interview. I wasn't asked about that at all...

Good luck.

Oh my , oh my !
One went through the net of the Grammar & Spelling Police !!! ;)

BigDaddy.. I'm 65 with a brain like a rice pudding after 31 years of Heathrow so I am excused the odd error!!

I always thought that punctuation marks followed words without spaces so what's with "Oh my ," and "oh my !" rather than "Oh my, oh my!" Eh? Eh?

the reception people have nothing to do with the atc training side of the college...you mention area or aerodrome courses they will probably look at you like you had spoken in swahili (sp). They deal with the more business side like visitors and meetings etc.

General courses you study are Meteorology, Aviation Law, Human Factors, Navigation and aircraft characteristics. best to just relax before you get own there the only thing that will help to read up on is Nav. When i was there 2 years ago they sent out a learning package for Nav to read before you go down, this is helpful. Not sure if they do that anymore.

You could check out the following .pdf. Me and a mate are attending college in Sweden and mocked up a "dummies guide" to the basic module (first 4 months).

Cheers
TH

link: http://epn.servebeer.com

Talking of spelling, sorry about my original post. I was at the end of a long and busy night shift!

Thanks for all the help.

Paul

I think someone else needs to have a look at their attitude...Jees, no wonder why there is so much bi*ching going on in these forums.

NATS, initial selection day ?
 

(Sorry if this post is replicated elsewhere, but the only thing I found that was relevant was posted in 2001)


Hi,
I am shortly going to be reapplying for the NATS selection process, having failed at my first attempt last year. I was pretty devastated at the time and I really want to be successful on this occasion. I spoke to HR after the test and was informed that I failed on the basic checking test. Does anyone know the pass mark for the tests on the initial selection day? I seem to remember answering around 33 - 34 out of 40 on the checking tests, but its quite probable I answered some incorrectly. Basically what I would like to know is whether I need to go as fast as I did last time or whether I can slow down slightly and answer around about 30 questions guaranteeing they are all correct?
If anyone can provide any insight into this it would be greatly appreciated.
Also does anyone know the length of each test (time) as I'm trying to do some practice tests at home and want to get the timing accurate?

Thanks. (and sorry for the essay of a question)

I don't know if this is the right way to do it but it makes sense in my head, go as quickly as you can getting as many right as you can, I would put accuracy as number 1 priority, just do as many as you can they don't expect you to finish every test.

Claiming Money
 

Hi Everyone,

I recently did my stage 2 and I'm waiting to hear back. Was wondering how you go about claiming back the money that I spent on travelling? I was meaning to ask on the day but it slipped my mind.

If there is a specigfic form etc please just PM me.

Cheers

Jack, last year I went at the test really fast and I seem to remember answering around about 34. I will not be going at it as fast this year as I think accuracy must be the key to the checking test. If i knew how many I need to get right that I know I'd beable to pace myself, but there is always going to be a doubt in the back of my head that I'm going at it too slow. I read somewhere that the pass mark might be 70%, but that seems really low to me, only 28 out of 40. Unless I made some terrible mistake like writing the answers in the wrong place I am convinced I must have got atleast 28 correct.

If anyone has made it past the initial stage do they remember how many they answered out of 40 on the basic checking tests? That would be a massive help!
Also does anyone know if the test was 5,6 or 7 minutes long?

Any insight is greatly appreciated!!

Re: Stage One

I believe the tests are 6 minutes long, although it's almost a year since I did mine, so I could be wrong. No one is expected to answer all 40 (correctly), I think I managed low 30s, and I've also heard rumours about 70% pass marks.

If I'm honest, I'd try to completely forget about statistics (they'll only put you off) and focus on getting through the tests as accurately and as quickly as possible.

"Don't forget, it's not a case of aiming for a certain number of responses for the checking alone, the cubes, sequencing, motivation and personality are all combined!"


So its a combined score for the 5 papers that counts?
Only they specifically told me last year that I failed the basic checking :confused: