Important stuff in preparation for technical interview:

1.If you see anyone make a mistake, correct it even if you may later look like a knob.
2.If interviewer tries to lead you down the expeditious route rather than the safe one stop him in his tracks asap.
3.Know how Vortex Wake works.
4.Know Airway dimensions.
5.Brush up on aircraft recognition skills.
6.Know how flights over the North Atlantic operate (track structure, effect of weather on route selection, no radar over the Atlantic etc).
7.Know that an aircraft will take off into wind, not with the wind coming from behind it.
8.And finally, they'll probably ask you a distance/speed/ time question e.g. if an aircraft is travelling at 420 knots how long will it take to travel 140 miles?
(You get a pen and paper and are expected to do this in about 10-20 seconds).

Good Luck tomorrow mate. I have mine on wednesday.

Send us an e-mail if you can telling me how you got on and what was in the interview. That would be much appreciated.

Hopefully see you at the College.

Dreamcast et all
If you think you are going to get distracted
by somebody coughing you should try working with someone taking the p*ss out of your
coordination or radar headings etc.(I'm the
one taking the pi$$ by the way) :)
Now where is the alcohol/aftershave.
Good luck chaps in your career :)

AyrTC,

That was the response the interviewer gave me, but there was more to just the cold, "it was a severe cold" continuously coughing over the screen etc etc. But the question i was asked was something like: what would i suggest doing knowing there was a shortage of staff and the controller was obviously unfit to do his job.

I got alot of HM type questions for my Tech interview.

Does anybody have any news from all of these interviews which were happening over the last two days?
I hope things went well for you all - I'm also hoping to follow in your wake in a few weeks (assuming I get through the initial tests next month). http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif

Regarding these interviews - Well it was all very friendly!!!

Tech interview: Asked about questions I didn't get quite right in the selection tests basically. Definitely learn about the tracks used over the Atlantic (different wind speeds etc, head and tail winds and their uses). Also VOR and DME (and lots of other initials) are very useful to know.
Don't forget how to calculate distance (use the DST triangle - think back to your school days!!!!)
He/she will ask you about visits to a tower or centre so make sure you have been to at least one.
Don't forget to mention the 'characterisitcs' of a controller: calm, organised, good-communicator, etc.

Personell interview: what can I say really? Give some very good reasons why you want the job, think of situations you have been in that show: patience, calmness, common sense, time management, how you cope under pressure, and if you've ever bent the rules.
Just talk lots about what you've done with your life so far and why you have chosen ATC as a career.

Computer test: lots of fun! READ the instructions and use the practice time very wisely, you can take as long as you like for practice. It's all about reaction times and recognition. The nasty ones are the number matching questions, but just PRACTICE!! Make sure you are completely sure before you press that 'continue' button.

Good luck to anyone still to take an interview. Hopefully see you in April.

Let us know how you get on...you sound like you were well prepared.

Any more tips??????

CHEERS.
MCH2k

[This message has been edited by MCH2000 (edited 10 January 2001).]

I have had my tests but the computer tests went sh**.

Does anyone have any views on this. What sort of pass rate, etc!!!!??????

I am under the impression that everyone thinks they fail the computer tests, including me. So i would not read anything how you felt during the computer tests :)
I dont think theres anyway of knowing until you get that phone call.

When is your interview?

Good Luck.
:)
____________________________________________

I find out the result in about a week or so - hopefully it'll work out.

Second application for me so I sort of knew what to expect this time, I'd still advise you to learn things you didn't know in the test paper and visit a unit.

Where and when is your interview?

With regards to the interviews. Is it worthwhile reading the Anne Paylor book that is listed on the recommended reading?

The only reason I ask is that I have read the other four but am unable to get my grubby mits on this particular book.

If it is, does anyone have a handy copy they would be willing to lend. Preferably in the Manchester area.

Many thanks

BT.

My interview is next month at Manchester.

mch2k

NKOTB

Hope all went well, I have initial tests in MArch..

When you mention North Atlantic tracks, where didsyou find the info, as the booklet they send to you does not seem to hold much information.

Also, my booklet is dated 1990, reprinted in 1995.. is this the up to date one??!! does anyone have a newer edition?

Brown trousers

You talk about lists of recommended reading.. where did you get that? I have nothing like that from NATS.. I assume you are applying for NATS and not some other ATC agency? Am I being fobbed off here?!!

Take 5
------

I have already sat my inital exams and have my interview in Feb :).

As part of the interview letter a list of recommended reading is given which lists 5 books.

Of this list the two books worth reading are:

Graham Duke - Air Traffic Control
David Graves - UK Air Traffic Control (A laymans guide)

These are the most current ones and basically contain the same information as other publications.

However, if you are sitting the initial tests then I would say its not necessary to read these.(I know I didnt) Just learn everything that is listed in the booklets that have been sent to you http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/cool.gif

Brown Trousers

Thanks and good luck in the interviews!

Reply to an earlier Q regarding controller with a cold..

As well as being a distraction with his/her coughing and spluttering, you have to think about the possibility of infecting other controllers..

In an air conditioned room, the cold/flu bug can be very potent. It is better to be struggling, short of one controller on the monday, than to have 3 controllers catch the cold of him and all be ill at the same time 3 days later..

Usually, if he is suffering from runny nose/cough, then he will be unable to concentrate on his job, and is therefore a liability, as well as being infectious. When it dies down to blocked nose etc, it is usually no longer infectious and is not too much of a distraction to the person who has it.
In the military, controllers are treated medically the same as aircrew... would you want a pilot flying who was streaming snot out of his nose?!!

NKOTB,

Do you need to know about differences between planes?

What questions did you get asked on this in your interview?

Can you reccommend any books? :::If I got asked the difference between any given planes, I wouldn't have a clue!!! http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif


-Mch2k

[This message has been edited by MCH2000 (edited 17 January 2001).]

MCH2000
-------

If you want abook to recognise planes then I'd recommend Janes Aircraft Recognition Guide. It contains Military and Civil Jets/Planes/Helicopters with brief descrition and silhouettes.


Available in Most good Waterstones or Amazon (I should work on commisssion!)

BT

MCH 2000

Don't worry too much about plane recognition - as long as you know rough speeds you'll be ok.

They usually show 3 planes, with speeds of about 120mph, 240mph and 400-450mph or there abouts and you have to say which order you will allow them to land. Take into account: distance from airfield, speed of aircraft + separation distances between aircraft (more turbulance from larger a/c).

Recommended book is the Laymans guide to ATC
which is quite useful.
Tracks across Atlantic info is in the booklet they send you, you don't need to know much more.

BTW I won't be seeing you in April, found out I didn't get through. http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif Will try again next year.

If you need anymore help though don't hestitate to ask and I'll see what I can do.