NATS Interviews
 

HELLO EVERYONE!

I have my Interviews in February for NATS.

("ANYONE...Help!!")

Can any nice people take time to tell me what I should know, what they ask, and about the computer-based tests!?

Regards,

MCH2k
(email to: [email protected])

[This message has been edited by MCH2000 (edited 22 December 2000).]

[This message has been edited by MCH2000 (edited 08 January 2001).]

You MUST visit a unit. I can't over emphasise that. Do not take no we're too busy as an answer. When you visit note runways, airlines, destinations, type of ATC operation (number of positions etc). Also be familiar with a radar display, what do the labels show, what a flight progress strip is and what info it normally contains. Be flexible in your answers, if you don't know an answer they will try and lead you towards it and look to see how receptive to instruction you are, but then they may also see if you are a "blind" follower, someone who just does what they're told irrespective of the dangers that could be inherent. Have an idea about general aircraft types and general performance, which will egt to 20,000 ft first a C152 or LJ35?? That sort of thing.

The computer tests are not too taxing...if they still do the "keep the numbers from colliding" one, don't worry if you can't do the maths questions at the bottom, they are just there to put you off...I'm pretty sure I didn't get one right (I also had several collisions!!) so don't worry if your not perfect....ATC is a very imperfect art ( I don't consider it a science)

the personnel interview is probably the worst bit and there's nothing you can do to prepare for it really. iTS STUFF LIKE, DO YOU CONSDER YOURSELF A MATURE PERSON?You obviously say YES, then the next question is always "Why?". just answer the questions, don't try and be funny, but be confident without being overly so, speak up etce etc...all common sense stuff.

Good luck...if you have aproblem with the visit let me know in this forum and we''ll sort something out

Holy sh**, you have had collisions. Im not sitting next to you again :)

On the actual topic of the thread. Be flexible in the ATC interview, they will help you (or is it just one controller now?). If you dont know an answer admit it, but you must also be able to provide a little bullsh** if required. Well at least thats what worked for me!

27L - Yes it's just one controller now. Had my interviews back in October and starting at CATC in January :)

MCH - As the guys said above, make sure you visit a unit, even two if you can (so you can talk about the differences you saw). The only other thing I can add is that when I was struggling for an answer, the controller offered his help in the way that Jethro explained, i.e. tried to coax the answer out by suggesting similar alternatives to see if I took his word for it, or if I changed my mind on second thoughts (Which I did!). They're not out to get you (Well that's what he told me :))

If you want any more advice etc just let me know...

Well Done & Good Luck, Jas.

Thank you all for this advice.....any more on the technical interview??

-M.

Read the Ian Allan book or anything you get your hands on. At the end of the day if you know the stuff you should be doing the job already!!!!
The technical stuff is all in the same interview. Good luck!!!!!

Hummmm,

EJ had a few collisions and CTL27L BS'd his way through the interviews.

GULP! And now I work with them!!!!!!!!

By 'eck and Fibetty Gibbetts!
Gonzo

Ah but gonz what did you do to get thru?

Oooooooooops!

I had hoped that hadn't got out!

(jeeez, alliteration at its finest!<g> )

Anyway, let's just get back to the topic, eh? ;) ;) ;)

Gonzo

I just sat my interviews at the end of november, and past. The technical wasnt as technical as i thought it was going to be. There were a number of laminated sheets with different problems on them. For example there was a map with an aitport on it and i was asked what problems the surronding area would cause. In another i was asked about QFE and QNH. I was also asked how ILS, VORS and INS works, but i think i was asked about INS because of my degree. I was also asked how i would react in certain situations, ie i saw an older ATCO about to make a mistake etc. He also asked about me and what i liked. All in all the person who took the interview was a perfectly nice chap and i thought it was the easyest interview of the day, but the it might have been my background that it allowed it to be.

Best of luck

The Fox
-------

"I was also asked how i would react in certain situations, ie i saw an older ATCO about to make a mistake etc"

Just out of curiosity, how did you answer that one?


Also, Have you been for your medical yet? If so what soes it involve?

Many thanks

Brown trousers.

Basically if you see ANYONE about to make a serious mistake, you tell them. They'll be glad not to be filling out forms with the best outcome! As for the medical, I remember the first one includes ECG, hearing tests, eye tests, lung capacity, urine test, basically a thorough medical. You don't have to be athletic to pass (by God I'm far from that), but its always advisable not to go on the lash till 2am the night before! After the first one, you then have them every two years until you are 40, then every year, but most are scaled down, every third one (5-6 years) being the full works.

Thanks for answering the question for me smilesbaby, the hard question was what do i do if an atco keeps coming in smelling of drinks, the atco kept making this one more difficult.

TheFox - never mind that, the hardest one is what to do if an ATCO keeps coming in smelling of drink, yet never gets his round in when you're all out on the lash.

[For the benefit of any journalists, ATC managers or nervous passengers reading, the above comment was a hugely funny joke, or "witticism". It may, however, reflect somewhat badly on my stunted sense of humour]

NudgingSteel - are you mad even thinking about getting a round in!?!
TheFox - always a tough one, and always driven into the ground. Speak to a mentor or someone else slightly more senior (make sure you are comfortable speaking to that person so as not to make such a big issue, but maybe not management until you are valid). Its always very hard as a student to say ANYTHING that could be contraversial in the slightest, let alone say something that could possibly finish a career.

I also had the "senior ATCO smells of alcohol" question. Was a very tough question to answer as the interviewer kept adding to the situation trying to deny my answer. Also added to the scenario another ATCO has a cold and they have no replacement- what should you suggest? Obviously you will be distracted having a controller coughing etc.
The Technical interviews (as i just found out) asses 3 different areas, i know one is confidence, another is decision making, and the other ????

anyone else have any ideas?

Probably teamwork

If you'd like to spend a half morning/afternoon at our unit,(regional airport - aerodrome and approach radar control with SSR etc),email me and I'll sort it. :)

(From Above):

"Also added to the scenario another ATCO has a cold and they have no replacement- what should you suggest?"

What 'would' you say to this?!
============================

ALSO...ARe the interviews pretty standard with these types of questions?

AND...Is the technical stuff VERY technical, or more general attitude to the job?

-Where is the best place to get info for the interviews?
-What is technical that I need to know?!

Thank you for the help....keep adding...

-mch2k-

Hi, I have got my interview tomorrow morning so can give you some very up-to-date help and info tomorrow night!!

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.