lizplt
 

What day did u sit S1? I got mine today aswell. When you doing S2?

honestly dont know what the tests you do when you apply prove, i wouldnt get too hung up on the whole application side of it as 90% is irrelevant to the job

good luck to everyone in the application process tho, its worth it in the end :ok:

Sorry don't wanna take you guys too far off topic but -

Is anyone else really struggling to remember all the stuff about all the aircraft they gave us ie cruise level, speed, seats(:0)! Just wondering if anyone else has any improvement on my inspiring spider diagrams!

Also anyone got S1 on wednesday?

Fumbles
 

Mate don't concentrate too much on that. Thats my advice ;) What route would you expect a 777-300 to do? :D

unfortunately learning pages and pages of information verbatim is something you guys will have to look forward to at the college, i dont mean 1 or 2 pages but at least 10 times that amount, text and stats, again it doesn't relate to the actual controlling aspect of the job but taking in and retaining information is a massive quality of being an atco. i doubt very few operational staff would know which route a 777-300 would fly, let alone know what 1 looks like :confused:

try making your own "top trumps" style cards to help retain aircraft information, helped a lot during my training, makes learning fun too :rolleyes:

I'm just saying the 777 question comes up in the exam, and from what i've heard they use the same exam at the moment. But the lady said that the exam wasn't about the facts, it was about recalling info from your memory

Hey SebbyK, congratulations on the pass! I still haven't heard they must be pushing it to the 15th working day for me LOL.

Anyway I should find out on tuesday anyway!

Good luck with your S2!

Thanks Fretwanger! Remember monday is bank holiday lol! You'll have to wait longer

Hi,my name is Antonio,this is the first time I write in this forum.I´m also preparing for nats ATCOT,I´m going to have the first stage next month and I would like to ask anybody if there is any site or any book to practice with speed,time and distance exercises.Thank you.

Guys/Gals

Can someone recommend a place for me to stay the night? I have to go down night before my S2. A nice cheap B & B will do or a hotel whatever u know is good

Seb

If you read the thread (just the previous page!) there is at least one DST calculation, maybe thats worth a look? ;)

Again, if you read the thread.......(is there a trend appearing here?? :hmm:) you'll find most S2 candidates have recommended Premier Inns or other local hotels to Fareham.

Read the thread...... :ugh:

donk,
"I doubt very few operational staff would know what 1 looks like"
So, according to the above, if a 777-300 lost an engine, most "operational staff" (i.e. valid ATCO's/ATSA's) wouldn't have a clue how many serviceable engines the crew had left.
Air Traffic Control is a profession. The "operational staff" are professionals.
I take it from this that you have a 'management' or HR/HF background.

Anyone else got stage 1 at Heathrow House on the 25th Sept?

<P>Hi,wazzer 1976,I also have the first stage on September 25th.</P>

Anybody know what the retirement age for ATCO's at NATS is?

Heathrow House Dates
 

wazzer1976. Norroll. I am currently waiting to book stage 1 at Heathrow House but as far as I am aware, all the slots currently available are at the Corporate and Technical Centre, Fareham.

Are you sure the 25/09/09 dates are definitely Heathrow House? If so, when did you book it and how?

Thanks for your help

Hi SKOS,if you are trying to book for heathrow house currently and you can´t maybe all the vacants are engaged.I did my booking on July and in that time I was able to do it without any problem.

Finally found out when I start the college! February! Passed my CAA Class 1 on Friday and called HR right away. I'm so happy to have all this process finally done.

Hi SKOS and Noroll, I booked mine in July too so must be full, see you there Noroll, what time is yours?

SebbyK
 

i have booked the premier inn southampton airport for when i go down for my s2 - £65 for the night. Apparently this particular inn is quite new and so is in a really good condition, the reviews i've seen are pretty good anyway. You can also just walk outside and get the 7.50 shuttle bus to the CTC in the morning.:)

Airspace
 

Hey again,

Sorry to be a pain but does anyone know where I can find a good visual representation of the Airspace layout for the UK. Just I'm finding it difficult placing where each one goes in my mind, I understand flight levels but the FL's they refer to them being from seem to change everytime. This is the one concept that I'm having a hard job visualising in my own mind.

If no one has a pic is there any suggestion where I might find it writting down ie - Class A between FL x - x, F between FL x- x

Fumbles.

When it comes to the bases of controlled airspace there is no set figure, as it all depends on the requirements of the local area.
Check your PM's for explaination.

adam28
 

cheers adam...think i may have to do the same...was expecting to find somewhere cheaper but oh well. How come you have booked yours so far away. I did mine at the next available date lol this friday.

It says smart/casual, what do people wear, i don't want to turn up being the only one not in a suit.....


Seb

When I went down for my stage one tests I stayed in the Southampton Eastleigh Travellodge. It was £42 for a night and was next door to a Harvester Restaurant which was nice. You would need a car though because its about a 20 minute drive but was very simple.

wazzer1976,at 13:00,How will you dress? suit?

zooker

i am a valid atco with a full radar license, well done for pointing out air traffic control is a profession, being an operational staff member i feel that i am professional with regards to my job however i doubt many controllers could tell you the difference between a 767 and a 777, the only people that probably could would be the ones of an aerosexual persuasion :ok: unfortunately your guess of my background being hr/hf is well off the mark, its a shame there isnt an egg on face emoticon.....

Noroll, I'll be there for the 10am slot, smart casual for me, shirt and trousers. Seemed to be how most were dressed when I did stage 1 last year.

SebbyK
 

The reason i left so much time for stage 2 was simply just to give myself time to find out as much info as possible about it, plus i'm not in a rush to do it asap, a four week wait i can cope with! Plus, flights were cheaper the further away they were!:ok:
On the subject of finding out info, does anyone know how accurate the wikipedia description of the cubes you get in stage 2 is? Is it really only 2 options to choose from instead of the four like in stage 1 and do you get more time with less questions than the cubes at stage 1? Also, does the wikipedia description cover all the tests you sit during the day or are some missed out, ie, what are the NATS tests you get. Finally, how often do you get a break during the day. Any help much appreciated.:) Thanks in advance.

Donk,

Are you serious?

Worrying if true. Certainly everyone I work with can tell the difference.

"i am a valid ATCO with a full radar license".
Excellent news!
Next time you look at the cover, you will learn how to spell 'licence' correctly. :E

I suppose these days a radar only controller trained by NATS could get to validation without having ever seen a 767 or 777 in real life. Hence not being able to tell the difference.
On radar, they do look fairly similar !!! ;)

Tower guys, well that's a different story...

I agree, most blips look the same, but there are differences in performance and characteristics.

Hey SebbyK, I got through! Wooo!!! I've booked myself in for the 11th of September get yourself on laterooms.com you can get a decent room for less than £30!

ATCO Selection Process
 

Hey guys,

Im new to PPrune so hi to you all.....I applied to be an ATCO last year with NATS and made it to Stage 2 down at there headquarters at Fareham, where we done the computer tests, the ATC test and the Structred interview. I passed all the tests and failed on the structured interview :confused:!! I am sure I was just very nervous and being a bit of a girly girl I think that maybe went against me even having passed all the tests!! Hoewever, I am planing to re-apply next month as that will be my year up and I am hopefully going to be a little more prepared this time around. I was just looking to see if the whole selection process is still the same or has it changed slightly?? Last year there was stage 1, which was at Glasgow Hilton where we sat a few tests, then we had to do an online personality questionnaire and then if we passed that we were then to go and book our date for the Stage 2 at the NATS headquarters. Is this still that same as I have read a few posts on alot of online tests this time??

Any info would be great.

Thanks very much

Cheryl :)

ATCO Selection Process
 

And if anyone could give me any help in arranging a site visit up in Scotland I would be very grateful?? :ok:

Cheryl

STAGE 3
 

Hey has anyone got their stage 3 in monday 21st sept? I'm staying down there the night before, does anyone know if the Swanwick Centre is much further from the CTC?

Quickest Route To Nats Ctc, Fareham
 

Hello Everyone,

Just wondering if someone would be able to advise on what the quickect/most efficient route to the CTC for stage 1 is if coming from London (City)?

I wish to go to the CTC and return the same day for the stage 1 tests.

Im heading down for the initial stage on Friday, having read practically this entire thread over the previous three days quick thanks to those who posted, alot of information to take in and alot more in this here now well thumbed booklet... dont think ive been this nervous about tests before, not really ever been the 'academic' type either so i think Bricking it is a good term to use right now.

I have one little question, in the NATS booklet it talks about traffic from Europe to the USA transitioning the Atlantic between 10am and 4pm and the return traffic 4am to 1pm, just wondering if the am/pm on second track is correct?

Tomorrow...
 

Right guys,

I have my S1 down at Fareham tomorrow so its a nice 1 hour and a bit flight from Newcastle in a Turbo Prop down to southampton airport (followed by trains - the bain of my existance) at 7am tomorrow

Just wanted to come on here and say even though im terrified beyond my wildest dreams of failing I know I would be ten times more nervous had it not been for some of you guys who have taken the time to reply to my questions and taken the time to PM me etc. Cheers guys I'll let you know how it goes once I get back tomorrow!

Ps - good luck to anyone else going to Fareham tomorrow!

Freestyle,It´s totally correct.Good luck.