Just had a call from HR who seem to have been told to find more candidates for the April/May course. Unfortunately I can't leave my current position until June, but for anyone who can start earlier and has ticked all the boxes etc, it's probably worth giving them a call (it'll probably make their day as they're sounding a little desperate...)!

Thanks for the info. I think i might wait and see if i make the cut before putting my 'official' preference down. I'm sure i'll make it known in my interview though

Btw, my friend had his stage 3 last week and said there were no ATCO's present in the interview, just HR. Seems a little strange from the experiences i read from here.

I didn't have an ATCO either. There was one HR and the other was Head of ATCO training which I would assume used to be an ATCO. Either way he would know what ATCO qualities are required.

I wonder what they gain from the separate company medical, and if they do anything different for those of us who already have a Class 1... :)

I don't think I had an ATCO either - one was HR and the other was an ATCO, but is now an instructor at the college. Probably better since he's one of the people that would have to teach me, and might have a better idea of who will make it!

The 'NATS' medical is actually more stringent than a CAA class 1. I guess it is to safeguard against potential investments being wasted if a candidate were to fail their class 1 having started training

I also got a phone call from HR. I asked if it was possible to start later in the year but was told that only in exceptional circumstances will they defer a start date for someone. I have quite a few financial commitments and won't be able to afford starting in April/May. Does anyone know if they will consider this as 'exceptional'? And will they cancel my application if I am unable to start then?

ATCNoob........check your PM's :ok:

Anyone going for their Stage 1 on the 30th March?
 

Hello!
Woah, what a fantastic thread! This has been brilliant for my revision for the exams. I'm a newbie going for their stage one on 30th March in London, and just wanted to see if anyone on here was going for it on the 30th March. Just thought it would be nice to see if anyone else was in the same boat!

Ta!

Bobbin :)

Cheers abracadabra! :)

I also got the phone call today about starting.... I am on the area one in may and have the medical at Swanwick this Friday :) looking forward to seeing you guys

jack.raven
 

I also have my medical this Friday at 15:00. What time is yours? We may cross paths, hopefully not in a gown though! :eek:

Mines at 11:00 :) Hopefully I wont be there 4 hours!! Your not going to be starting in May?

When I went for mine they made quite clear the differences.

NATS are investing a shed-load of money in you. The medical expenses from the CAA are the least of their worries. The CAA medical covers you for a few years, as such you need to be 'fit enough' at the time of the medical. The NATS medical is set out to make sure you are employable as an ATCO for a lifetime.

Andy

jack.raven
 

I see. I am phoning HR tomorrow to explain that it isn't feasable for me to start in May due to financial commitments so hopefully I won't have to start then. Don't get me wrong, I would love to start tomorrow if I could but I just can't. I am hoping for October but I think I could squeeze July.

ATCNoob,

Good luck with HR - I can somehow see that they might say that they pay you enough to live, so finances don't count but I don't know! All I do know is that the lady I spoke to was a little fierce and the fact I have a contract is the only thing that got me out of April/May.

Expect July - I don't really think you've got a chance for September/October (I have heard in the past from HR that deferring more than one course isn't acceptable - you should have applied when you knew you were ready they say). Just a warning for anyone else considering when they should apply. It seems to be related to the current economic situation - when before they'd be happy to defer someone for the final year of a degree, now they're just not sure if there'll still be recruitment in a year...

Bloody credit crunch!

Stage One
 

Hello - I also have my Stage One in London on that date at 13:30.

Anyone tried the SHL trial tests? For the Calculations test it says you may use a calculator, which I found surprising, I thought it was meant to test mental abilities not how quickly you can press buttons.

Regards

Callum

Calculations
 

There's no calculations tests as such in the NATS Stage 1 selection, apart from a couple of distance/speed/time calculations contained in the motivation paper (you can't use a calculator, but they're fairly easy to work out in your head).

Not everything on the SHL site is aimed at NATS applicants - they do testing for all sorts of companies.

Good luck with Stage 1...

Thank you - I'm glad you said that because those tests were actually quite difficult, now at least I can focus my efforts more on what is likely to be at Stage One!

Can I check - this medical, it is just the eyes, ears, blood pressure type stuff that is posted on the website? I'm not very fit and, I have to say, somewhat podgier than I used to be... plus I have had back problems in the past (nothing requiring sick leave, just prescribed pain killers)...

...My ears are great, my eyes are good with specs & all the other stuff is within their parameters... Someone tell me I'll be okay please!