thanks guys.

Ive been practicing the cubes again as well as some general mental agility exercises but I think that is about all I can do.

Ive got a few days off work over the next week so hopefully I'll be well rested.

I've put a bit more information in my post

well said gazb2. Its always better to express our concerns and emotions rather than keeping in mind. As u said if the NATS do check forums then this might have been a reason for the resolution. Now I am sure NATS has got a team with good problem solving and decision making skills:) stoffel,aerochick,skywards777,philthereaper cheers guys:ok:. I appreciate u guys for expressing concerns as well as respecting each others views and this is the perfect teamwork
Hope all u guys received new time slots. Lets move on to the stage 2 of stage 1.Now what I am concerned is about the date 21st January at which the winter and snow will be at its peak:uhoh:. If it is so we may expect another email on 19th January afternoon. I hope they will add this to the mail "emotional adherence not necessary at this stage";). Lets hope the new year comes with good luck.

I shall also be attending on Jan 26th; look forward to seeing those mentioned here and all others attending on Weds morning - bright and early for an 0830 kickoff!

Feel fere to PM me if you're heading down the night before; perhaps a pint before the big day would be a well deserved break from the tension (although I'm lead to believe the drink/control limit is 1/5th the drink/drive limit or so!)

Stage 1
 

Hi,

I know that in the motivational paper NATS have placed 27 different aircraft for candidates to learn. Now i have read and re-read the document many times now. I have done individual knee-board laminated cards for all these types of aircraft. However, i am struggling so much to remember everything about them. Do they place a lot of emphesis on these in the exam or just a little to test that you can remember a bit about them? Please help; its not long now for me and im starting to worry!!!!!

Cheers

Catman, if you read what it says in the document you can already find a hint to your answer... They ask you to read it through carefully instead of asking you to study it by heart. I don't want to say to you that you don't have to study it, you do.... but I'm sure you know everything you need to know given what you have done to prepare yourself.
Regarding the airplanes, make sure you also can put them in certain categories... which ones are larger, smaller, long haule short haule, fast flying, slow flying. Go over it a few more times and get yourself relaxed before you start the test. Nevertheless try to know as many details as possible but do not mess up your mind because you how many passengers a B737-500 would be carrying in his maximum config., it's more important to have a good idea on how many you could expect.

On the other hand, remember later on you will have to study you airspace maps. This could well be around 70 routes on which you have to know all the points (names or lettercombination which don't always make any sence to make it easier) and as well distances and headings between every point.
But as well don't worry about that too much because you will get used to studying this kind of things as well bit by bit...

Don't worry, you'll be fine, good luck

My friend, thank you very much. you have put my mind at rest about this now. Still very nervous but i believe i can do it. Thank you for replying so promptly.

As aewaite17 said, you don't want to make it harder for yourself (especially when only 3% of applicants get to the college and only 60% of them pass), posting on a public forum that NATS is incompetent in its work isn't going to make HR your best friend. It only takes someone with selective reading to think if they can't even organise interviews, how can they safety manage 3 million movements a year. O well you choose your battles, if you've done nothing wrong you have nothing to worry about.

Because HR don't have anything to do with moving the planes, that's why.

Seriously, as others have said this forum is read with interest by a lot of people who can have a great influence on how well your career with NATS turns out.

Please don't take this as me being rude - but I think most of the readers on here have now got the idea on who tends to read the forums, as it's been mentioned a countless amount of times. I think we should now move on from the matter...

In response to a question above, I really would not panic on not being able to remember how many seats a boeing 757 contains...however I thought I'd give you an idea of how I learned the material. Take 3 aircraft a day (or if your test is very soon - a little more) and write out the information. Then focus on the first aircraft - not caring about the others just now - and read and read and read till the information completely sticks in your head. Then write out the information without the card accurately over and over again. Chances are - within 15-20 minutes you will have memorized the first aircraft completely. Then go on with aircraft 2...and so on. It really helps if you just break the information down in to little slices rather than trying to remember 20-odd aircraft data at once. Only my opinion, however :) Good luck !!!!

Right, I'm off to Southampton, as I've not received a cancellation. Stage 2 here I come. Nice relaxing night in a hotel the night before will help also! Oh, and having worked at LGW on the check in and gates, I seem to remember that a B752 had 235 seats in an all-Y, charter configuration, and a 734 had something like 135 seats, again in charter config. I remember these 2 as I had to do solo loadings on them when we had an ATC breakdown many, many years ago, and everybody was scrambling to get out so they could get the ones released from diversion airports in. Fun day, only did a 16 hour shift!

B&B stage 1
 

can anybody help me find cheap place to stay in as my Stage 1 will be on Dec 10 at Fareham,Hantz.hope you guys can help me find a cheap place to stay as i don't want to spend the day finding for a place to go to when i get to Fareham.
Thanks,
DJ1425

What's your definition of cheap? I've stayed in the Premier inn but that's around £60-70 per night so that might be a bit to expensive?

@DJ... I stayed in the Red Lion in Fareham.... I payed around 52 euro, was breakfast included and you could use the local gym centre that was about 2min walking distance away for free as well during your stay which I liked since it gave me something to do the day before... I made my booking via laterooms.com I think.
You could find a few places that were just a bit cheaper but they were all a quite a bit further away or completely booked at that time...
I thought the Red Lion was not to bad and not to far away from nats.

B&B stage 1
 

@Stoffel_KT and Crazy Voyager,

Thanks for your replies.it's fast approaching,any tips for those who've gone through stage 1.really want to be part of NATs.

Thanks,
DJ1425

Travel Lodge ~ £35

My major tip is:
get a good nights sleep, a good breakfastand do your best, just keep on doing the best you can no matter how it feels.

Good luck :)

stage 1 B&B
 

@Crazy Voyager and Skywards 777

Thanks for replying on my inquiry but anybody give me an idea if on SDT question do we need conversions like Flight levels normally in feet.is there problems which involve conversions or the question are straight forward just need analysations.thanks,advise would be highly appreciated.

Thanks,
DJ1425

They give you everything you'll need.

Questions that deal with nautical miles the speed will be in knots etc. You wont need to do any additional equations.

thanks Skywards777 for your advise.anybody on 10 December stage 1? seems like it's only me whose going on the 10th,should i check my schedule? as nobody post here on the same date for stage 1 :confused:
DJ1425

If you're in a car and headed for CTC, I can recommend the Express by Holiday Inn at M27 J7. It's about £55 a night if booked through Lastminute. stayed there last night. It's right by the Rose Bowl and the Hedge End retail park, so plenty of places to eat.

Anyway, just back from CTC myself. Hi to the 2 guy and 4 lovely lasses that were there with me. Keep me posted as to what happens. Hope you all got home alright!

Medical
 

Hi.

Im having my medical at CAA at Gatwick on monday, can somebody tell me about how long does it take? I need to book a bus back to london and need to know;)

THX

It'd appear that I hadn't hit Submit on the booking page, and when I went back to pick the 26th, it's fully booked! I'm now DEFINATELY bookde in for the 27th - best of luck to you all!

If a nice member of HR is reading this, I'd prefer the 26th! ;)

Rok - You'll be better off getting the train if you're coming from London - 2 stops from London Bridge station and the CAA building is about a 5min walk from Gatwick station.

I work around the corner from there currently :)

Thanks for the tip:ok: just booked my train ticket. Wanted to go by bus, just because it's cheaper. But the time I will save and being able to travel anytime of the day is well worth the extra 5 pounds (or there about) ;)

hi i may not be an ATCO; however, my RAF medical for flying takes between 30 - 45 minutes. Therein the RAF are rather efficient at these sorts of things. not really sure what its like in Civi land.

Hi all. I applied to Nats 2 weeks ago, gotinvited to take the online test. Then got an email a week later saying I had passed but due to changes no stage 1's were being given until April 2011. Fine with me, lots of study time. However, yesterday I received an email with the study material on to download/print off, and and invitation to attend stage 1 tomorrow!! So basically 1 nights notice. Is this normal, or do you think they have just had a slot come free and randomly trying to feel it? I'm feeling a little confused. :eek:

PS. I declined the invite btw due to work commitments and no studying!

Hi folks

Does anyone know if there is an age limit for applicants?


I presume they can't officially set one, but whats the oldest
sort of age group people have seen getting on to the course?


Thanks

Andy,

There is no official age limit as far as I'm aware. I was 32 when I started at the college. (There was an age limit of 36 when I started but I believe it's been scrapped now).

I think there used to be an age limit of 35; this, I believe, was scrapped when a chappy who failed to be invited to selection took NATS to court over age discrimination and won.

Glam,
you must be ancient now ;)

I certainly feel it :ok:

Is anyone else off to fareham for their stage 2 on Monday?

Ellienmeg
 

donn wrry abt the schedule.They keep on posting schedules randomly. Do check the site daily. You may get some suitable date

Well, that's stage 2 failed. I found everything easy but completely hashed one bit. So ****** off

Did you just do it or have you just recived results? Because if you've just did it I've heard that most people feel like it's gone terrible, so if you just did it don't lose hope yet!

If you recived the sad mail then I'm sorry it didn't work out for you :(

Ive just done stage 2 today, but I made such a hash of one section that im 99% sure Ive failed. :{

Anyone taking the Stage 2 tests tomorrow (14th Dec)?

How did the guys who have just completed Stage 2 find it? You all seem to think you've failed!

Got any tips/advice? What section was the hardest? :o

If you felt one section was a mess then I can udnerstand you're not very happy, but as I said most people seem to feel that it went horrible so if we both cross our fingers maybe you will make it through. Let's try and keep some hope up :) I will have my fingers crossed for you!

I think you crossing your fingers did it. I passed. Stage 3 here I come.