DuhC,

Im on the same boat as you. Just waiting to find out when the dates will be made available they said they will email me anyway.

What the best way of practice for stage 1 people?

what website and test are best to stick to??

I have been looking at a couple of data checking tests. I have also looked at spatial ability and diagrammatic reasoning. I actually don't have a problem with the cubes (like most people seem too) but have been struggling on a couple of the flow charts within diagrammatic reasoning.

Best to google some stuff or look through this thread. There is tons of useful information!

Well, that's stage 2 done! Wasn't too bad, which probably means I've failed... :P

Fingers crossed though...now I play the waiting game again....

Hear hear to that Sambatc, I feel like it could be great and it could be terrible results. Regardless I had a good time though, acctually enjoyed stage 2 (a lot of people have said it's really stressful but I didn't feel that stressed acctually).

yep, likewise. I don't know if she told everyone, but the lady said as they have tests tomorrow, and friday, and one of her colleagues if off sick, we might not get the results as quickly as usual. :ugh:


fingers crossed though...they might come tomorrow, you never know!

Well I screwed up the first two tests (courtesy of my ineptitude to quickly distinguish between left and right) but I think the rest went ok. I actually quite enjoyed the SDM.

Don't think there is much chance of me getting through, but I'm now not thinking about it til I get the results :)

At least we had fun ;) Seems like everyone got home alright then, I'm quite bored to be honest :p

Just had an email from NATS...












.. See you at stage 3 :)

what dates are available?? Its a little annoying they've sent results from Thursday before the Wednesdays ones, but that's life!

They might be grading in alphabetical order, Adam has an A in both his first and last name so he should be top of the list.

sambatc - None as of yet but I'm sure something will be sorted soon.

Best of luck for your own results, folks!

I have a question regarding Stage 1.

I have somewhat confused myself as I have been looking into the RAF SNCO ATCO selection aswell as NATS. I am 99.9% certain that the S/D/T test for the RAF are mental maths. Am I right in thinking that for NATS the maths test section, you get scrap paper that you can use?

Many Thanks.

Yep. There is scrap paper for the maths questions, but obviously no calculators etc.

Thanks for the quick reply, thankfully I have been practicing without pen and paper, so that's brilliant news! Happy days!! :D

No problem. Quick is my middle name... well, that's what my ex always used to say :hmm:

Salutations!

I'm in the same boat as many of you -- waiting for the Stage 1 dates in April to be made available online.

In the meantime I've been doing my research and preparing as best I can. I'm relatively confident about passing the various early tests (ATC paper, S/D/T calcs, diagraming and cubes, etc).

All ok there, and thanks so much to all the current and past applicants that have taken the time to write advice, post links, and so forth -- much appreciated!

However, one thing I haven't seen much information about is the medical/psychological side of things. I'm not particularly worried about either, but I do like to be as prepared as possible and I've read about people that made it all the way through to Stage 3 and then been disqualified due to some past medical condition/issue.

So I'm curious about when the medical exam actually takes place in the application process, and then also roughly what's actually involved. Is it just a cursory examination with some questionnaire or are we talking about a full barage of tests (ie, blood, urine, etc)?

Thanks in advance!

Kind regards,
om

Welcome!

Just done a quick search on the CAA website and the Class 3 medical comprises the following.

ATCO Medical Information | Medical | Safety Regulation

In short, it does mention blood and urine tests are done.

I've already passed my medical. I paid for it myself so I'm hoping that will hold me in good stead at stage 3.

The tests mention an ECG for the heart and a test of the lungs.

I'm 100% fit, so have no worries, but what exactly are they looking for? High blood pressure and obvious breathing difficulties?

I would imagine, the ECG is to test for irregular heart beats and the like, given that it mentions that it is a resting ECG.

The lung tests are probably the usual blow into the lung capacity measuring thingymebob. As it normally show's up conditions like Asthma quite easily.

it would be interesting to hear what people have actually failed medicals on....

Thanks for the quick reply and that very helpful link, Batfink. Very informative.

Sounds like you could opt to go and have the medical done completely separately from the whole NATS circus and have it ready to go whenever they need it. Sounds like the certificates you get have a shelf-life, so to speak, and will be valid for a while.

Has anybody done that before? Hatemyjob? Did you ask NATS if they'd accept it, or if they'll insist on a new one?

I'd just like the peace of mind in knowing that it's all done and dusted and I'm not going to get shot down within spitting distance of the finish line. :)

sambatc, I don't know for sure, but in my exhaustive reading of this mammoth thread, I'm sure I saw mention of somebody failing for having a slightly curved spine (scoliosis, I assume, and hence no good for sitting in a chair all day...fair enough) and another person said they'd had migraines in the past and that person wouldn't pass medical until they'd gone 2 years migraine-free with a doctor's note to attest to that.

As you guys have guessed, I'm sure the ECG and lung capacity tests are the usual things, looking for any murmers/palpitations/irregularities in the heart, and then to test you've got normal lung capacity and wont have an asthma attack the first time you get a little stressed.

Urine/blood, could be any number of things. They don't specifically mention it on the site, but I'm assuming part of that is drug testing. I already managed to quit the cigarettes last year, best cut out the cocaine and heroin now then! :ok:

Another thing I've been wondering -- especially with all the talk of the school being down-sized a bit and fewer applicants being accepted into the college than previous years -- is it possible to make it through all the tests/stages/medicals/interviews with flying colours, and still be turned down due to lack of space? Or would they just delay your start date until a spot was available?

One final question for this round: does anybody know more precisely when the April dates will be posted? HR told me Feb but haven't been able to get anything more specific than that.

Thanks again for all your help. I look forward to meeting some of you in the future. :)

Regards

Awesome news guys, Stage 3 dates are up, just booked mine for 21/04/2011. Anyone else attending? :ok:

still no results....:sad:.


what other dates were there?

One or two more in April 26/27 I think and then the rest in May. None on Bank holidays. I think 21st is the only one in Swanwick before May.

:ok: cheers. They're ages away!

No results for me either, but if the dates are so far away it doesn't really matter I guess:)

Back to the waiting game :p

Hello all
I'm new here! And just wondered if any of you could share your expertise with me!
I have been thinking about air traffic control as a career option for a while, and have spent some time researching it. Am I right in saying that the NATS selection process is the only route in to it for UK residents. (Silly question I know, just want to make sure that I've got things right).
Secondly, I am planning to do the first stage of the application process (online test) on their website. Can anybody tell me if there is any preparation or practice I can do for this initial stage? I think that if you fail it you can't repeat it for 18 months, so I want to make sure I give myself the best chance!
Many thanks in advance for your help . . .
Charlie

That`s weird, I only did Stage 2 last Friday, and recieved the e-mail just after lunch today. Maybe drop them an e-mail.

Good luck anyway.

kwagga, what are your initials? I have a theory that they're grading in alphabetical order, I haven't recived anything yet and my initials are J.G (I guess they're going by last name, would make most sense to me).

So if your last name is before mine in the alphabet it would make sense, if not then I have no clue :rolleyes:

N.S. so that rules that out. :ugh:

Argh, oh well, then it seems it's just down to randomness really. How ever so far nobody has recived a "no" correct? Even though that might not be a very good indicator considering they shouldn't have to compare around the tests (I belive they're graded against a scale decided beforehand, it's not dependent on the group you were in).

Luckily I'm working tomorrow (had a day off today so I've been checking my mail every two minutes :p), who knows, with a bit of luck I could have a mail in my inbox when I get home *fingers crossed*

looks like the 21st is all booked up already - I have my stage 3 booked for April 26th, which is the earliest opportunity.

A long time to wait but here's hoping it's worth it in the end ;)



drop them a polite email Crazy - can't hurt :ok:

Well they've only had 3 days so I'll give them a few more before I ask, besides, patience is supposed to be a virtue (at least so I've heard:p)

Hi guys,

Anyone waiting like me to book a day for stage 2? HR said they would email me.....but nothing in the last month!!

Thanks,

Sofia,
Just keep going on the link to book your test, test dates can become available randomly and if your not quick enough it will get booked up.

just re-checked the dates, a new stage 3 slot is open up for Feb 10th....

so I now have my stage 3.... next thursday!!



PANIC!.... :eek: :)

Sam, Yeah a bit short notice. Have you got the Occupational Personality Questionnaire yet, and have you been on any tower visits?

nope and nope but I'm investigating local tower visits as we speak...!

Well turns out I got through :)

Sambatc - I checked as soon as I got the email and 10th Feb wasn't on the list, but to be honest I couldn't do that anyway - uni commitments + going to Paris the day after.
Currently booked in for 27th April at Prestwick, but will keep checking back for any dates at Southampton. Got my finals in May though, so I may end up having to go to Prestwick.