ATCO123,

The information is all in this thread. Everyone will have a similar response here; read the last 100 pages and you'll find a huge amount of information to digest. If you have any more specific questions after that then people will typically be very willing to help. The NATS website itself is also a very good place to start.

Others have made the suggestion that we collate the most essential parts of the information for a separate thread but at the moment this isn't the case.

All the best when you decide to apply.

I fully agree with marco888. I think the info posted on the forum regarding each one of the stages should be divided. Otherwise it all gets pretty repetitive and the forum loses part of its purpose. After all, it's question of having a bit of initiative.

By they way, would anyone reply to my question regarding the dice: the petition is posted on same page as this one just a few comments above. Thanks

luisjan, I suppose you mean the cubes? I don't remember exactly but I have a faint memory of it being all kinds of stuff on the sides (not any ordinary dice used though, but various geometrical shapes such as triangles and lines of various forms).

Yeah the cubes. Ok, thanks for the reply.

Hi guys,

It seems everyone here is preparing stage 1. What about stage 2? SDM drives me crazy......but I love it!!!

Sofia,

In all honesty you can't really prepare for stage 2! All computer testing on your natural ability. Just make sure you are well rested :)

Seb

Quick question for those who have taken stage 3 recently. The interview is purely competency based right? They don't ask any technical questions anymore do they?

No they don't have a technical side anymore, it's a team 'game' followed by the HR competency interview. Best thing to prepare is just go through the competencies they list on the NATS website and think of good (preferably brilliant) examples from your life which highlight your involvement and how you dealt with these situations. And similar to stage 2, make sure you're well rested and thinking straight.

@MARCO888

heyy i understand what your saying but ive tried reading everthing from this thread but cause it all not stepped in other words its nt clear by some responses what the procedure is, im actually quite confused. ive emailed Nats several times and recieved no responses whats so ever

Have you read the NATS website? They give a very good summary of it there. What exactly is confusing you? Have a read through this

How to apply - NATS Air Traffic Controllers Careers

I would also run a check over your spelling and grammar if you want your username to one day be reflected in reality.I know that some see it as less than important but if your e-mails to HR are written in the same fashion as your postings that is not going to help.As ATCOs we are generally credited with having at least a modicum of intelligence and you need your first contact with NATS to at least demonstrate that.

ATCO123,
Posts 7170 and 7179 are possibly the finest examples of grammatical/punctuation errors I have ever seen on this thread.
Many years ago, 'O' level English Language was a basic requirement for ATSA selection, let alone that required for an ATCO Cadetship.
Please re-read your posts before pressing the 'submit reply' button.
Apologies if this sounds pompous, but standards seem to be sliding down the pan.

@zooker and gapster.

english is not a problem for me at the moment, its just that i type in a rush for a quick reply or response, and lack in double checking. thank you for letting me know but i did get an A* in gcse english language so right now i jus want my questions answered

Information
 

Hello to all of you.

I am interested in NATS,and I wanted information about it.For example,what it needs to apply,how is the selection process etc.
And first of all,I am Greek.Can I apply?

This is a joke, right?

No.It's not.
Can you answer a little politely?

Hello. At NATS website everything is quite well explained... I would say CRYSTAL CLEAR.

Luis, no te piques tio :} ya sabes que no todos leen :)

Cheers

ATC123,
"its just that i type in a rush for a quick reply or response and lack in double checking".
So will you be applying these apparently well-honed skills to ATC?

One of the basic rules of ATC is 'if in doubt, check, and if necessary, check again'.

@zooker, nooo zooker i will not make it apparent at NATS, the only reason i dont pay attention when writing is because this is a forum not Nats or an ATC unit.

Just over a month to go to stage 1.

Getting a little bit excited about it now. Maths is slowly (very) improving. 90% on a practice last night. Twenty questions answered in 10 mins. Hope I can do something like that on the day :\

I think it has already been answered in a previous post somewhere in this thread, but are the Maths questions multiple choice, like the motivation questions?

They sure are Batfink, good luck mate.

As for the squabbling we've got going over results at GCSE and the effect that's actually had on day-to-day English Language abilities, I'll leave it up to others to form their own opinions :P

I would say though, to the perhaps prematurely named ATCO123, that NATS people do read this forum, and we all do well to be decent chaps to one another. As a teacher of young people myself, I would very much suggest that you take a little more time in future on here, so as not to rub up the community the wrong way. The people in this thread honestly want to help all the new people, like you.

As for our Greek newcomer - welcome, please read up to the last 100 pages of this thread, and all your questions will be answered. If they are not, feel free to post after doing that. (at least reading this page might have helped :P )

Cheers all,
Phil

hi
i applied to nats last year didnt get through, planning to apply this year again just wanted to find out has the requirement changed to apply do u need to be a graduate before applying anyhelp would be really appreaciated
thank you
tushar

Difficult question to answer... Give a shot at consulting NATS web page. Perhaps there you'll find the info you are looking for about what you need to become an ATC..

Hi everyone,
As recommended by most people on here I've been slowly but surely reading through the last 100 pages and now just wanted to say hello.
Stage 1 is booked for 20th May at Prestwick...nervous and excited already!
Thanks to everyone that has posted, I have found some really useful information on here.

Couldn't agree more with PhiltheReaper.

Before I did my stage 1 I took the time to read every page of this forum, :\ took ages but it was so worthwhile for all the little pieces of information you can pick up and pretty much answers all the recently posted questions.

It also gives you an idea of the dedication you'll need to progress.

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I sent in my application to NATS last week and took the online test and was successful. I was then invited for Stage one assessment. I was offered the choice of three dates at Prestwick. I live in Hampshire so I emailed to see if they had anything else a bit closer and they said no! So I have a flight booked to Glasgow from London on the 19th May (test is the 20th) but can't find a flight that willl get me there in time for a 9.15am test! Staying in the Travel Lodge at the airport.

I have spent the last hour reading through this very informative thread and would kindly like to ask a couple of questions.

1) I haven't got a back ground in aviation, I drive coaches for a living, but fancy a new career. I would like to get as much info as possible and visit a ATC if possible? Is this possible?

2) My maths skills are not the best and I am a bit nervous! I am putting in as much time as possible for revision. Is there anywhere else I can practice for the maths?

3) I'm trying to remain positive, but it seems to me that most people going for the ATCO positions are Uni grads. I completed my A Levels, but then went into full time employment. I have to work really hard as I am not blessed with a photographic memory!

Do you think NATS will be impressed that it's going to cost me £200 to get to Prestwick (flights/hotel etc)? Surely this would put some people off? I'm not after any brownie points, just wanted to know others opinions?

Is the test centre within walking distance of Prestwick airport?

Many thanks :)

Hey Shellby,

They must be full then at Fareham, I applied just over a month ago and have my Stage 1 on 20th May at Fareham.

I kind of feel the same as you, my mental arithmetic is not that good so lots of practice I think!! I only left school with GCSE's and don't think that would necessarily make me any less capable. If you can prove yourself through the assessments then I think that is all that would matter.

Good luck!!!

Hi Shelby !

For stage one...it is not required at all to visit an ATC unit, and I'm not sure it's possible. I'm almost 100% positive you wouldn't be allowed to visit a centre unless your about to sit the 3rd stage. To find out about it, it's searching online and reading books I'm afraid.

My maths skills were next to nothing....but I really found the speed distance time questions on the RAF website to be the most helpful.

I have not completed uni positions or fancy qualifications or anything like that..I work in a bar and I'm going on to stage 2 on the 3rd of May. Don't let it put you off !!

NATS will not take in to consideration spending that amount of money getting there, unfortunately. For stage 1...if you meet the required pass marks, you'll get invited to stage 2. Just study study study and that will be impressive enough.

The centre is walking distance from the airport....but that's a lonnnng 20-30 minute walk. Get a taxi, shouldn't cost you too much, and they should know where it is (it's surprisingly difficult to find!).

Hope this helps....go for it and good luck !!

Shellby

1) It is possible to visit ATC sites but I would only recommend it if/after you pass Stage 1 or 2. I visited Scottish @ Prestwick before my Stage 3 and then the Glasgow Airport Tower once I was put on the Aerodrome Course at College. They expect you to visit somewhere for the Stage 3 interviews (although they don't specifically tell you to). The best way to go about it is to contact the HR department and ask if they can arrange a visit to a site near you.

2) The maths is not difficult. If you can multiply/divide by 6, are able to change hours into minutes etc you should be able to do everything asked of you in Stage 1. Even after that, things don't get much more difficult. Just a decent grasp of the main arithmetic functions.

3) Most tend to be Uni grads (myself included - in Aeronautic Engineering as well) but I can assure you there will be people at the tests that just want a complete change of career like yourself. I had one guy at my Stage 3 that was in his final year of Law and he didn't want to do anyhing but be an ATCO....
NATS don't discriminate against people without degrees, if you pass the set tests to the standard they require then you'll get put to Stage 2, regardless if you're an academic or Joe Bloggs the fence painter.

4) They travel costs can be excessive I agree. I spent about £650 over the year to get to each Stage, and then to Gatwick for the medical. Unfortunately I believe NATS view the costs incurred as an indicator of just how serious you take the tests, just as much as how much detail you remember of the information for stage 1 or if you arrange a visit/do your own digging to find out about the company. I think you can apply for some form of reimbursal, double check the emails/website though.

5) Atlantic House is about 2 miles from the front of the terminal at Prestwick. You could walk it in about 20 mins, it's a relatively straight road but i'd recommend taking a taxi. It's Scotland, our weather is rotten and you'd enjoy the tests much better if you arrived dry and relatively relaxed!

I'm starting at the College in 10 days after 2 years of applying. Believe me, it's worth it if you can make it through. Just keep at it and work hard.

Good luck!

:ok:Many thanks for all the replies and great advice! I'm getting very excited now! Anyone else going to Prestwick on 20th May?

Hey,

Wonder if somebody could help me.

I have worked out this question as follows:

## An aircraft consumes 9 000 lbs an hour. It heads towards it's destination 220 miles away at a speed of 440 MPH. How much fuel will be consumed? ##


Firstly I worked out the time of the journey.

So,

Time = Distance/Speed
Time = 220/440
Time = 2 Hours

So fuel consumed would equal 9000 x 2 = 18000.

So final answer = 18000 lbs consumed.

However where I got this example from is giving the answer as 4,500lbs.

I believe this is wrong? Could anybody advise me if I worked this out correct?

Many Thanks in advance!

RedFalcon

Hey RedFalcon,


The question is asking you to find the time it's going to take you to get to that place, so that's just normal t=d/s , and if I am not wrong the time is in fact 30 minutes (0.5) and not two hours .Since you are dividing 220 by 440 and then you can multiply that by 9,000. This would give you the correct answer which is 4,500 lbs.

Hope I could help,
N

Hi RedFalcon,

The answer given is correct. 220/440 = 1/2 = 30 minutes.

Therefore 9000 x 1/2 = 4500lbs

EDIT: Pinknails92 got there first.

Hmmm..
Must have a US origin, this one.
In the UK, navigational distances are measured in nautical miles, speed in knots and fuel in kilos/metric tonnes.
Where is the question from?

Wherever the question was from is irrelevant. It was ridiculously easy and should takes a matter of seconds to figure out in your head. I hope you realised your mistake red falcon as during stage1, not only will the questions be more complicated you will also have the added pressure of not enough time to answer every question!

Seb

Hey Everyone,

Kicked my self really as can now see where I went wrong.

Thanks for your help,

Seb - Just trying to get loads of practice in before my stage1 so I don't make a stupid mistake like this, long time since I've done this kind of maths.

Thanks,
RedFalcon

RedFalcon,

I didn't mean anything bad by it. Just ensuring you know what you are in for! :)

Seb

Seb,

=) I know. Thanks for the help matey.

Any Help???:-) Thanks a lot...
 

Hi Guys...does anybody know if among the ATC questions(of the first stage) there are question about the Aircraft's caracteristics and the System that they have???

And ..i would like to ask...i have been looking further exercise about fuel/speed/distance and time for a couple of weeks...but i can find no exercise in web!!! only relating to Speed/distance and time....and the fuel???
i'm a bit worried about it...because i've heard and read in the forum that in the test there may be fuel's questions!!!:bored:
Can someone let me know hot to find them???

Thanks a lot in advance...:ok:

Speed Distance Time | OASC: RAF Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre

This website has practise questions for RAF selection tests. There are options on the grey box at the top for S/D/T, Fuel Calculation as well as Orientation questions (as the NATS Assessment Day 1 tips state you should practise calculating directions and headings using the 360 degrees of the compass). The website is especially helpful as it times you for 10 questions and tells you which ones you got wrong (as well as the right answer).

It has been discussed before on this thread that the questions on the NATS paper are mostly more difficult and complex than those on the above website but the basic principles and calculations involved remain the same.

With regards to the information on aircraft, you will be tested on the information provided by NATS in the 25-page document, and as stated on the 1st page of it, "it can not be stressed enough how important it is for you to learn the information enclosed". So obviously the more information you learn, the higher your chance of success will be.

Good luck!