One thing I console myself with from time to time - as we wait longer and longer to go through the interview process, the waiting list to start is getting shorter and shorter.... :ok:

sambatc: That's precisely why I asked my q'. Do you really think it's just a matter of getting rid of the backlog?, in which case, yeah, you're right, time is in our favour. But I dread to think that there is more to it...

I spoke to a member of staff at whiteley and she informed me that the applications are expected to re open by the end of this month.

**** yeah !! :)

doesn't quite tie up with a review in 2 months time but I'm willing to be an optimist for now :D

Damn it!! Now they've pushed it forward to 1st May 2012, so annoyed

cricman92 I was quite confused then for a second when you said you had spoken to member of staff at Whiteley and they said it was due to reopen end of the month..when the statement had already been released saying May 2012. Must of only just seen it.

Unfortunately I presume this is the case and will continue to be the case for quite some time now. I had been told by people down south that they had been hinted by more senior people that it was due to reopen this month. I guess the company just can't take the risks at the moment and want to try and get all those from the college fully licensed at whichever aerodrome/area position they have been sent to.

I have a feeling that the aerodrome side is on full halt. Having spoken to someone at MAN, they said NATS had told them not to expect any people coming through the system in the 'long future', I guess they mean the aerodrome side because I know some people have continued who are on area courses.

This is a big downward statement for us all but I guess we just have to wait and hope we can pursue our career ambitions with NATS at a later date.

They will be waiting a long time if they are going to wait to get everyone fully licensed before reopening applications.

Well, according to my calculations and in my humble opinion, if they have planned to keep the application process closed till they get everyone lincensed, I don't think they would have announced reviewing the selection in May, since it woulnd't be till later on in the year that they would have everyone fully qualified.

EDIT: besides, it does not make much sense. But of course, this is just an opinion founded on no real evidence. A mere speculation.

I'm sorry chaps, but how many arbitrary dates have NATS HR given us over the past 18 months? I fear they don't really know what they want to do with us, or when, and are throwing arbitrary dates at us in the mean time.

All I want to do is work my socks off as an Air Traffic Controller and it seems that my socks are going to have to stay firmly on. I honestly don't expect to have moved any closer to the CATC in May than I am right now.

I hope I am wrong. Gosh I hope I'm wrong!

Phil

Personally, I believe that NATS knows perfectly well about when they'll be re-opening. At least the senior one's anyway. I get the impression they are just kinda playing around and giving us crap. All these vague dates they've been giving us for well over the past year they've done on purpose. Just keeping us on hold.

Have to agree with PhiltheReaper, that's exactly how I feel, I would love to work my socks off for NATS knowing I'm in a career that I could get up at any time of the day to do.

Been speaking to a few controllers tonight and it seems i've gathered more information/opinions. I got told quite some years ago that now was the perfect time to start applying because roughly now would see a huge increase in the amount of ATCOs retiring. It just seems that HR don't see this retirement stage being a big problem in the future.

Now, this is not fact, not even a strong rumour...but i've heard suggestions that even NATS Scottish Area Control Centre (SCACC) might not be recruiting until, well lets just say 2012 is a VERY long way from when they might position more people there. I think that because there are a lot either waiting to start at Prestwick/Swanwick or even the airports themselves, also people waiting to finish courses and loads waiting to start the courses, it could be a very long time before they are all through and the recruitment from the stages begins again.

I myself still feel like it is my dream to pursue a career in ATC, but increasingly more off putting for the moment with all of these delays. I will continue to pursue a different career in aviation, yet will always have my passion for ATC if it becomes available.

I want to ask again.
Does anyone of none UK-citizen entered NATS?
I'm from Ukraine, and want to find out, if it's possible or not...they need just to be eligible for work, nothing about citizenship or permanent resident specified...

It's just as it says on the website, you need to eligible to work in the UK. I'm not a UK citizen and I got accepted.

As Crazy Voyager says you need to be eligible to work in the UK.

That generally means you need to be a citizen of the UK, Switzerland or a country in the European Economic Area although there are a few other ways in which eligibility can be gained.

Initially, you should have no problem to work in the UK. If you are no troublemaker and have had no grave judicial problems in Ukraine, there is nothing to worry about.
And yes, there are plenty of non UK citizens working at NATS.

If you are from Ukraine and need a work permit to work in the UK you probably aren't eligible however unblemished your record is. Qualified air traffic controllers no longer qualify for entry under the UK government's point system so unqualified ones certainly won't.

As longer as you passed the selection process hence the training, I didn't think there would be any problem in being awarded with a working permit...

I suggest anybody who would need a work permit checks with NATS that they are prepared to sponsor them. In the past NATS had a policy of not selecting those who would need a work permit and I'm not aware that it has changed.

You need to be eligible to live and work in the UK before you apply.

Hi there,

I've been reading the forum for quiet a long time now, i was about to apply when they closed the application process...
Nothing to do but waiting, like the majority of you i guess...
I think i agree with some people here, they wouldn't keep us waiting if they knew they wouldn't open the process soon...
I just try to be positive, it's really something i want to do and it's killing me being stuck here.
I hope i can meet you soon guys, as you seem to be all friendly.
A big thanks to all of you for all the information given, really useful!

LOL.
NATS 'senior' management and HR don't know what's going on tomorrow, let alone next week. They really aren't intentionally messing you around, they genuinely don't have a clue :D

All of us who have waited on this interview deserve a place at the college. & hopefully we all get through the interview and get a place. But if we don't are NATS gonna take this wait into consideration before they let someone re-apply. I've already waited 6 months on this interview and now they're asking us to wait another 3. that'll be 9 months of my life wasted waiting on this career. And if I were unfortunate enough to fail the interview it would be another 12

Morry,
if it makes you feel better, I waited four-and-a-half years. :ok:

Ditto! We can't be faulted on patience hey? ;)

Anyway, for those who do not pass a stage and wish to reapply, I understand that you can do so when a period of 12 months has elapsed since you applied rather than 12 months since the stage you didn't pass. I'm sure I'll be corrected if this is not the case...

Sheps - that is indeed the case, and is why I was eagerly awaiting 4th October 2011 :ok:

~5 months later...and still waiting to reapply. Serves me right for not preparing properly for my stage 3 though eh :*

Hi guys,

I'm wondering which of the travel expenses does NATS cover? It states clearly on the Expense form, that they only cover costs of travelling in the UK and only if the expense is over 50pounds. But in the email from Recruitment they said that they will cover ALL travel costs (reasonable amount) to attend the event. Does this mean that they also cover the plane ticket to the UK? I mean the expense form that I received is meant for the 3th stage and/or medical. But I'm attending the Pre-induction day, so maybe they cover more of the expenses for this later event? Don't want to bother the recruitment people at NATS as I don't want to appear greedy (which I'm not, I just don't want to miss an opportunity to get reimbursed a part of the ever growing costs to attend different events). :)

Thanks

Course 231
 

Hi all, totally new to this so not sure I'm even commenting on correct thread! For anyone on trainee atco course 231 starting end of April, I've put a little group on Facebook, thought it might help us to get to know each other before the course starts! So if you go on facebook & just search for nats course 231 you should find it! Thanks! & sorry to those who are still waiting for courses!

I looked for it now but can't find it, how ever I won't be on that I'll be on 232 (at least that's HR's plan). I tried to create a group for 232 now but I have to add in people in it and since I don't know anyone on facebook who will be in it I can't create the group...

But if anyone else in here who will be on course 232 and use both PPrune and facebook let me know and we can get a group started ;)

Yeah I also had that problem, but a friend of mine is starting at the same time on a different course, so I just stuck him on there! Confused as to why it didn't pop up on your search though.. the email is [email protected] if that helps :cool:

Well it doesn't really affect me as I won't be on the group, but for some reason I can't seem to find it. The reason for not finding it I don't know though.

General Information!
 

Hello there, could someone please advise if there are any private ATCO schools within the UK & if so, do I have the same chances to get a job as with NATS? Thanks a lot in advance.

Yes there are.

And no you dont.

NATS train NATS staff and (assuming you pass) you are guranteed a job after training. The other colleges charge you for training and then you have to go find a job - and its worth noting NATS wont take you - so at best you'll probably start as an ATSA.

Id think long and hard before sinking £000's into a privatly obtained license

Hi PORKUS GRUNTUS!
I've just sent you a PM. I'm also in course 231 .... good to know there's life out there :D

nats course 231
 

Anyone else on nats course 231 at the end of April, could you private message me, & I'll give you the details of the facebook group.

Thanks!! :ok:

We were on "39 Course", if that helps. :E

Good luck PORKUS, to you and all your course-mates. It's hard work, you'll have good days and bad days, have fun, and enjoy it. :ok:

Thanks ZOOKER! A lot of hard work ahead me thinks!! :8:ooh:

Course 232
 

I may be jumping the gun, because I, like Crazy Voyager, am only provisionally allocated to course 232 (as I was for 231), but there is now a Facebook group for it. Search for 'NATS Course 232' and shout if you want to join.

If I'm put off again until a later course I suppose I'l just have to leave the group... boo hoo *sniff* ... same goes for anyone else.

:-D

Hi all, Just joined up, i took my stage one at Bournemouth a couple of years back, passed the first 2 exams but really wasnt prepared for the second half so to get up to speed I bought the Eurocontrol DVD and was quite shocked at my first go through for procedural thinking and the cubes (oh god the cubes). So i'm hoping to try again this summer but i am wondering if anyone knows what the percentage is you have to reach for a pass on the last 2 exams is? I dont want to waste my time going down and would rather take a few more months to get up to speed if i'm not currently up to scratch. Thanks :)

Why not aim to get 100%, rather than just scrape through?

Not really the right approach to the job. NATS keep the pass marks close to their chest, so you wont ever find out anyway.

If you are looking to be 'just good enough' perhaps this isnt the job for you...