Its not a case of wanting to be just good enough its a case of wanting to be sure thats all, probably the wrong way to put the question.

So, with May 1st approaching, are we feeling confident about the recruitment process reopening?! It'll soon be a year since I passed Stage 2 and I know this is true for many of us, fingers crossed (all of them) for some good news!!

Well they keep advertising for instructors internally, so one must assume they will want some students at some point

very good to hear that whitelighter, thank you.

Fingers crossed for 1st May then...

Not confident at all...

Vacation days at nats
 

Hi, anyone could please fgive me any indication of aprox how many days of vacation do nats atc have?

Many thanks¡

28 plus bank holidays rising to 33 after 10 years service

Update Stage 3
 

Copied from NATS careers facebook page:

IMPORTANT UPDATE – Stage 3 assessments only

We have reviewed our recruitment needs and confirm that we will be releasing Stage 3 assessment centre dates for existing applicants waiting on Stage 3 dates only. We aim to begin releasing thes...e dates from the 9th May 2012 for dates throughout the summer. If you are waiting on a Stage 3 date and do not receive an invite email please contact recruitment.

A further review will take place on the 4th September 2012 and an announcement will be made at that time regarding applicants waiting on Stage 1, Stage 2 and new applications for ATCO training.

NATS would like to encourage you to pursue your interest in Air Traffic Control, so please continue to view our website (see link below) for information on training with NATS.

We hope to receive an application from you for this rewarding career with NATS when our recruitment system re-opens.

All the best to everyone on Stage 3.

The wait continues for a Stage 2 date.

Thanks for that, didn't know they had a facebook page, and there's still no update on the website, roll on 9th May

Yeah don't know why its not updated yet :confused:... I noticed that so thought I'd post the info, heres the link for the facebook page Welcome to Facebook - Log In, Sign Up or Learn More

What are these three stages in the first place? I thought that training will be done in one go ...

The stages are the assessment stages to get to the training college. Stage 3 is the interview stage and the final stage before the training.

There are 3 stages because the launch of an ATC career is a bit like the Saturn V rockets NASA used to send men to The Moon, (allegedly).
It needs a 'big kick' to get you on your way, on a journey into the unknown.
And it also gives lots of HR bods something to do. :ok:

rubbish news. Sucks to be me....

I personally just don't think its on that NATS should have so many people on hold for so long. Every three months a dissapointment. I am sure they could predict way more than just three months hence. That they should do it once or twice at the most, would be acceptable; reasonable, but to have postponed the selection process so many times just takes the cake with the cherry on top of it. Call me stupid, but I simply don't understand it.
Anyone feel free to give me a sensible answer.

Just received an email RE Stage 3 dates:

IMPORTANT - UPDATE ABOUT STAGE 3, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY


We are now able to release some dates for Stage 3 interviews.

In order for you to do this we have to update your application status, so you will receive various emails. The only email you will need to look out for is the one inviting you to book onto a date.

The interviews are to be held at CTC, there are no plans to interview at Prestwick in the near future.

The first few spaces are available on our next course which is due to commence in July 2012. If you are able to start on this course, please book onto 23rd and 30th May dates.

It is important that you only take these limited slots if you are definitely able attend on the date you book. We need a minimum amount of candidates to run a Stage 3 date.

If you are no longer able to continue with your application and wish to withdraw please reply to this email as soon as possible.

Damned short notice. But if I'm reading that correctly, they want people done with stage 3 and started on the course this July? Seems extremely quick for NATS haha.

Email that was sent seems to be innacurate as I've just received the invitation email now and the dates are 25th and 30th, not the 23rd and 30th. Anyway it seems extremely short notice.
Is there anyone that has passed their stage 3 can give any advice on what to revise/what to expect?
Was told that you should try and arrange a visit to a NATS site, however it seems like that would be impossible to do now with such short notice (I've just had to absolutely grovel to my Manageress to get the two days off for travel). And tbh now we've got the invitation that is the first time I've had any email that has actually CONFIRMED that I passed stage 2.
ARGH I've fully entered completely panicked mode now :-(

*EDIT* For some reason the message that I posted before this hasn't shown so here it is again:

IMPORTANT - UPDATE ABOUT STAGE 3, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY


We are now able to release some dates for Stage 3 interviews.

In order for you to do this we have to update your application status, so you will receive various emails. The only email you will need to look out for is the one inviting you to book onto a date.

The interviews are to be held at CTC, there are no plans to interview at Prestwick in the near future.

The first few spaces are available on our next course which is due to commence in July 2012. If you are able to start on this course, please book onto 23rd and 30th May dates.

It is important that you only take these limited slots if you are definitely able attend on the date you book. We need a minimum amount of candidates to run a Stage 3 date.

If you are no longer able to continue with your application and wish to withdraw please reply to this email as soon as possible.

Look at the website and you will be fine. Competency questions! I failed .... must have been 2 years now ago Hoping very much for a second time lucky :) You can easily squeeze a tower visit in....loads of time

Seb

Yeah I'm trying to get in touch with people now, sent an email and they said they'll get back to me within ten days which is far too long so I'll try ringing while I'm on my lunch. It's getting time off work which is the issue cos I work full time during the week in Durham. Already had to beg just to get the interview date off!
Don't suppose anyone knows how to get in touch with Prestwick directly? Trying to search online but not having much luck. Cos it's going to have to be either there or Manchester control Tower realistically for me to visit.

Manchester tower will give you a tour if you tell them you're through to Stage 3 - I don't have the number with me at work right now but it was available online

Received the e-mail yesterday and have booked onto a stage 3 date!

E-mailed nats about arranging a visit, do they usually take the 10 days to reply? Might have to ring them in that case. Unless anyone has details for arranging a visit to Birmingham, Luton, or Bristol towers?

Cheers for that, just tried ringing but no answer. Gonna try again when I finish work.

Got a tour in Heathrow on 23th May. Regarding the situation and the previsible content of the update, I called them and booked a tour just telling them that I was on Stage 3. Got an answer in 5 days. Got the 23th by chance. I've booked the 25th for Stage 3. I strongly recommend to you trying calling Heathrow, you are still on time.

regards and good luck for you all, fellows

Jessel

I've tried ringing that number for Manchester Control Tower and it's just ringing with no answer. Tried a few times now so I've sent them an email instead and hope someone gets back to me soon.

Good news at last! I'm booked in for the 23rd for stage 3 :] I feel for everyone waiting on previous stages though.

Sam0n, I contacted Newcastle airport through the ATCsim part of their website to arrange a visit in January so you could give that a try in you're not having much luck with Manchester.

Any of you successful applicants have any advice for this last stage? I know it's team exercises and an interview but it'd be nice to know how much of each the day involves since it covers a good 8 hours.

If anyone has the contact number for Heathrow tower could they let me know, would be much appreciated. My stage 3 is a few weeks away and I'd like to book a tour.

Heathrow tower is quite hard to get a visit to now, which is a shame. You certainly wont be able to plug in with an ATCO.

I would suggest you will get more out of a smaller tower, maybe Stansted, Luton or if you want to see a tower and radar in one hit try Farnborough.

All tower numbers are in the UK Airpilot by the way

That's a shame, do you know what's changed at LL? I visited LL and SS and both were great visits. SS is easier though since the tower is not airside which it is at heathrow.

"All tower numbers are in the UK Airpilot by the way"

Which is?

...Here

Thanks, appreciate it. Will try phoning on Monday.

Just corporate rules to guard against non-licensed individuals broadcasting by accident on the RT or distractibg controllers.

Even valid controllers at other units may only plug in with an OJTI otherwise we have to sit at the back :(

Asking what the UK Air Pilot is! I certainly don't single out Simon here, but I find the general ignorance about ATC amongst candidates for the job to be very disturbing. I don't expect rabid aircraft spotters but a little prior research and reading would go a long way.

Everything you ever wanted to know (and a lot you didn't) about UK ATC, plus links to deeper knowledge from official publications, is in this book:

Why...I had no real idea what the job entailed before starting at the college. I had no idea there was different disciplines within ATC, I'd never heard of the ANO, Air Pilot or MATS. I could tell a 747 and Concorde part and that was about it.

I passed everything, validated and have been an OJTI for nearly 2 years. Didn't do me any harm, I just had to work a bit harder to catch up.

And know they were training to be an ATCO as opposed to an ATC?

My graduation certificate says Air Traffic Controller, not Air Traffic Control Officer.

ATCO is merely an abbreviation for the pay grading that NATS use, and because it's an easier acronym to use in conversation.

Also, for any occasion where I've had to choose my employment from a menu; insurance, for example, I've never seen Air Traffic Control Officer as a possible choice.

Managed to get in a visit to the control tower at Durham Tees Valley on Sunday (Girlfriend's Dad is friends with the head fella there). Excited. Been doing a fair bit research over the past week and going to ask my current manager on tips for competency based interviews tomorrow (they are more than happy to help me as they've always known the job is a stopgap hoping for this). Excited :-D