Stage 1
 

Hi All

Just received an email from NATS Recruitment to tell me I hadn't been successful on this occasion. I am now even more determined to make it through, so has anyone after being rejected waited the full 12 months or applied before this?

To anyone who had their stage 1 on the 20th March, I hope you got through...

Many thanks and good luck to all.

Hey all,

Just wondered if anybody who attended the Glasgow Hilton stage 1 on 12th March has heard back yet? I've still not heard anything! Is this normal or should I be chasing up HR? :bored:

eyesight?
 

I am 26 and interested in becoming an Air Traffic Controller but I wear glasses. After contacting NATS HR and my optician, I have been informed that my right eye is OK but my left eye is only just within the set ATC candidate vision limits (correction of +-3.5 dioptres).

As such I would like to ask all the qualified ATCs on here a few questions:

Why is it that the minimum vision requirements for ATC candidates is so much higher than that for pilots?

Do any ATCs wear glasses/contacts or do you all have perfect vision?

Do the maximum ATC eyesight correction limits (+- 3.5 dioptres) apply only to ATC trainee candidates or do they apply for all ATCs throughout their respective careers at all ages?

If they apply for all ATCs and considering that everyone’s vision deteriorates with age: what would happen if a qualified/working ATC’s vision deteriorated to below the minimum sight requirements (i.e. had to wear glasses that gave him/her a visual correction of greater than +-3.5dioptres). Would they be required to resign or given another job etc? Has this happened before?

If I apply for ATC training will the fact that I wear glasses be held as a mark against me in the application process?

Taking in to account that I am 26; I do wear glasses; that the current amount of correction those glasses give to my left eye is near the ATC candidate limits and that invariably my eyesight will deteriorate as I get older, would you or would you not advise me to apply for the ATC training?

Jab

Firstly - the requirements for the initial medical are not as stringent as those for the renewals so they take into account the fact that the eyes will deteriorate. I believe the renewal criteria is something like 5 dioptres - it's certainly more than the initial.

The NATS medical is more stringent than the CAA class one which is why there is a discrepancy with pilots.

Plenty of controllers wear glasses/contacts and have no problems whatsoever so don't worry about that. At 26 your eyes are going to be pretty settled so I would imagine you won't have any problems :)

Don
 

Hi, im due to sit stage one in manchester this wednesday and im just wondering if anyone can tell me do i need to know all the aircraft details given on the pdf.2?

Well....
It's up to you. There will be questions on it, but they are multiple choice. As I recall(2 years ago now) there was 2 or 3 questions on the stats, so assuming a pass mark of 70 %, if you get all the other questions correct and the stats ones wrong you would probably be ok. However, as I'm sure someone will point out, if you get through you will need to know them anyway...

Best of luck.:ok:

.....But of course there's no way to know that the test you'll sit will be the same paper as the one PaulM sat, so there might be more questions on a/c characteristics...........

...very true..

I was implying that with the "(2 years ago now)" comment. :O Well, trying to.


Note to self- learn how to use quote function.

Thanks!
 

Thanks For The Reply!!

does anyone know, can i still apply after three attempts

hey, I just found out today that I will hopefully be starting on the july course - much excitement! Just wondering if anyone else out there is going to be there as well?! :) oh and good luck to all of you still going through selection!!

I also heard today, and medical pending should be on the July course too.

Emails galore! Looks like all the july-ers got one... :)

From my experience from reading these forums (an my own experience) it varies anything from a few days to about 10 or 12 days. Doesn't seem to be any quicker or slower if your fail or pass.

Hurrah, Im through to the second round! Exciting stuff!

Hi guys

im new to the forum, have just booked my stage 1 test, so im really nervous already. I was wondering, over the last few months I was looking at a really helpful website on tiscalli, this is the address

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/radar2001...rces/ATCO1.htm

but it doesnt seem to be active any more ??

it was really helpful and had loads of tips on the interview process.

does anybody know what has happened to this site, or can anyone suggest a similar alternative one.
it was really good as it brought alot of info together into one place.

Hey dazpoo23, i was also at the hilton deansgate in the morning! Which room were you in the small one with the tv or the large one with all the tables? If its the small one i was the one who worked out the longest month silly question the guy gave us!

Glad to here another one who passed i was actually suprised i did because i only read the information booklet once (and im not one of those people who read and remember) and felt like a pauper surrounded by geniuses due to my age and the fact i never bothered with uni!

My interview is booked for May to give me time to prepare and hopefully get a visit into a couple of airports between now and then.

Hope a few other peeps from manchester passed.

July course
 

Hi everyone, looks like I'll be on the July corse too....pending medical, which I have next Friday.

See you all there!!!!

Kev:ok:

Have you been told that direct from HR Kev? The reason I ask is that last time I talked to them there was a chance i'd be on July, but more likely October. I was accepted in December and passed my medical in January. I'd be interested to know if things have changed is all.

Cheers

Ginger ;)

July start date.
 

Hi,

I got through stage 3 in February and have my medical next week. I got an email from HR saying they were looking to put me on the July course (medical pending of course) but when I called them they said it may still be October. I realise this isn't much help, just until HR have the course numbers no-one really knows when they start.

Ginger,

I just received an e-mail from HR saying that ideally, they would be looking for me to go on the July course if everything goes ok with the medical, references etc.

I only passed the recruitment process in February so maybe you should give them a call?

Anyways, hopefully see you in July

Kev:ok:

Stage 2
 

Hello all, I have just downloaded the ATC Intro book from the NATS site, pretty basic stuff albeit very interesting for an anorak like me. If you have just passed Stage 2 I would love to hear any pointers about what exactly to expect.... I would be happy to do this for anyone about to do Stage 1, ill run you through it minute by minute if you like.

J

im about to do stage 1, and whilst i meet all the criteria my maths etc is a bit rusty.

I would really appreciate any info you have on stage 1 and what to expect, if you can go through it minute by minute and tell me what to expect with regard to numerical questions in particular, that would be great. :ok:

All the best with stage 2 mate

There was no numerical questions on my stage 1.

Neodude,

have you recently just completed stage 1 ?

Stage 1 - 21st April
 

Hi All,

Anyone have stage 1 in London next Monday morning (21/04)?

the only bits of numeracy in stage one (as of 11 months ago) are the basic checking... which is comparing numbers so not really numeracy as brain-eye coordination, and whatever d/s/t stuff they throw in. without trying to sound patronising in any way its not hard stuff.

best of luck to anyone who is taking a stage anytime soon, been there this time last year and just got out of the college, so any q's pm or ask away ;)

adrian

Nah, it was a couple of year ago now. Just started at the college a couple of weeks ago.

is it really that much time from stage 1 to college?? a couple of years ?

Stage 1 to college was just under 5 months for me.

Some people on my course had less than 3 weeks - don't fret ;)

I passed my Stage 3 in April 2007. Started at the college in April 2008. I was initially supposed to start in September 2007 but had medical issues.

im a little concerned with medical issues also, as I have asthma. It is completely under control with a spray I take every day, and I can exercise and everything no problems, I was wondering if anyone has got through ok with this condition ?

Obviously can't give you a categoric answer, but having asthma isn't an ailment that just rules you out, as I have it (albeit fairly mild nowadays) and I'm happily controlling.

Good luck.

I was worried about asthma too but I also got through with no problems. As long as your peak flow is OK and you have it under control I'm pretty sure you'd be fine. :)

anyon e know what peak flow is considered ok ??

Depends on your age and height..

http://www.peakflow.com/downloadrequ...ile&itemId=373

Red line indicates normal values for the height/age range.

Yay, through to second stage after passing that hideous personality questionaire! Im booked into the morning session on 12th May - anyone else? Wonder if the apples will be green or red.....!!! :p

Great. After a few attempts I passed the psychometric testing, I'd nailed those cubes finally.

Then this morning I get this email: "I am sorry to have to inform you that you will not be invited for selection on this occasion as this is your fourth application and is states on our website that you can only apply a maximum of three times."

I've checked and can't find mention of this.

Thanks guys. :{

I heard today that i have passed stage 2, so now, in preparation for stage 3 next month i would like to visit Prestwick ACC. How do i go about organising this?