ATCOs now require a European Class 3 Medical. The initial NATS examination is carried out at Swanwick, with the subsequent CAA Medical taking place at Gatwick shortly thereafter.

I'm a bit baffled as to how the link between cancelling Aerodrome courses and the 'economic climate' is achieved. Surely the cancelling of courses is due to the fact that, as has already been mentioned, high success rates have been achieved in recent courses, thus reducing the need for new controllers. This has nothing, whatsoever so do with the financial aspects.

If NATS really are suffering in this 'climate', wouldn't Area courses be cancelled too? Who's to say NATS won't start running Aerodrome courses galore the month a certain percentage of current Aerodrome controllers either retire or fail to validate?

ILS RWY 27L;

You are baffled? You have to appreciate the differences between NERL and NSL

Just a quick one, been reading through the material we are given for stage 1, are all the measurement which state "miles" refering to nautical miles or normal miles? for example the passing of control at 6-12 miles from approach controller to aerodrome and also the ILS transmitting up to 25miles.

Lastly Im having a lot of trouble remembering all the plane details, any advice or tips ? :)

thanks !

cottam approach:

Right. Perhaps there is a link, but I was a little ignorant and none the wiser as to the reasoning behind it. Thanks for posting. What do NERL and NSL have to do with it?

Congrats Lizplt,

Lucky to have heard so quickly, I had my stage 3 last Wednesday and I'm still waiting...:\

Medical Assesment Pre Stage 1
 

Hi Guys,

I've not been around for a while and a scan through the previous pages on this thread don't show me an answer for this.

I have recently applied (for the 2nd attempt) for the trainee ATCO role. I wear glasses, and my prescription is well within their limits. I entered all the details on the online form, however I have got an email back saying my application has been forwarded to NATS Medical Department for assesment.

I apologise, if this has already been asked or discussed previously, but a scan and use of the forums inbuilt search feature returned me no joy.

Does anyone know if this is a usual occurence or if should be concerned, and how long it takes (they say upto 15 days in the email, but I am seriously hoping for sooner).

iannem

My prescription for both eyes is actually outside the limits for power but it was accepted by NATS and i already have my stage 1 booked. So I wouldn't worry too much if your inside the limits. What is your prescription & age?

Hi all.

Congratualtions to Lizplt, happy that you got through :ok:
I was at the stage 2 testing with you at Southampton (was sat next to you on the right, at lunch, when chatting with clare).
Went down to swanick on monday and had look round, thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Being able to sit in and listen and watch what is going on was awesome, can't wait for stage 3 now.
Got my stage 3 next friday, looking foward to it whilst being a little aprehensive. Got any tips/advice please pm me.
Hope to see you in the college.

Mike

Iannem
 

The eye thing is nothing to worry about, I got the same and they got back to me pretty quickly, can't remember exactly how long but definately nothing to worry about :)

A/C Recognition
 

Xinebessa,

Presuming they haven't changed the a/c you have to learn from the 219 course then please see below, may not help you learn them as such but definitely helps testing them :)

Best way to learn the type is to (once you get to the college), keep swapping cards with everyone/library so you learn the shape instead of the liveries. As for the numbers, a lot of them can be grouped into similar speeds/levels.

AC Recognition

hope it helps :ok:

Iannem,

I think I read something on here by someone else who had the same thing. I wouldn't worry about it, I think it's just a matter of the HR guys not being appropriately qualified to look at your prescription and say whether or not it is ok, so they have to forward it on to the medical services for the nod before they can proceded with processing your application. If you've checked it out and know that you are within the published limits I doubt you'll have an issue. I suspect they'll get back to you pretty fast on this one, but even if they do take 15 days its not a big deal - you're going to have to get used to waiting around, even once you've started the selection process it's probably going to take at least 3 months until you know whether you're in or not, and apparently the next available start date at college isn't until next June at the minute (may be later by the time you are through the system).... time to get used to waiting for NATS...

Pat42

I think the only reason I heard so quickly was one of the HR people who interviewed me was going on holiday next week and I know there was another S3 assessment today so they probably didn't have a choice in the matter, they had to do a 24 hour turn around on each! I haven't heard anything from anyone else on my S3 though so I have no idea if they have heard or not. I hope they did ok they were all really nice and two of the girls there were in the same position as me having tried last year and had to wait a whole year before trying again.

Adam28

I did tell Clare, she was one of the first people I told since she's been just so amazing. Also told the really lovely lady at Heathrow Tower who let me visit in an evening because I couldn't get anymore time off work. Everyone's been amazing that I've met. I've been really lucky.

At what point do they tell you whether they plan you to be Area or Aerodrome?? Anyone know?

At the moment, unless you want to wait 12 months then you're going to be Area.

Last Aero course was due to start in October 09, got cancelled and everyone shoved to the Jan 10 course, which has been cancelled and everyone shoved on the April 10 Course, which has been cancelled. So some have transferred onto the Feb Area course and some transferred onto the next available Aero course- and no one knows when that is going to be!

To the above poster who asked how I found out I'd been 'bumped', - yeah it was a phonecall. I too passed in August so it's gonna be getting on for a year's wait to actually start and approximately 18 months since 1st applying!

Pretty disappointed to be honest but I'm currently self-employed so at least I don't have the headache of having to find work for 3 months.

Oh well, roll on May!

Good luck to everyone currently going through the selection process.

hey, i did my stage 1 in prestwick last friday, just wondering how every1 got on? i found the whole thing v intense, happy with what i got done but its hard to know whether i get through. now checking my email every half an hour and driving myself mad. HELP!!!

Just had some long awaited good news... passed stage 3 :):):)!!!!

Anyone else from last Wednesday heard yet?

Pat

Congratulations Pat42, thats brilliant news, very pleased for you.

I have my stage 2 next Friday - getting nervous now...

Congratulations Pat! Just got some good news of my own today and have got through to stage 3! :)

Wel done Pat42! That's awesome! Will probably see you at college then!

Also well done to Menthol! Good luck in your final stage :ok:

Good luck Basilsauce, got my stage 2 on the 26th, anyone else going to that one?