I'm attending the stage 2 assessment day tomorrow 😄

Stage 2
 

Any tips/advice for stage 2? Got mine on the 25th. Also, is there usually people there around my age? Cheers.

I am booked in for the 7th March, and any tips would be appreciated :) I've tried to read through the information given to me as much as possible, but other research has shown that does not seem to be paramount to the test. Could anyone help to clear this up?

Systems Crash 24th January
 

Hey All,

Just wanted to touch base and see how those of you who had to re-sit the tests after the massive systems crash on the 24th January actually ended up doing? Very interested to hear from the group of guys I was sat with in Costa (we all were ejected early, about 40mins before the rest of the group) -- I have just been back down today and am pleased to say that so far, all went well. DART was possibly a little sketchy towards the end, however.....

After sitting my stage 2 on the 25th I'm now waiting with bated breath for the email telling me how I did...

I think everything went well but I suppose you never really know.

Stage 2
 

Hi, Im booked in for the 7th March stage 2 assessment center. I've read through the documents they give you for the preparation everyday since i was sent the email and am pretty confident on the majority of the document. I was just wondering if anyone would be able to give me some tips and to tell me what it consists of and what each test entails. Here are some of my questions.

Is the paper based test multiple choice or written based and what does it consist off, is it just to do with the document they send you or is there other stuff you need to know?
What does the FEAST computer test consist off and how hard is the test and is there anyway to prepare for it?
What does the DART computer test consist off and how hard is the test and is there anyway to prepare for it?

Also has anyone used the "SkyTest Preparation Software for NATS ATCO Screening" to prepare for this and how similar it is to the test and whether or not it is worth buying to prepare.

Any information will me much appreciated

Thanks

Quietly Chuffed
 

So It happened yesterday morning, the wee notification on my phone, alerting me to a new email from NATS, stating that I had been successful in passing Stage 2. What a relief - Pretty sure it all came down to the last part of the DART test for me - bit on the wire really...

Anyways, So of those of you whom have received similar good news, has anyone heard of any stage 3 dates at all? Or perhaps have any active members on here completed stage 3 in the last 18 months and wish to divulge a little as to what we could perhaps expect?

Looking forward to yet another EDI-SOU trip in the coming weeks, hope to see some familiar faces there too!!!

I'm booked in for Friday 7th march, staying at the premier inn the night before. Is anybody else staying there?
I feel like I'm starting to grasp the doc that needs to be learnt, the feast and dart worry me!!! :rolleyes:

Yay! Got my 'Into stage 3' email this morning. Really happy about that.

I imagine none of the other people who have got the good news have heard anything more? I figure that as there was a period of 7 or 8 weeks just finished where they held stage 2 days that they may be gearing up for a (hopefully), quite forthcoming stage 3 date?

Also, I was discussing this with some of the guys over lunch, but where on the progression do you actually think this is now?

I believe that '3000' and 'quarterly' are to be taken with a pinch of salt, certainly considering how many people were made to wait well over 3 months to get into stage 2 (I count myself lucky that stage 0-3 has been about 2 weeks!).

I was of the argument that the stage 2, as per the infographic, was the morning session, and that the stage 3 was DART, with Stage 4 being...Stage 3. The NATS description is ambiguous and a little contradictory as the infographic would lead one to believe that there are still two stages remaining at this juncture, but the blurb under the 'How to Apply' section makes it look like this is the final bit to come.

Just my 2c worth (maybe a bit more!).

Mind if I ask when you took your stage 2 tests? I passed about a month ago and still haven't heard anything. I assume there's a lot of us in the same boat and I'm just being paranoid that they've somehow forgotten me... Ha.

I agree about the infographic. It does seem a bit... Wrong. I was looking and I'm thinking that the stage 3 day is what stages 3 and 4 are in the image? I don't know.

I passed stage 2 early feb and have still yet to hear anything about stage 3.

I'm also hoping that the 'how to apply' section is correct and we only have one more day of assesments to go. Maybe they will send a few home at lunch again.

I took the test last Friday, 7th March.

I'm pretty sure looking at the schedule when I was booking my date that the 7th was the last day of 7 or 8 weeks of Stage 2 assessment days. Hopefully they put those together with the view to taking a Stage 3 with all the successful people pretty soon after.

Has anyone received an email regarding stage three dates, or am I correct in thinking that they are still on hold for the time being? Just concerned I may have been lost in the system...

Alex

I passed Stage 2 in January, I was on one of the first dates and I've still heard nothing regarding Stage 3 so I've been sending the odd email but not been told much.
In regards to the confusion about Stage 3 & 4 and all the stuff that people are talking about above me, I asked Claire who was running the Stage 2 tests when I was there and she said the last stage is Stage 3 and then a medical so I'm not sure quite how outdated the infographic is, a few other people who have already been through NATS have told me that Stage 3 was the last stage for them as well.

I think it comes from the fact that you can fail your medical, it is very rare but it happens. Therefore the infographic I think described the medical and security clearances as "stage 4", the difference being that most people pass the "stage 4" with no issues. Those that do have issues normally pass it after a bit of extra work is put in.

That's my take on it anyway.

Yeah saw that too. That was there position on March 11th too.

Shame they can't give anymore details. I felt the large Stage 2 session they gave just finished would have paved the way for Stage 3 for the successful applicants.

It is interesting to see that they are still taking applicants, and would be even more interesting to have someone at the stage 2 level asking questions here.

Maybe it is a case of not enough people being successful in the 8 or so weeks just past to warrant a Stage 3 date yet. I'd certainly be intrigued to hear form any other March 7th guys.

A few posts before that on their careers page they had responded to someone saying that stage 3 was in the process of being scheduled. Must be a dynamic situation.

waiting for stage 3
 

Hi Guys,

Don't want to put a downer on things but I passed Stage 2 in June of last year and am still waiting for a stage 3 date.

You have to consider SES is going to have a huge impact on ATC numbers required. Once the college knows how many candidates are needed for a new training course the dates will be set but with a new intake just started training this year we could be waiting a good while longer yet

Oh yes, SES will have a huge impact. In terms of the way NATS are struggling to keep up with their European counterparts and are continuing to fail miserably when investing in their training system. Management and so called 'HR Business Partners' sadly have ridiculous amounts of control over training and numbers. 'Short term view' comes to mind.

I wish you all the very best of luck if applying, but feel very sorry for those going through the NATS training system - it certainly isn't what it once was. There is very little investment in their people, absolutely no research into why trainees fail at the several phases of training and certainly no steps taken which might assist in preventing the failures. Instead, there are mind boggling numbers of alleged business masterminds who deem it appropriate to take ownership over who stays and who goes. I have seen it happen on countless occasions. I speak from first hand experience and can honestly say that NATS needs major, major reform in training if claims of being a 'World Leader' are to continue...

When was the last Stage 3? I'm amazed that the last one was before last summer, yet they are only starting training this year.

I have to imagine that they set the wheels in motion recently in an attempt to bring a new cohort of trainees in. NATS brought in a new Talent Acquisition Specialist, I believe it was Claire - who was overseeing the Stage 2 days. They also recently reposted the ATC advert on their Facebook page, seems like a lot of effort to go to in order to just pool people.

I know I am biased in as far as I'm trying to maintain a positive outlook for the near future, but that would be how I see how NATS have moved recently.

Stage 3
 

I also passed 7th March and am still awaiting a date. It's only been 3 weeks since the email confirmation but so eager. Worrying reading some passed in June last year

Stage 0 and 1
 

Hi, does NATS provide any practise examples of these tests?

And does anyone have any example of the types of questions?

E.g a verbal question example

a numerical example

and a error checking example.

Would be much appreciated.

Cheers

@Bigchap83 - Once you open the test link, you are given example questions for each of the sub-tests exactly as they appear in the 'real thing'. Good luck!

I passed my Stage 1 online assessments last night (the second set), pretty pleased to be honest, I found them quite tough. Though, of course we don't know the pass requirement.

Anyway, the email they sent me (as everyone's aware), said there's no current assessment dates planned.

So, I guess we wait!

Stage 3
 

I passed my stage 2 back in January. I was in the group which had a computer catch fire resulting in a long delay, but we got a free coffee so all good :)

Our group was told that if we were successful the following tests (Stage 3) would be in around a months time. That was 10 weeks ago and the only response I have had so far is that there are no dates for stage 3 planned at the moment. This is kind of annoying as my current employee is wanting to put me on a very expensive course, but my staff handbook says if i leave I will have to pay for all course taken in the last 9 months.

More information would be great if anyone has it so I know if I can go on the course. Thank you.

NATS already arguably have more ATCOs than they need.

As already mentioned SES if going to force down costs and potentially require even less staff to meet these lower costs.

There is even a question as to the viability of NATS keeping the college going.

I wouldnt be holding my breath if I was anyone not yet 100% throught the process and actually on a course. Loads of people holding in the system with no-where to go.

I would be working very actively on a plan B if I were you. Do the course at work now - I doubt you will be starting with NATS in the next 9 months anyway

Yes, at the moment NATS have more controllers than they need but they also have a high attrition rate what with retirements, VRs and leavers. Historically NATS staffing has gone through peaks and troughs, just now we are in a peak and numbers through the college are low. I suspect that possibly next year NATS will realise that they are getting short again and the college throughput will ramp up. Although on the airports side this would also depend on pending contract renewals which I'm not really up to speed on.

Thank The Lord my talent was acquired before the need of a manager and team so titled.It's a brave new world beckoning out there for you guys....have fun in it:cool:

Just finished the first online assessment.

Not entirely sure how well I did but any idea how long I have to wait to receive a reply?

Stage 0 eek
 

Hey all, just did Stage 0 after a long wait but was hoping someone would be so kind as to mail me the new ATC Motivational document please? Even though I may not make it, I would love to have a read :)

Thanks :)

Hi!

Just, Good Luck :ok:

Why do you need it? If you pass stage 0 you will be given it anyway, if you want to read up on ATC in general there is plenty on the internet. Start with the MATS pt 1 for example, but you'd better have a lot of free time!

Is everyone also still waiting for their e-mail regarding stage 2 assessment dates?

Status of NATS
 

I haven't posted on this site for a long time but having read through this topic regarding NATS' assessments, it amazes me how much has changed.

I applied to NATS over 2 years ago and got as far as (the old) Stage 1 but unfortunately wasn't successful. That day in Southampton was packed, they had a lot of Stage 1 assessments going on and the hotel was as crowded as could be. At the time, there was a huge demand for new recruits and I noticed how quickly dates were getting fully booked up. When I didn't get through, the decrease in stage dates showed, "nothing planned yet" seemed to be a common statement.

So coming up to a year since I sat my Stage 1 and they decided to change the time you had to wait between applying again from one year to two years so I decided to go the self-funding route as I didn't want to hang around much longer. I am (hopefully) not far off completing my ADI course and I have loved it.

Most of the stories I hear about NATS now seem to be much more negative then they use to be but then again, it happens to all companies, swings and roundabouts they say. It is always better to have a Plan B ready just in case what you originally plan on doing doesn't work out. I am glad I have decided to not wait around and go self-funded, it's a lot of money yes, but most of us love the industry and want to do what we love. So to those still waiting on NATS, good luck, don't give up but do have another plan ready just in case and I wish you all the best. :ok:

Sound advice Jack.
My backup was to teach geography and I even applied to NATS to become an assistant…….It was a long time ago.
I worked with a few people who had funded themselves, all were great ATCOs, (one is now a senior ops manager with NATS).
Good luck with the rest of your course, have fun and let us know how you get on.

Hi,

So with the changes on the horizon with NATS likely reducing the number of ATCO, what do you think will happen with the salary?

I'd say the union will be vehemently against a salary drop for existing atcos.

A freeze (which is a real terms drop) is more likely but I think they'd struggle since they are still shovelling out dividends.

That's all for existing staff. Who knows what the terms might be for new starters, atcos do not have a very good history in not shafting new starters (see pensions etc)

With current pressures, I would suggest anyone not at the college already has a very good back up in mind for the foreseeable future. It is quite possible that the last route to a free ATCO license may be about to close

Whitelighter: Yeah, I see the possibility for a freeze higher than an actual drop in salary, and I for sure think that we will see that tendency in more countries in the EU.

I work for ACR (a small company in Sweden), but new national regulations make the future look awful for us, so I most surely will have to relocate. Recently, I've considered what opportunities there are in NATS, but I don't really know anyone in NATS that I could ask about how it really is. So dear colleagues, may I ask e.g., how many hours an average ATCO for NATS work a week, and what is the yearly salary for this average Joe after tax?

Average joe ATCO works MMAANNSOOO

So roughly speaking 48 hours every 10 days (non 24 hours units have a 9 day rota)

Average valid controller after 3 years is around £2600/month after tax

Once you get up the scales the complexity of the unit determines your salary but an 'average' ATCO (if there is such a thing) is taking home £3500/month I would guess, but the variety of bands and steps makes that a very approximate estimate

Whitelighter: Thanks for your answers! I would have thought it to be much higher than that. Does anyone else have any approximations?

Stage 2
 

I have just completed my Stage 0 & 1, and have received an email to say there's currently no dates planned for Stage 2...fingers crossed I won't be waiting too long, as seems like people have already been waiting for a while?!