I have also completed stages 0 and 1 and I am awaiting stage 2 assessment dates. Judging from this forum, though, it looks like we could be waiting a while!

Hi all,

Just as a reference, I passed stages 0 and 1 around this time last year (July 2013) and attended stage 2 this January (2014). Now waiting for stage 3...

So be patient, it'll be worth the wait!

Manu

Thanks manusa...that's very helpful. Especially as I realistically wont be able to start until this time next year at the earliest anyway.

Nats test
 

Hellow, I would really like to apply for Atc but the thing is I am not
that good at maths! Does it really matter that much?
Thank you :)

It certainly helps a lot, and in the UK there is a minimum standard required before your application would even be considered.

I would guess that's the same world wide

Well if NATS wont take yer and you still fancy a "control" job combined with a bit of spotting on the side* then I suggest a nice signalling job with Notwork Fail :E . We also get bitter, twisted, have regular management dust ups and are subject to European Union legislation.

* Only applies to where you sit under a flightpath.

Age?
 

Hi guys, I am thinking about becoming ATCO. I am however 31. Would that be a problem? I understand there are no age restriction at the moment but what is the reality? Would they even consider me? I have been studying until now so my brain is used to this:)Thanks

Loki01, although it is true that there is no age restriction to apply, you can send a message with your concerns to the recruitment team directly from the web, they usually reply within a few days at most.
In any case, you can directly try and start the process. The first step asks for your personal information before they approve your application, so you have nothing to lose.

Good luck!

It all comes down to the individual.

There are people that make it through the courses at 18, there are people that make it through at 31.

There are also those that fail at 18, and fail at 31.

The same can be said about almost any age group (even though there are fewer applying from each age group after you start to become a bit older).


On my course the oldest (41 I think) and the youngest (18) both failed during the college stages, however anecdotal evidence is just that, anecdotes. How the actual statistics look I can't say for sure (as I've never seen any).

Why not apply and see how it goes? If you fail the application then no harm done, if you progress further you will hopefully be able to arrange a few study visits and learn more about the job, through that you will hopefully get an idea if you think it's something for you or not.

I applied at 30, started the college at 31 and validated at 32.

As CV says, that me. You might be different. Or you might not. I'm not convinced age hs a factor, and if it is there are many many more things that will trip you up along the way before your age plays.

The first is perhaps the biggest hurdle - can't see NATS recruiting anyone at ATCO grade for a very very long time.

If NATS could manage it, they'd get rid of all of the ATCOs and just become an airspace consultancy service. They've no interest in actual air traffic anymore. there's more money to be made telling other people how to do it.

I fear that I already know the answer to this but I might as well ask...

Has anyone who has passed the Stage 2 assessment had any email from NATS about a possible Stage 3 date? I received an email a month after I passed stating not to ask them directly about any planned dates but it's now 7 months later and whilst I have seen comments of people waiting a lot longer, I am just wondering if perhaps my email was missed when they sent out more dates :P

Thanks for any help!

I hate to be a harbinger (sp) of doom but...

You are going to wait a very long time. there are people who have passed stage 3 waiting for a course, little or no through put through training, contracts under pressue, En-Route suffering massive cost pressure due to the farce that is SESAR and RPT2.

Personally anyone waiting would be well advised to start working on a plan B

Plan B...
 

So it seems we could have a wait for stage two and, if successful, stage three. What would anyone advise as a Plan B? I had a look on a couple of websites that offer courses but it seems a bit of a minefield!

IAA are recruiting I believe.

Hey ManicPeanut! Have you considered applying to the RAF as an ATCO? That's my Plan B anyway since I'm still waiting for stage 2! I've done quite a bit of research and it seems there's two different roles for ATCOs. There's an Air Traffic Control Officer and Air Traffic Controller. Here's links to each role. Hope you find this somewhat useful;)

https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/r...ntrol-officer/

https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/r...ic-controller/

Hi cfiggins,

Regarding Stage 1 preparation, I don't have much advise. You have already taken it, so you know how it's like. There are similar exercises available, but I can't help with specific exercises to improve your results.

As for the waiting time, I can say I passed Stage 2 on January 2014 and still waiting for Stage 3... which doesn't seem to be taking place anytime soon.

Good luck!

you will certainly have waits of a number of months, yes

A few months might be considered optimistic

Lost Internet connection
 

Hi. I was in the middle of doing my practice questions for the stage 1 spatial reasoning test. Anyway my sister was in the kitchen and she did something and the fuse went for the plug sockets in the whole house and so did the Internet router and I lost connection.

When i tried going back into the link it says it won't run the test because it has already started? What can I do? Someone please advise?

:/ That sound really bad.....:ugh::ugh:


You will have to talk with Nats and explain it, I'm not sure if they will let you to do it again, but it is the only way I know.
Anyway, Good luck!! :ok:

NATS is having an open day. The following link has more details

Events | NATS

While you may have realised this, just in case as this thread is in the ATC section and has almost exclusively dealt with ATCO recruitment:

The open day linked to above does not appear to be for TATC recruitment.

But if you wan to be an engineer (which is an excellent career also) then it would be a good thing to visit.

There is going to be limited TATC recruitment next year. 3 courses of under ten across the year.

What? :confused:


Where have you seen that? :eek:

Megamc, don't worry too much, 1985 doesn't seem to respond to any messages so you can probably take what they say with a pinch of salt and just carry on keeping everything crossed.

1985 - on a particular forum like this, surely there is no point adding a comment without reasons for how you came about knowing the information.

NATS interview process
 

I think you'll find he's pretty much on the money

Can anyone of you say how you know that? Or do you have any extra information?

I'd appreciate it.

Gapster thats brilliant, I am glad he is!

How do you have this information though, as far as I am concerned I do not know you so how can it be true with no evidence!

A lot of things is written on these forums, which are at the end of the day a rumour network. Some of it is true, some of it is not. However if you look at the pressure to reduce cost from RP2 etc, do you think most ANSPs in Europe are likely to recruit a lot at the moment? I'm not saying a slow down in recruitment is taking place, I simply don't know. But it wouldn't surprise me if it is true. Then again, this is a rumour network, and a lot of rumours to turn out to be exaggerated, incorrect or plain lies. Make of that what you wish

There is a course starting on the 13th January with 4 TATCs on it. They will be recruited from the existing pool of people who have passed stage 3 in the recruitment process.

There are 2 more courses planned for later in the year with approximately 10 on each.

You can either believe me or not I'm not fussed.

1985 - Are those other two presumed courses also filled with people from the waiting pool or will they be recruiting from earlier stages?

There are not enough people who have passed stage 3 already to fill them so they will have to.

Stage 2 assessment days
 

Hello to all!

I was wondering whether anyone here waiting for Stage 2 assessment dates to come out?
From the latest posts I see that there is going to be a lot of waiting time, just want to have a rough idea on how long does it take :)

Thanks for the replies!

Hi Lion Tamer! I passed stage 2 on 11th November and havent heard anything!

From doing a little research I can see they released dates in January this year, so I am hoping they do the same next year!

Hi, I've received an email to let me know I've passed stage 0+1 and am waiting for an invite to the stage 2 interview. Anyone have any ideas on when this may be??

The same question???
 

Hi, everyone!!!
I just logged in today cause I have the same question as most of you.
I've done in March during one week both assessments - Stage 0 & Stage 1 - I've got the answer right away that I was successful and:
''We are not currently holding any assessment dates.''
This was on 28 March 2014, since than nothing. I was wondering if someone here has some news about the next stage or all of us we're in the same situation and still waiting?
Thanks in advance for people who's reading my message and try to get back to me!
Good luck to anyone!

The same answer
 

Join the back of the queue - don't hold your breath

Thanks, Whitelighter!
 

I'm just wondering if anyone knows what's happening, cause if you look on the NATS website on the ''Becoming a Controller'' page, just below the ''Applications'' it says ''There are four intakes a year, bla,bla...''?
If we have to wait an year or so, where are that 4 intakes what are they talking about???

I was wondering the very same. Why do they keep recruiting if they keep people in the pool for months?
It is no question that it is worth to wait for such a great opportunity but they could give a little bit more information on how long does the recruitment actually take....