There haven't been four intakes a year for a few years now.

Nats have always been a bit slow in updating their external web stuff - I don't know why.

While Nats continue to lose contracts and generate the problem of staff wishing to stay within the company that have the right to do so any real recruitment (or existing staff moving between units for that matter) is on a bit of a hiatus.

I don't know why they keep recruitment open, but since it's web based it diesbt cost anything and then they have a queue or people who've shown interest and got so far when they finally decide they do need some more bods

From NATS point of view it obviously makes sense to have that pool of applicants to process as and when they're ready, as whitelighter said.

However, from an applicants point of view it's a bit of a pain with regards to lifestyle. For me it's the difference between buying a house and setting up a permanent base or renting somewhere I can leave and move to Hampshire for training with minimal fuss (and financial crippling).

Obviously I'm going to wait to hear from NATS before buying but it'd be very handy to know if the process would continue in a couple of months or in a years time (or over).

It's a great opportunity so it's a no brainer waiting but that's my main gripe.

Now then.
 

It's been a year now since I passed my stage 2 haha. I remember the woman (Claire Burton I think) saying they were talking of rushing us all through stage 3 and into the college in the next few months after that...
Out of curiosity does anybody know when they last did do a stage 3?

Hi all, I've just registered to post in this mega thread. I finally got off my backside last week and applied to become a controller. Yesterday afternoon I got an email confirming I'd passed stage 0 and 1 and I'm currently waiting for a Stage 2 assessment date.

From what I gather, quite a lot of people are waiting for Stage 2 and have been for a number of months. Any idea at all when they might hold one...?

Just thought I'd add my experience so far. I passed all the assessments in December 2013 and since then I've been told repeatedly it will all be starting in "a few months" and that I should just sit back and wait for them to contact me. Does anyone have a clue when it's likely to start?

It seems NATS are delaying you guys for quite a while...

Alternatively, HIAL in Scotland were running a trainee ab-initio ATCO programme for Stornoway Airport in Scotland, with training due to start mid-April this year for around 10 new ATCOs.

Not sure if this is still open for applications, check it out.

You'd be trained on ADI (aerodrome) and APP (approach procedural), only downside is being up in Highlands :}:oh:

Hi everyone,

Its my first post here. I did my assessments 0&1 In April 2014 and I´m still waiting for them to reply. I just want to say hi and thank everyone for the info. Lets hope that we all get called.

Honestly, I don't mean to be harsh but I wouldn't bank on it.

If you've done stage 3 or maybe stage 2 then you might get a course in the next year, maybe 2

If you've just don't the initial tests its going to be a long time - basically until the market picks up, NATS start winning contracts or the next wave of retirees happens.

The fact is NATS have too many ATCOs as it is

I do feel that they should tell candidates this. It's quite poor show to leave so many people hanging in a recruitment process for over a year, especially when the expectation is plastered all over their website is that there are four intakes a year and logically, people shouldn't have to wait more than 4-5 months from the start of their application to the end.

Honestly it doesn't take much...recruitment is a two way street and it's expected of employers to keep candidates updated on the progress of their application and let them know of any delays.

Hey there, been waiting nearly 12 months since I passed Stage 2 and today I received an e-mail telling me that they are planning to create Stage 3 assessment days in May and June.

The e-mail also states that the Assessment days are 'for courses starting later this year'. Whether this means they have taken all the people they can from the pool of 'Passed Stage 3 candidates' and are now looking to those who have passed stage 2 remains to be seen, but this is certainly great news.

The last thing the e-mail talks about is the fact that as it's been so long, some people may not want to continue, and so if you want your application withdrawn you reply to the e-mail stating so; otherwise, don't reply and wait for them to e-mail again!

Been nearly 16 months since I first applied and 12 since I passed stage 2 and finally getting somewhere, can't wait!

Nervous and excited!
 

Hi all!

As above with Eyesickle1, I also just received the same email! Been just over 12 months since I passed stage two, and lots has changed - namely I'm living in a colony with abundant sun about 10000 miles away from Fareham, where I've just been waiting for this day. Now that it's here, I don't know how to articulate my feeling! It's insane! Looking forward to flying back For the assessment, any ideas on if stage 3 and 4 as per the infographic are amalgamated into the one "stage" as far as Swanwick is concerned? Could be expensive commuting BNE - LHR via DXB on multiple occasions....

Swanwick Visit.
 

Hello all, I've got the email about stage 3 dates being held in May/June as well, considering I sat my Stage 2 in January 2014 I thought they had forgotten about me!

Anyway I'm looking at organising a visit to the Swanwick centre, preferably on April the 2nd as I'm working pretty solidly apart from then but I can't find any email/phone numbers for any ATC's to use to contact them to arrange anything. I've emailed the NATS public enquiries email address on their website but in my experience they aren't great with responding to emails.

I've already been to 2 Towers last year after stage 2 but of course that was a while ago.

Does anybody have any contact information I can use to hopefully arrange a visit to the centre? I don't have time to sift through 480 pages before people yell at me to do that..

Any help is appreciated.

Fred

congratulations Freddles !!!:ok:

01489612111

Ask for the people who organise air traffic control visits

Thanks for the number, I rang during lunch today (took several times to get through) and the lady basically seemed surprised and downright confused as to why I would be trying to get a visit and said she'd ring me back after inquiring.

After I called back later on when I received no callback I was eventually put through to somebody who starting saying I would have to book a visit online on the NATS website which I know isn't how it works as I've looked (unless I've missed something), after telling her this she started saying I would be unable to book a visit unless I was actually an ATCO or a trainee which I know is rubbish as I know others have had visits.

Does anybody have any other numbers or emails I can try? Maybe there's a nice ATCO who works there who would kindly show me round on their lunch break on April 2nd lol.

Anything's greatly appreciated.

Fred

Sounds like you got through to a right berk! Best chance would be if someone operational sees your post and "fixes" something. Used to be dead easy at Heathrow and LATCC but I don't know about the place at the seaside.

Freddies,
Have you been to EGCC, EGNM, (non-NATS I know), and EGPX yet?

I went to Manchester and Leeds Bradford yes, (The latter as A. it's local to me and B. I figured it would be interesting to get an alternative insight to NATS). This was back in February 2014 just after I passed Stage 2 though.

Somebody on the forum has kindly given me an email for Claire Burton at NATS whom I believe I remember from my Stage 2 so I've sent her a message asking for some assistance so we'll see if something gets sorted that way.

I'm really only going to be available on April 2nd for the forseeable future due to work commitments and I'm going to be around that part of the country then as well so it only makes sense to try and poke my head around whilst I can!

Stage 3
 

Woohoo, just got my Stage 3 invitation :):):):):):):):):):)

Got my invite as well pj211. Going on the 11th June. Hoping more light can be shed on what the competency interview actually consists of before I go. I remember reading somewhere that there were more computer tests but who knows! Congrats on your invite too.

Got my stage 3 date today after applying 18 months ago! Really excited! I spent ages trying to secure a visit when I first got through stage two last January, and got nowhere. I would like to do it before my stage three but I don't think I'll be able to get the time off work now.. Just my luck! How necessary is it?

Looks like this might be the final stage, considering they mention the need for successful applicants to have a medical afterwards.

Just got my invite through finally haha. I'm booked in for the 3rd June.

Me too! :) Anyone else going the 4th June?

3rd stage
 

Hi all,

Just set my date as 1st June for 3rd stage + interview; just need to book somewhere to stay overnight and I'm on my way

I think I'm going to go for the 4th of June. I just have to book flights over and sort out what I doing after as I think I am flying on again.

Does anyone have any clues about what Stage 3 consists of?
I really doubt it's only an interview, and the information I've seen so far is from a few years ago, when the process was quite different... :confused:

As far as I'm aware it's to be group tasks in the morning then if you're successful it'll be an interview in the afternoon. That's what I picked up from reading through this forum mind.

Hey guys, figured I would share this to help everyone out. I sent an e-mail to Kirsty to see if she could shed some light on the days tasks and she sent the following...

'Thank you for your enquiry

The format of the day consists of a Competency based interview and review with the interview panel, there is no Group tasks or computer based tests referenced in the forums.

There is no additional information available in advance of the interviews.'

Seems like it's a full day of questioning!
Hope this helps.

Thanks eyesickle! sorta confirms what the website says. Good luck to everyone, I'm going on the 11th!

Out of curiosity, are they just holding stage 3 dates or are they also holding a few stage 2 dates does anybody know?
Any people awaiting a stage 2 lurking?

Freddles, When did you pass the test?

I passed stage 2 in January 2014

Thank you, I thought you was waiting your Stage2.

Someone is waiting Stage 2?

Interview Process
 

Stage three is all about the interview. It will be you up against an interview panel of at least two NATS staff, one of whom will be an ATCO. If you have made it so far you are considered suitable to be an ATCO. Now you have to prove you want to be an ATCO! Have you made good use of your time while you have been waiting? How can you hack the training! Are you positive and active when it comes to learning? How do you deal with disappointments. Think about your experiences in life, education and work and use them in your interview. It is all about your conduct and the way you approach life, study and pressure. Good luck! :ok:

i just did the second online stage and passed, so am waiting for a stage 2 date. the email said they don't have any planned at the moment and they'll get in touch when they do.

i'm expecting a long wait :P

bloody hell i did the 2nd online test today and it seemed pretty hard towards the end
I think I'll pass it though but still I kind of expected it to be a piece of cake lol talk about being caught by surprise.

Is anybody going down for the stage 3 on the third June? And if anybody has been down already for this round then is there any chance of some information on what went on? :) I'm pretty confident but anything helpful will be welcome lol.

Same rr8!
Keep us up to date with regards to when you're going in for the next part