P Wilson,

It sounds like you've got the enthusiasm that's needed and a good level of background knowledge.

The first stage is not an interview, just a series of tests. Try and absorb anything you can about ATC and aviation and do try and go back through the thread...lots of valuable stuff in here.

I was a 'super-wannabe' when I applied back in 1997. I was an 'anorak' if you will, devouring anything and everything to do with aviation, although I never got into reggie spotting. I assumed that everyone who got accepted on to the course at Bournemouth would be like me. It was a shock when I found out there were only two or three of us on a course of 36, and a handful of 'lesser geeks' who could tell an A330 from a 767.

Other than that they were all aviation virigns. Not that that prevented any of them becoming good controllers. The skills, personalities and characteristics are more important than knowledge.

Gonzo, thanks.

It's a bit of a relief to know that normal folk like myself make up the majority. I was under the impression that this roll would be made up of as you say, anoraks, who live and breath aviation.

I've already begun revising all the details of the test materials, have booked my flights, confirmed my interview date for Fri Jan 29th (Anyone else the same?) and will do the online test later on today whenever I can get a bit of peace and quiet from my family.

Here's hoping!

Friday 29th Jan, that's when I have my S3 :\ - what hotel are you booked at?

Congratulations and good luck!

I'm not booked at any hotel yet - I believe there's 3 opposite the centre if I'm right?

Though I have to do this on a budget so I'm looking at some place called Adamton Hotel that's on the north side of the airport... £10 a night, can't go wrong.

Though if there's somewhere more handy, I'll probably take it since Adamton is a tad out of the way.

Where do you recommend?

hey guys,

can anybody tell me what's the latest date @ atcocareers I could book my stage 1? I'm not familiar with the online selection process, so someone who's booked his/her first stage recently please give me an answer!
Thanks!

P Wilson
 

I'm assuming your going to the CTC in southampton for stage 1? if not i'm afraid i can't help you but if you are then there is a premier inn literally 2 mins walk from terminal. It's a bit more expensive than £10 but it's really close to airport and you can then get the free shuttle bus in the morning to the CTC from the train station car park which you walk past to get to the premier inn. For shuttle bus times, just email HR and they will email you a timetable. you can use the shuttle bus to get back to the airport as well and it doesn't cost you a penny.:ok:

@Piqla: When I received the first email congratulating me on my application success, they provided a link to available dates to book my stage 1. The latest for me was Jan 29th but it probably changes depending on when you apply.

@Adam28: Thanks for the info, however my stage 1 is at Prestwick. I'm going to take a look around at other places to stay. The Adamton Hotel is certainly cheap but it's not very convenient... plus I'll have to stay 2 nights due to flight times, so I'd like somewhere a bit more central so I can do something other than mull around a hotel, sweating lol.

Preferably involving some form of social interaction/beer...

-
 

Ok, thanks for the info! Fingers crossed for you and I hope you won't be bothered if I write to you begging for some detailed experience-sharing just after stage 1.
I'm gonna attend on my stage 1 at this year, so who knows, maybe we will be colleagues, haha.

Hey - I sincerely hope so!

Very best of luck and I'll offer any help I can.

Pat 42 stage 3 task group
 

Hi everyone,Pat 42 I have my stage 3 in two weeks
Could you explain in detail how was the task group before the interview?,what did you have to do exactly?,which rules you had to follow?.Thanks in advance.

Diagramming
 

Can anyone remember what the FIRST instruction on the diagramming test at stage 1 was?? For example, i think number 2 or 3 was "x = rotate this shape 360 degrees"??

Its driving me mad trying to remember!! Any assistance would cure this headache i am currently suffering!!

Online test
 

Hi folks, for the benefit of people who will be taking the online test, I'd just like to share my experience having just completed it.

Without swearing, I definitely messed it up. My touch pad on my laptop jumps, and I even accidentally clicked 'accept' when I hadn't even entered any answers to the mental arithmetic.

Nail in the coffin I think. Not to mention that I have just learned that my mental arithmetic is apparently woeful.

All I can say for others doing the online test is that you should practice the checking (for example; AQ12 to be checked with AQ21, A2Q1, AQ12, etc) but also practice doing it with longer symbols, up to around 7 characters, I'd recommend.

And definitely, definitely brush up on your mental arithmetic. Again, for example, questions like (of course this wasn't actually one of the questions) 120 / 6 * 8 - ? = 12 (where you have to find out what ? is)

I hope this helps others without giving too much away. Of course it must be fair for everyone so I'm not going to give too much detail but practice, practice, practice.

Good luck to all applying.

Paul.

Hey Paul. Don't get too worked up over it.
I just completed my online test as well. I think it went better than when I did it last year which isn't saying much but I still got through. I struggled with the mental arithmatic as well. At some points I was just staring at the numbers before I realised I was meant to be doing something with them. Last year I swear I missed several questions in a row at some point but still got through stage 1.

Good luck. Stage 1 now booked for two weeks times. Best get my head back into that paper again.

Thanks for your reply. Did I hear right, that you still got through stage one last year, despite not doing so well in the test?

Very best of luck for your reapplication and I wish you the best success!

For anyone who's doing Stage 3 at the moment or going through the medicals I just got a date. Although it sounds like they had me down for a preliminary space anyway before I had even done the medicals which is odd.

Anyway I've been booked onto the August area course which I figure is the earliest one now. Very excited. Long wait but it'll be worth it. Just got to try and push through the hatred of my current job to get there!

Good luck to everyone else in the stages at the moment. :)

Liz x

Well done Lizplt. Fingers crossed I will still be at the college when you arrive! (start next month)

I may join despite the fact I'm not starting in May. But it's pretty likely we'll be at the college at the same time!

Bet you're well excited approach. I am and it's 8 eye watering months away!! Let me know what's the best B&B to live in.:ok:

OnEsTeP
 

OnEsTeP
Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to your question but a question of my own which I hope you (or any others reading this) may be able to help me with regarding the diagramming test:

How many commands/instructions were there for the test at your stage 1? I'm wondering if its changed at all in the last year where there were 10 commands if I remember correctly.

:)

Hey there,

do you think is there a real chance that NATS will delete the possibility to re-apply after failing? I'm trying to be optimistic but you know, I can fail at stage1 or stage2 or at the interview (English-problems) and that would be erh, not nice if NATS deleted the second or third chance :}

Stage 1
 

Just got the email back to inform me that I didn't pass Stage 1.
It is a shame that they don't give feedback, it would help a lot and I don't see why that can't just give you scores on the emails.

I found the tests extremely difficult and I read the Motivation paper every day for four weeks and learnt all the aircraft and well as doing the practice tests.
Does anyone pass Stage One first time?

Also, if you can only apply to a maximum of three attempts then why the 12 month gap?