one thing I don't think I've seen on this thread is an example of the ATC motivation paper questions.... would anyone who's done stage 1 recently be kind enough to post up an example of the style of question...the wording, answer variety and so on?

I'd be very grateful and I'm sure so would a lot of others :)

"Aircraft declares fuel emergency, has x fuel left, using y fuel every z miles/minutes. Should you land at airport A)a1 B)a2 C)a3 or D)a4?" Usually giving distance or flight times away.

If you think about it, the mishap a/c has delcared an IFE/Fuel, so even if it has the fuel to get to the third closest airport, you don't send it there, you land it at nearest available strip that can handle a/c type, right? that's what I did, and I passed.....

Unrealdream:

Even though it's multiple choice a lot of the time there are three quite similar answers and then the option for none of the above. So I honestly can't stress how important it is to be perfect on the calculations and speed is incredibly important especially on the numeracy stuff, no one at my table managed to finish it all! Don't want to worry you, but it's very important! All the best. :ok:

The eternal problem between speed and accuracy. Oh well, seems not many people finish the entire paper, including a lot of them that make it through. So I belive I'll keep going at the speed I have when I've been practicing and hopefully it will be alright. Now I need to get back to packing...

Impossibleisnothing, thank you. I'm generally fine on the calculations but occasionally struggle with the working out the time (I'm working on them!).
I just think having a couple of options there would help speed it up a little. (Probably to be proven wrong lol)

After some comms difficulties, I have received my stage 2 invitation! Now all I have to do is choose between 18/11 and 6/12. I'm going to go down the night before and stay, and have already chosen my hotel, as I've stayed there before!

Anyone going to the Stage 1 test this Friday Nov 12th?

I've already booked a room for the Premier Inn Fareham. Has anyone stayed there before? How did you find the accommodations?

myself and NimrodMR2 will be there on Friday morning, yes :ok:

KirtjE:
Check your PM.

Fly Montana:
I`m there on Friday morning aswell.

Nautical Miles
 

Does anyone know if there is a physical difference in length of nautical mile when measured at the equator compared to the geographical poles due to compression?

PM me with any answers!

thanks.

It's the same all over.

Long answer:

There isn't, one nautical mile is 1852 meters, and a meter is defined by a metal stick in a basement in Paris. And since this metal stick is the same leangth all over the world (not calculating for the slight detraction and expanding with metal with chaning temperature) the nautical mile is also the same. How ever if you go and cut off an inch from that metal piece, then distances world over would be quite intresting :E

Hi,

Actually, I think that was the old definition. Since the 1980's, if memory doesn't fail me, the metre has been redefined as the distance travelled by light in vacuum in 1/c of a second (where c = speed of light, in metres per second).

I could be wrong though.

You know what, when I think about it you might be right. Hm, then I guess it takes some more effort for me to make a real impact in world history :( Dammit, it seemed like a good plan :rolleyes::mad::ugh::sad:

It was a fair idea! I think you should still do it, it'd mess with a few people at least ;)

Stage 1
 

Hi, Is there anyone who has sat their stage 1 of late? Im stuck with what maths to learn. Could someone please help. Ive done simple maths and speed, distance, and time stuff. What else do i need to revise?

Hi,

I recommend being able to convert between units really fast in your head. Nautical miles to miles and vice-versa, for example. This would also mean you would need to memorise the most common conversions. Just google it, you can't miss them. Also, being able to calculate percentages is also a must. Besides these, I can't think of anything else... It's a numeracy paper, not a calculus or linear algebra paper, ehehehe

If this conversation had occurred 30 years ago, you would have been correct! But it was redefined in 1983, I confirmed it moments ago.

Getting back to the actual question, it seems that nautical miles are not the same everywhere. Check the wikipedia article. I read it diagonally and I got that impression.

Intresting, seems it's a brititsh idea to change it with latitude. Copy of wikipedia:



In English usage, a sea mile is, for any latitude, the length of one minute of latitude at that latitude. It varies from approximately 1842.9 m at the Equator to approximately 1861.7 m at the Poles, with a mean value of 1852.3 m.[5] The international nautical mile was chosen as the integer number of metres closest to the mean sea mile.


How ever at the top of the article it says

The nautical mile (symbol M, NM, Nm or nmi) is a unit of length corresponding approximately to one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian. By international agreement it is exactly 1,852 metres (approximately 6,076 feet).


So it seems the nautical mile is always 1852 metres, how ever a "sea mile" would change somewhat with placement on the earth, that seems to be an idea implemented only in the UK though, this entire subject seems to be a bit odd :p

Indeed! Anyway, I highly doubt this will be an issue during the selection process or even when/if one becomes an ATCO...

Me to, but if the question comes about the diffrence between a nautical mile and a sea mile, now we know :cool: :p


I'm just finishing up my packing, flying to London tomorrow. If anyone else is staing at the premier inn Fareham I'll let the reception know I'm going to the NATS tests in the morning. So just ask them and they can hopefully point you in my direction so we can have a chat and perhaps arrange to share a cab in the morning (I'll be arriving around 5-6 pm btw) :)