thanks aewaite17, for some reason i as convinced your post read, "Is it from your first application..."

mis-reading information a skill that is probably not desirable for air traffic control.

Ok thankyou :)

aewaite

yeah tried that one, but its full unfortunately. Only room left in the Portsmouth one :*

cariadmon,

I stayed in the premier inn eastleigh, its right next to the motorway, and takes about 15 min to get to CTC fareham, and as aewaite17 says the brekkie is nice to, not that you will be able to stomach it on the morn of your stage 2 or 3:E, I know I couldn't. It looked nice though:}

hi a quick question!!

does anyone know if we have to memorise all the information on

THE AIRCRAFT AND AIRLINES THAT USE THE SYSTEM (from stage 1 booklet)

for example

1. AIRCRAFT TYPE:-
2. SEATING DETAILS:-
3. CRUISING LEVEL:-
4. SPEED:-
5. TYPICAL ROUTES:-
6. OPERATED BY:-

do we need to learn all of them of the test???

thankx

I got asked about speed and what a plane did, didnt learn it at all
:( regret it

Has anyone got any tips for learning the list of aircraft types and all their details?
Its quite a daunting list, i just wondered how others went about learning it....any revision strategies?

I never learned everything off by heart. Look in several aircraft guide books, there will be different speeds for the same model. I found it more important to have an appreciation of what kinds of speeds each aircraft type was capable of. Eg. Most jets 400-500kts, turbo props 200-300kts then smaller things going around at 100kts ish. Likewise with typical routes and passenger numbers. It may have changed, but I never got asked in tests or interview to give a precise figure for the cruising speed of a 747 for example. Learn them by all means but just don't panic if you can't remember every figure.

^^^^True airspeed 495kts.

cariadmon,

If you tried booking the fareham premier inn online, if you only book one room, it will come up full (for some reason they don't like taking one night bookings) so book two nights, and then just cancel the second night.. When I tried to book one night, it came up full, then tried booking two nights and suddenly a room was available! Although they may be genuinely full in your case.

Can anyone help me please? I'm in preparing for a 2nd try and hope to be able to apply in November, however one of my weaker points that I want to do more than brush up on is my mathematics skills.

Does anyone know of any websites I could use to practise dst questions?

Many thanks,

CJayne

Just remember Speed = Distance/Time and re arrange to get the rest of them.

Speed = distance/time
Distance = Speed x Time
Time = Distance/Speed

:)

WOW having just spent the last 11 hours reading all 80 pages of this topic id like to say a big thank you to all who posted. I’ve got my stage 1 on Nov 3rd and all the info here has really helped me.

Id also like to say thanks to all you ATCO's who help get our a/c up so us jumpers can take the fast way back down :cool:

In all honesty I have a lot of respect for all you ATCO's and that’s 1 of my reasons for trying out for NATS.

Thanks again everyone, you have been a great help to all us ATCO wannabe's and with any luck ill see you soon.

3B

Hellooooo, need the infooooo,

:8

Can I ask you guys which aviation documents would be most relevent to study prior to appying to NATS? I've prepared in virtually every other way, and understand everything within MATS part 1. I also have a number of other docs. such as the Radio Telephony manual, Air Navigation Order, The UK Flight Planning Guide, Doc 4444 Rules of the Air, Doc 7910 Nationality Codes, CAP624 series, and a whole lot more about birdstrikes, handling emergencies, licensing of aerodromes, air safety management, CFMU handbook, SSR-EN, UK AIP...

But which ones are the most comprehensively studied during the initial training?

Hi,

I know this will have been covered withing this topic earlier but to save going through every page can I ask it now??


I've been invited to attend the stage 3 interview, what is it I should expect from the interview and group exercise etc?

Is there additional things I need to know apart from previous motivational material and the FAQ material included within stage 3 invitation email?


Mnay thanks!

amenhotep:

if you understand everything within the MATS I you're ahead of most of us... i wouldnt go too overboard with all those documents, instead (if you don't already) get a grasp of meterological conditions and a/c characteristics and recognition. maybe ill come to you when my validation board comes round and i dig out the MATS I though :ok:

ctb_184:

i'd suggest reading the whole thread if you have time... theres loads of little bits of info that cant really be summarised, peoples experiences etc. the interview is really no different to any other, what makes you suitable etc etc. The teamwork exercise is exactly that, seeing how well you work together to achieve the aim of the game.

good luck :)

CTB,
I echo AJ7, read the whole thread.

Also, ask yourself......what should I know going into an interview, any interview?....For the moment disregard the fact that the interview is with NATS to become an ATCO.

I would want to know what my job would be (i.e., where I would end up working, what I'd be doing, when I'd be working), the structure of the company, who the top people in the company are, and the culture and ethos of the company.

That's just basic interview prep really.

One can also very easily think of what one might get asked by those sneaky interviewers in an effort to decide whether you'd be a good prospect for ATC......just have a little think.:ok:

Hi guys,

Recently had my stage 3 interview and there's one question that was asked that i'm dying to know the right answer to:

"If you were to have a C172, 737 & 747 all waiting to land, which order would put them in and why?"

I know it may not be of huge importance in the grand scale of things but would love if a controller could tell me how they would have answered?

Many thanks

i'd go for c172, 737, 747...

Vortex spacing being the reason - you wouldnt have to apply any vortex spacing in this order, only radar separation. So in theory you could have the c172 touching down, the 737 3 miles behind and the 747 3 miles behind that... other way round with 747 first, 737 would need 5 miles behind etc etc.

Of course assuming all other things equal... :ok:

But don't mention that our CEO is a shark who only aims to get NATS ripe for a sell off by screwing our pensions, and that morale is plummeting ;)

The job itself is still a great one however, in spite of the management and bureaucracy which plagues it.

cheers for the replies! have read upto page 30 and loads of general info already there!

will read over more day by day to get better idea and a feeling of confidence going into it!

Woooo got through stage 1, just completted the Personality Questionaire, it's HUGE 108 questions... did NOT expect that and i also feel like i am a terrible person, personality tests seem to do that to me

Does anyone know how long it take to get your results back from the first test? I done mine on Monday the 6th and still not heard anything back, should I be worried? Do they even let you know i've you've failed? Cheers

Dont be too worried that you havent heard back yet. You should be emailed or updated via the web application whether you have passed, or not.
I think its still 15 working days max turn-around for stage1 results, so theres a few days yet. If you havent heard anything by the end of next week, then it may be worth calling HR.
Good luck.

cheers mate :ok::ok::ok::ok:

Hi, i hate my Stage 2 with NATS at prestwick next week. I have read through this and i gather there will be questions, i was sent two pdf's both detailing prestick and manchester operations, although there are no aircraft info which someone mentioned they studied for their stage two!?

am i missing something?

I am right in thinking, its Interview -> Questions -> Computer Based Test?

Hi,

I'm a 30 year old airline employee looking for a career change into ATC. I have my stage 1 with NATS booked in a couple of weeks and am feeling passionate and excited about the future. This thread is packed with useful information and advice for us new starters and I am working my way through all 81 pages. (I apologise in advance if the answer to my question is already posted.)

I am interested to know, how do ATCO's fund themselves through the NATS school? I understand that there is a salary of £10k but I haven't yet found information about grants or loans to further support student ATCO's during that year.

Any information/advice/tips welcome.

Many thanks.

minimum wage + weekly allowance (£ 60 per week). Take home a net between £ 950 / 1,000 at the end of the month.

Stage 2 Prestwick
 

Have they started doing Stage 2 at Prestwick? I thought they were only done at Southampton?

I've got my stage 2 in Fareham next week, I was wondering if there was anyone in particular I need to get in touch with to enquire about popping in to the control centre when I get there. Think I should go, seeing as I'm all the way down there.

Thanks

did you sit the first test on 6th october at hilton? me too.
passed and have completed personality questionnaire. how quickly did they give you results of personality questionnaire.
hey good luck

Congrats on getting through to your stage 2!:D

Best bet is to give HR a call in advance and see if you can organise something. Swanwick, the control centre, is actually a couple of miles down the road from where the the second stage is done in Whitely, so you will probably need your own wheels. It is well worth a look round though, especially in prep for your stage 3. ;)


Dispatcher LHR - yep, unfortunately the meagre £10,100 pa + £60 per week is what us lowly TATCO's must survive on, but hey, its a lot better than having to fund your training yourself!!!:}

Heathrow Control Tower Visits
 

This is just to inform anyone wishing to visit a control tower that you can now visit the Heathrow Air Traffic Control Tower.
I heard from several people including ATCO's that visits to Heathrow had been stopped because you could not get an airside pass. This is in fact not true and I visited both the old and new towers last week and also the new simulator which is housed in the old tower building.
I would like to thank all those that made my visit exciting and useful.
Im just hoping I pass my second stage assessment this week.

Aircraft Recognition at Stage 3!
 

Can I have anyone and everyones questions they got on Aircraft recognition at Stage 3 please? What aircraft they were asked to identify.

Thank you! :)

uordom,

who did you get in touch with at Heathrow?

Cheers

Agree with aewaite, you could be asked about any aircraft that you have been provided information on, so trying to second guess the interviewer isn't a good idea. It'll be a good start for college too in learning all of them ;)

By reaching stage 3, i would suggest it shows that you are capable enough in aptitude, now its whether you can display commitment/hardworking ethos and ability to teamwork. Good luck :ok:

help
 

please!!!!who can give me o site for test FEAST FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS. i wish to try those tests
tks
stella

especially when they ask you to identify a Bandeirante :E

I'm sure the people who organised your visit will be grateful that you've released this press statement... doesn't take a lot of time or effort to get the temporary pass, neither is it a pain in the proverbial...