Also Cardio - they'll give you an ECG I'm sure.

There is a detailed doc linked from the careers site with lots of information on all the limitations.

just found out i passed stage 1 and have just filled in the personallity questionaire-soo pleased! not wanting to count my eggs before they've hatched but was wondering if anyone could give me the links to the materials i need to learn for stage2-im not usually a fan of thinking like this as i know the results to the personallity questionaire can be surprising (and not in a good sense!:sad:) but just would like a look over what has to be learnt for stage2, even if i dont get through this time, theres always next time!

hope someone can help me,:)
claire x

Re Woking
 

I am live in woking too, awaiting my stage one results.

Medical
 

MaggiesFarmer, the medical covers following areas

Electro cardio gram (ECG)
Audio
Height
Weight
Urinalysis
Ear examination
Eye examination
Throat examination
Abdominal examination
Heart/Lungs examination
Testicular examination (men)
Mobility and reflexes examination

but like JonathanB says there's a comprehensive list/explanation somewhere on NATS website.

Testicular examination?!?! Nobody told me about this! I'd have applied years ago! :ooh:

I don't believe it...I've just got back from a Tower visit at Southampton and found out about the Schipol crash just short of the runway. I'm going to stop visiting places I think...when I visited Swanwick last year the BA777 crashed...just short of the runway.

can you request a sexy 21 year old female nurse for the Testicular examination?

also is NATS bothered about looks or say on the lines of tattoos or piercings? surely if you have the knowladge and potential it shouldnt really be a problem?? would it?!

personality Q
 

I just got my invite to take the personality questionnaire. I was wondering if it was possible for me to click on the link just to have a quick look at what the format is etc and then go back to it....or is it a case of once u click on the link you start the questionnaire no going back?

Your Medical Life
 

Things are more flexible than you might imagine but you must meet the criteria for a Class 1 medical.
Pain killers would need to be reviewed by a CAA/NATS doctor as is all ongoing medication. Depending on its precise action it need not impede your progress but, of course, you require a professional opinion.
On a rather personal note your NATS doctor will encourage you annually to be an appropriate weight especially if you are starting young as we do all tend to put it on more than lose it.

Good Luck

Cheers paperclip, I will have to email them. I didn't get a chance to speak to them today.

Becoming an ATCO/People who are ATCO
 

Im currently contemplating whether to apply for the training and I would like some more info, i know there is a sticky but it is over 100 pages long!!!!

Ive got a few questions to ask if you dont mind!

The training.

1-how long does training last?
2- Do you get weekends free whilst training?
3- what does the training consist of? what are the assessments to get into the college and the actual college training itself like?
4. What does the medical consist of?

Any more info on the assessment and training would be greatly appreciated.

The job.

Just after a bit of info about the job itself.

1- is it as stressful as they say it is?
2- what are the work patterns?
3- starting pay once you are qualified?
4- Are there many positions available around the uk?

Again anymore info about the job would be brilliant.

I apologise for this post but I do have specific questions to ask, so i hope people do not mind me asking!

Any advice would be great

Many thanks

Haha, only a bit podgy, 6ft 1 and just under 14 stone at age 33 so well within the BMI thing. I was always so skinny when young!
The internet now calls my BMI "overweight", last year it was "slightly overweight". Ho-hum, such is progress!


calpal - I hope they don't judge on appearances, otherwise I'll have to remove all of my face piercings and grow my hair over my head tatoos!

cdb84, practically all of that information (training, pay, etc.) is on the natscareers.co.uk website, and if you're really interested you really ought to start there!

Between July 2008 and December 2008 I was involved in the NATS ATCO selection and recruitment process and eventually ended up being offered a position at the college. As I completed each section of the process, I jotted down information and I have now finally typed up every aspect of the selection process including diagrams into a 7-page PDF document. I believe it will be a very helpful document for anyone involved in the process.

The PDF document is available to anyone who wants it for FREE. Just PM me.

Yours Generous,

UORDOM

cdb 84

after looking at the nats careers website, if you think it looks like a good career you will find all the answers to your questions and much much more within this thread. you will also find numerous tips, hints, ideas and thoughts on the whole selection process from application to (hopefully) acceptance to the college and beyond. i agree, 100 pages is a lot to read, but if you are thinking of embarking on what would be a complete career change, i think it could be considered time worth spending.

i'll quickly add that it's not that i, or others, dont want to answer your questions, just that the plethora of opinions will give you a more rounded perception than a solitary voice.

good luck

adrian

Well said Adrian!

Well I done my Stage 2 on Weds, don't feel as confident as I did after Stage 1. The motivation paper I found easy as i'd prepared well enough for it. The computer tests were good fun :ugh: and I don't know how I did in the interview.

Now for the waiting game........... :zzz:

to be honest you need to be able to take things in your stride without panicking if you want to progress in the career. I'm not saying that as an ATC, it's more of a common sense thing.

I have my stage 3 in a couple of weeks and I feel I've done all the preparation that I can. Is there anything anybody out there would say is really important to passing? Anything new I could revise?

New ATSOCAS?

Failed Stage 2 :uhoh:

See you next year!

Sorry to hear that Russell. Have you asked for feedback from HR?

TRAINEE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 1st STAGE - SELECTION TEST
 

hi there!

ive been selected for the stage 1 test on 10th March in Manchester. the email i was sent said there would be 3 places around the UK. but on looking at the test sites, Glasgow was not an option!!!....

Im in Perth, is any one from Scotland going down for the same day?

Marriot Victoria & Albert Hotel - Manchester
Water Street
Manchester
M3 4JQ
United Kingdom

on the 10th of March for the test?

if so, get back!!

brain teasers!!!
 

Russell Bell - Really sorry to hear.

Have you been given any reason as to why? I have my stage 2 tomorrow and I'm a little apprehensive about the interview.

Best thing to do RedMonster is to phone up HR. Their number will be on the emails you have received..

Dates come up at the Glasgow Hilton on a regular basis (Thats where I had my S1 and S3). They may not be able to confirm any dates until they are published on the booker, however they should be able to tell you if Glasgow is still a viable option and they may make a note on your application stating that you are waiting for local dates to become available.

That is, of course, if you were really looking for a Scottish date. If you have no problem in spending your cash to get to the assessment then I would like to be your pub friend. My phone number is......


Andy

I failed the interview stage, thats all they could tell me. Didn't feel confident after the interview as it was the first time i'd ever had one. I think nerves got the better of me and I gave a few stupid answers. Only 12 months to wait. :rolleyes:

pub mate!
 

hi Andy
i worked out its a round trip of 632 miles. £90 in petrol.....

ill ring them just now and meet you in the pub later....

Glasgow or Manchester
 

good news!

changed my date to 27th March in Glasgow!

saving near on 600 miles and 8 hours!!

pub crawl??????

Passed My Stage 1!!!!!
Just filled out the longer application form and with any luck they should get back to me with a stage 2 date sometime this week :)

Been a great help so far on this website, Thanks Everyone!!!!!!!!!!

Travelling costs
 

redmonster,

Glad you got it changed - you'll find that the NATS expense system is not particularly rewarding and the closer you get your tests to home, the better!

marco888

it should be alright, even if they maybe aren't expecting you im sure they will work something out and fit the three sections of the day in for you. perhaps do a screen-print of the nats e-booking page that confirms tomorrow as your stage 2?

best of luck anyway

adrian

...better you turn up when you're not supposed to, than not turn up when you are...

it wont affect your chances of getting through, unless you let it. what will make you look like a good/bad candidate is your interview and test results, so go in there and give it a shot :ok:

Don't worry marco, I didn't reply to the email either. It states "Please reply to this email 5 days prior to your Stage 2" I only noticed this the night before as I was checking the address. They were still expecting me.

Marco, we all make boobs sometimes. In fact, during my entire interview process I think I made 3 :cool:

I booked into a hotel about 20 miles away from Fareham on my S2, booked into a hotel closer to Fareham before realising that I had to be at Swanwick... and as if that wasn't enough I showed up a day early for my CAA medical....

And they let me in!!

Needless to say, I have gotten myself into shape now. No more senior moments for me.

In my defense however, my mother used my trips to the south coast as an excuse for a holiday... Maybe she swayed my accomodation choices to make Monkey World that little bit closer for a visit.

Best of luck tomorrow mate, I will be praying they can accomodate you and let you show off those skills you have :)

Andy

Thanks for the positive words Andy. I'll give erm all I got! Hopefully it will be enough.

Marco888 i did not reply to any of those emails before going but did call up to check around the day before. I was worried I would look bad but hey, I passed all the stages.

Hey first post.

I am currently studying for the first stage in Glasgow which is in a few weeks. I have been reading up as much as i can but am worried that i do not have as much knowledge as people who have maybe wanted to become a TATC for years, as it was very much a spur of the moment thing to apply for, but having read up on it, i've decided it's something i'd be very interested and very lucky to do.
Are there any other websites which may be useful in helping me prepare for the first stage? I have the test material which was sent in the email for me to study but is there anything else?
Also, did anyone else come from a background completely different to ATC? How did you get on if so?
Cheers

newb

your situation sounds just like mine did just under two years ago... 22, not quite sure what i wanted to do, didnt finish a chemistry degree, stumbled across air traffic control and made a snap decision to apply. had a passing interest in planes, but that was the limit of my knowledge (and maybe still is :})

anyway that was mid april 2007, now im about 6/8 weeks from validating my license (hopefully) at heathrow...

its not about knowledge as much as aptitude, attitude and commitment. if you show ability and an attitude to use and tune that ability then you can do it. read all the information they send you and learn it well, practise on the tests on the website and be ready for the test day. it is a long hard process all the way through, but its definitely worth the effort :ok:

Hello, can anyone tell me NATS accepts candidates from EU countries rather than the UK?

I've filled the online questionary and they invited me for the initial tests.

I just want to know if its worth to go there, since I'm not a UK citizen.

Appreciate all your help.

Best Regards.