Hey all. Just been offered the Trainee ATC job at NATS! Bit of a dream of mine. Also wanted to enquire what people did about accomodation in Gloucester. I noticed that Global ATS offer accomodation in Cheltenham and was wondering if many of the trainees take them up on that?

Hi guys, i just wanted to ask, if successful can we choose whether we want to be tower, approach or area controllers? Thanks

Unfortunately it is business need, but the college you’re sent to will determine what training you receive. If you have a preference towards tower, train at Gloucester. If you prefer approach or area, train at Whiteley.

Also, applications close this weekend - definitely recommend applying if anyone is considering it!

Will it be possible to negotiate the college? My preference is to be tower, so Gloucester seems to be the right fit for me.

There’s a bit of wiggle room, I was asked my preference between locations when I got my offer. Just be aware that it depends on the location’s capacity and start date availability too. :)

Amazing. I’ve got my assessment day next month so fingers crossed if successful I’ll try for Gloucester 🤞

How do you know they're closing this weekend? I can't reapply until 22nd June, if this is the case I am absolutely gutted...

If you take a look on their social media, applications are set to close Sunday at 10pm. I’m sure they’ll open again later this year as this has been a really short window for it.

Wow, that's insanely short, I swear it was open longer last year. I suppose I'll have to wait for the next round. Shame about the 12-month reapplication rule, I was 40 days short.

Be proactive and contact them if you find out that you're successful; give a decent reason for the geographic training preference beyond "towers are great" and you'll hopefully be in with a good chance of getting what you want.

Stage 1 assessment
 

Hi guys, I did my stage 1 assessment for NATS TATC on Friday and have yet to hear results. Anyone in the same boat or if it just means I was unsuccessful? I can take the heat so comment anything good/bad on what to expect if anything.

Hi, I have my stage 3 assessment centre on Thursday, does anyone have any last minute tips? Mainly for the interview and group discussion.

I saw on reddit that they have paused stage 3 assessments until September/October so maybe they have also paused stage 2 assessments? I got the invitation for stage 2 about 5 mins after stage 1 when I completed it 2 weeks ago, so I'm sure if you had failed they would have told you immediately.

I have mine the following week, would appreciate some tips after you attend yours. Best of luck!

Sure, good luck to you too!

Booked my Stage 3 a bit ago, got it next week. Best of luck to everyone else in this recruitment wave!

Stage 2
 

I passed stage 1, found out about 5 days later. I completed stage 2 on Saturday and was expecting to hear something this morning. The majority seem to get results seconds after but I seem to get mine days after. Anyone also in the same boat? How long before you heard your stage 2 results?

Commute
 

Hi all,

I am lucky enough to have been offered a place with NATS and subject to medical and security clearance will hopefully be starting college in September.

If I am sent to Gloucester I will have to rent a room.

However, I live around 1h20m from Whiteley. Does anyone with experience of the course think this would be a doable commute factoring in the amount of study required etc?

Not having to shell out for a room in the week would make my home situation a lot easier, with a mortgage to cover.

Thanks in advance!

I would strongly advise you to rent a room nearby.

When I did my course at CTC 9 years ago, I rented a room in Southampton initially and I had no car. My door-to-door commute was at least 1h if the trains were on time - big if. I hated how much time I wasted on it daily.

I had no aviation background and the volume of theory that needed to be absorbed in a short amount of time was high (the basic course is about 3 months long including the exams). I nearly failed my basic course. What did save me though was putting in a lot of extra hours in the evenings and at the weekends with my colleagues (btw, nobody else I know lived further than 30 minutes by car).

For the next two courses I lived in Whiteley within walking distance from CTC, sharing with other trainees and it made a massive difference.

Don't underestimate the training, especially after you've made it so far already.