I assume this is before stage 1 steve? i still not recived the link or invitation for it, how long after booking ur stage 1 did you get it?

At The College
 

How far is it from Winton, which is a suburb of bournemouth, to the nats college...?
Google maps says 14 minutes, but does this take into account morning traffic and stuff?
What time are you at the college for in the mornings?

saraj

I got a reply to my application the next day...

College
 

The traffic can be a little heavy on Wessex Way (A338) and especially on the smaller roads through Hurn village towards the airport (this is where the college is). Most people who live in Westby Road (BH5) get there in about 15 mins in the morning (leave at 0750ish) but longer home in the afternoon - not sure what time google maps suggests for that route... Also, we're driving in the school holidays at the moment so an increase in journey time might occur in September.

You need to be in the college at 0815 for an 0830 start; most of us get there shortly after 0800.

Hi,

Motivation paper at stage 2? I thought it was in with the stage 1 tests?

A week ago today I received an email from NATS after applying a week ago yesterday. The email said that my application had been forwarded on to medial. This is because I wear glasses. However, I have had no further communication yet. And now hearing some people haven't heard anything at all. NATS HR must have had an increase in workload recently.

And would you say that's a reasonable journey?
You don't feel like you spend too much time travelling..

Also, what's the dress code officially? And what do people actually wear?

No sorry Steve, i meant to ask when did you get the invitation to do the online test? straight after the booking or few days later?

Yes Sarah, straight away, I got 2 emails, one asking me to do online tests, 1 asking me to choose the date of my stage 1 tests

thanks Steve, its Saraj lol

i got the email about stage 1 but nothing about the test, so waiting for reply from HR

Haha sorry

I thought it was Sara j

Many apologies Saraj!

Folks,

Looking for some help with this. Have had my heart set on ATC for a while now; I have been rejected within the past 12 months on my first attempt. However, since then, they have changed the selection process - am I ellegible for another attempt, or do I still have to wait out the full 12 mo?

Thanks,
AJA

Whose waiting forS3 results at the mo? How long have you waited?

I've waited one day and i can hardly stand the tension- god knows what i'll be like in 15 days!

unfortunally Adam you do, as you can only apply after 12 months,

Im waiting too pugwash4x4. 5 working days gone and everyday gets harder. waiting definately the worst part. Hopefully will hear this week, dont want to have to go through the weekend. :ugh:
How did ur stage 3 go?

Hi,
Ive got the first assessment day in a week or so and need a touch of advice.

Will the questions on the ATC paper that we have been given be multiple choice on a computer or is there someone sat there asking questions?

Also with the aptitude tests are these just the basic checking, spatial reasoning and diagramming tests that are on the practise leaflets?

Thanks
Paul

No idea how stage 3 went- group exercise went ok i think, hopefully didn't dominate, but neither was I a shrinking violet- made sure that everyone was included and helped people when they got a bit stuck. Also was nice that everyone had the same outcome from the group exercise - no one massively benefited and no one was massively stuck.

As for the personal interview - well how the hell do you know! I think i represented myself fairly and honestly, and so if i'm not what they're looking for then i'll fail.

Really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really want to pass!

stage 3
 

found out this morning i passed stage 3!!!! i actually can't believe it! i am so so happy! can't even put it in words! agghhhh so excited about starting!! she told me all the oct/nov courses are fully booked so it will probably be jan/feb for me! so chuffed!
How did any of you other guys get on that had S3 on 23rd July!!??

Brian 2503
 

Well done mate, delighted for you. Did they email you?

Hopefully I'll not need to wait much longer!!

they phoned me then emailed me like 5 mins later. Yea hopefully they will get back to you very soon...probably today aswell i'd imagine!
let me know how u get on! good luck with it!!!

Bournemouth!!
 

just wondering, if you guys pass S3 are you traveling to college for it or renting a place nearby? Any ideas how many days a week the course is? I live really really far away and £10,000 doesnt seem like much

Had my Stage 3 on the 22nd. Found I passed today too. Soo happy and relieved.
At the college most people either rent or stay in B&Bs so i hear. You get some accomodation money on top of the 10,000.

Stage 3
 

Yeehaa! Just found out I passed S3 also!

It has taken me about an hour to calm back down!

Brian, PM your email address to me so we can keep in touch as it looks like we'll be on the same course now!

Thanks to everyone who posted help and advice on here it has been a great help!

RigATC2B
 

Congrats, any ideas how many days a week the course is?

congrats ! well done

now we all know who to PM for help on the stages !

Congratulations to all those that found out that they have passed today!

Now the hard work starts eh!

How long did the process take from applying to now??

grum123
 

actually not too sure myself but am pretty sure it has been mentioned previously in the forum so worth looking back a few pages.

Gd luck to all if you are going through the selection process. Hopefully meet many of you in the future.

Those who have passed. Have you booked medical dates? for when and where?

Medical
 

I couldn't find the bit to book it, did your page bring up a list of dates and locations?

As for time, I sat my first stage in the middle of march, and found out today I was in.

Congrats to those who passed S3- you must all feel so happy!

did you guys all take S3 on the 23rd July? if so then i wonder if us guys from the 28th might hear soon!

I did mine on the 22nd, not sure how the rest of my group did.

Mine came up with 1 location - swanwick and 1 date - 14 august. So i bet u can guess when and where im going.

medical
 

I was clearly too slow off the mark :)

I was on the 23rd and I know Brian 2503 was on the 23rd aswell, didn't expect to hear so quickly to be honest!

grum 123 - i imagine i will be renting a B&B...at least to start off with. I live in N.Ireland so i will be moving over!
and the course is mon to fri....8 to 4 or something like that i think???

STEVE JOHN - mine was quite drawn out( due to having to finish uni etc)...S1 was 26 feb...stage 2 wasnt until 19th may and S3 was 23rd july!

RigATC2B - i only had one choice aswell....14th aug at swanwick control centre.

I am soo happyy.....still hasnt really hit me!!!

College stuff...
 

HP20 & grum123 (+ anyone else interested)

I think a 15-25 minute commute is fine - you're at the college all day so it's not that bad. However, you might think it's a lot - depends what you've done before! There's not many places to live that's significantly closer since the college is on the airport site, so I think it's reasonable to expect about 15 mins each way wherever you choose to live.

Dress code: stated as smart, and just about everyone follows it (boys: trousers, shirt, proper shoes; girls: similar). No tie or jacket required. Dress down Friday so jeans, t-shirt, trainers, etc.

Hours: must be in college by 0815 each day (Monday-Friday). Classes from 0830 until 1615 with two breaks and lunch. Sometimes you'll get an early go, but most people don't get away until 1615.

Money: unless you already work for NATS, you'll earn just over £10000 pa (taxable). You also get a £60 per week accommodation allowance (not taxed). If you're over 25 and single, you're entitled to working tax credits which will boost your income a little. Overall, before working tax credits, you get about £950-1000 a month (ish) after deductions. B&Bs cost in the region of £80-£100 a week, so you've still got spending money for nights out etc (I'm managing to pay B&B plus mortgage at home and going out on my pay).

Hope that helps a bit...

Adam
 

You have to wait 12 months from the 'date of your last application'...

Makes it a bit better doesn't it!

thanks paperclip thats actually really helpful :)

paperclip810 & brian2503
 

Thank you very much, everything i wanted to know and more

All the guys/gals that have just started at the college
 

If i could trouble any of the people on the July Aero course for a few dumb questions!

Hows the course?! Is it as hard going as people say?

Does anyone cycle to the college?! If so how long does it take( from westby road area) and whats the best route?

Whats the gym like at the college? Is there lots of equipment and how busy does it get?

Cheers guys and good luck with the course:ok:

Stage 1 NATS
 

Hi

I sat my stage 1 tests at Fareham last Friday (24th July) and thought i'd post about what they were like and how i got on.

I was booked in for 12:30. At approx 12:00 I arrived and spoke to reception about why I was there. They gave me a personality questionnaire of 99 questions(i think) which I completed, and then another woman signed us in and took us to a classroom to sit the tests. There were 9 of us although the woman said she'd been expecting something like 60! The woman we had was very nice and gave us plenty time to go to toilet etc before we began.

First test was the ATC motivation paper. This test is 20 questions and you get 18 minutes to complete this paper. It is multiple choice. I managed to complete the paper and check back over it and still had a few minutes to spare, so if you read the information then you should be fine.

Second paper was the cubes. I would agree with other people when they say this is the hardest test of the four. This was 40 questions in 20 minutes. Again it is multiple choice. I completed 32 of the 40. There are three cube nets, one t-shape, the other two are more awkward to assemble in your head. Some of the patterns are quite complicated as well. Key thing is not to open the booklet and panic, just concentrate and do as many as you can.

Third paper was the diagramming. Same concept as the practice leaflet they give you but with more 'operations' or 'commands' that can be applied to the object. They can also ask you to reverse the column or put it in a certain order. This test was 50 questions in 20 minutes. Multiple choice. I managed 48, gutted not to get the last two and complete it!

Last paper was the mental arithmetic, or D/S/T questions. 20 questions and 15 minutes to complete. I found this a reasonable paper which I completed and checked over in the time allowed. Typical questions involve aircraft heading towards one another, descent rates, distance to a beacon.

During the tests we had opportunity for toilet breaks and to get a drink of water. After tests we were thanked for attending, wished the best of luck and sent on our way. I am waiting to hear my results!

Note for anyone going to NATS CTC from Southampton Airport

There is a free shuttle bus(more of a van) that runs from the car park at the train station next to the airport. The van is blue with 'Airlynx' written on the side in yellow. When exiting airport, turn left, walk to road, cross road to train station and turn left. Walk alongside platform to other end of station where car park is.(as you crossed the road look left and you should see a bus stop on the oncoming traffic side of the road, the car park is just next to this, entrance should be visible next to bus stop.)

Times for shuttle bus

I got a timetable from the driver of times from the CTC, however I am not 100% sure if these were just for that day or are permanent times. The journey from CTC to airport and vice versa is around 15-20 minutes, although slightly more at peak traffic times.

These times are:

leaves CTC 0810, 0840, 0855, 0920, 0945, 1545, 1615, 1640, 1700, 1740, 1815.

Add approx 20 mins to these and that is when bus should arrive at airport. If it is the case these times are altered or bus arrives early and so departs early, as you can see it is not too long a wait until the next bus.

Patty

Patty/Patricia,

I spoke to you on the 24th July at CTC when we sat stage 1 together, if you happen to be on here and read this then let me know how you did when you get your results.:)

college
 

hey guys,

tried to search for but failed.
if somebody succesfully goin' through at S3 and could go to the training he/she HAS to move into the college or just highly recommended? is there enough place for everybody or just some fortune-blessed people get rooms?
thanks

piqla, there is no accommodation provided at the college. You will need to sort out a B&B or shared house or similar in Bournemouth or the surrounding areas (many people opt for B&Bs in Boscombe). NATS provide a list of accommodation, but I hear it is somewhat out of date.

oh, okay then, good to know.
and the trainees rent rooms together so they can keep in touch after the school and idunno they can do the homework together? or everybody goes into his/her separated, comfy flat?
i guess version A is better if somebody wants to be well-socialed and beloved :]