Oh yes, regarding the age thing, i am currently 24, im 25 in february which would be before the course i would have started in may, but they let me progress all the way to the interview.

Send them an email back saying that you are aware of other people who are older than you having gone through the FEAST test. Its cheeky i guess but if they've said they are not going to let you progess then its worth a punt!

i had the same problem, but i think they kicked me because of english.

That is perhaps quite true Evolv. The slightly annoying part is though that they are more likely to learn things about your personality from a day of testing than an interview, where nerves get the better of people. Its maybe slightly odd that the 3 people on the interview panel had no insight in to anyone during phase 2.

I think if i was setting it up id have at least 1 of them involved with the phase 2 discussions, who could at least take that information in to the interview. At present it seems they get around a table and discuss each candidate, presumably with a report from the other stages of testing, which seems less efficient.

But then i doubt id be saying that if i got through :}

Still, onwards...

Do you think it's worth to give it a second try in two years if I failed the first phase? Somebody tried? Somebody's going to?

i wouldn't do that. the feast test isn't very difficult. the chance is very very high to fail the training if you need a second try to pass it.

I think Eurocontrol say that if youve already taken a FEAST test and failed then you wont be eligible to take it again. If you drop out at stage 2 or 3 and are still young enough to start training theyll let you have another go.

you can try again the feast test, but they warn you that it doesn't make sense to try it again.

hey, does anyone know if it makes sense to try the interview again? or does anyone know if you have to be perfect because it's your second try/ if they ask you why you failed last time and what you have done to improve it?

:)
 

Hi , I was invited for phase 1 on 18 f October. Anyone ..? :Pp

I'm on 18 also

edit: Pen and paper are allowed at the cube test?

Greetings octopus4848!

That situation is strange indeed. If you read the document they provide on their website (http://www.eurocontrol.int/muac/gall...010-OP-001.pdf), they clearly state that you need to be under 25 on October 1st 2010. If your 25th birthday is in June 2011, then you surely meet the age requirement.

Nowhere on their website or on any other place have I found any indication that you need to be 25 when the training starts, although I believe that may be the case. It is the only explanation for their action.

I am sorry I am not more helpful, but if you do find the answer will you please let me know? Unfortunately I may well be in a similar situation, since I will be 25 next March.

Thanks in advance!

Skytest
 

Hi guys,

Anybody know what kind of scores you would need to be achieveing in the skytest examples to pass the FEAST?

Anybody any ideas???

Have'nt a clue - please elucidate!

I don't belive there's a way to tell.

I shall firstly point out that I have not tried skytest myself, nor have I done feast, yet anhow :p

But the feast test is designed for it's only purpose of selecting ATC trainees, no other considerations have been made in the design. I personally looked at skytest and then thought it didn't matter, because the feast test will most likely be made to take along a percent or two too much rather than sort out someone with potential enough to be able to take on the training.

If there's someone around here who passed feast and used skytest they might be able to give you a clue, but I personally decided that either I "have it in me" or I don't. And there's no way of knowing if skytest is an accurate counterpart to feast or not, so overall my personal opinion is that it's better to focus on doing other stuff for preperation.

Feast is designed to be made without preperation, and yes it's always good to be as prepared as possible. But my personal opinon is that this is an exception to that rule.

skytest is bull!!!!. it only is a nice present for your bin.

if you use skytest, the percentage is very high that you will not pass the training.

the feast is easy, only basic skills, you don't need skytest. skytest is the worst thing you could use!
the feast is not like a test in school. either you have the skills or not!

Greetings,

I cannot speak from my own personal experience because I did not use the SkyTest software (too expensive). What I can tell you is:

1 - it is perfectly possible to pass the FEAST and SDM tests without previous training, as many people in this forum have done that (myself included);

2 - in my opinion, FEAST and SDM test different things. Whereas FEAST tests whether you have some basic skills, like spatial awareness (distances/headings/angles/cubes), quick reaction time (bars+balls), rule adherence (planning exercise) and the ability to adapt to new rules (the exercise with geometric shapes/numbers, etc.), SDM test is all about how much can you learn in 90 minutes. They do not expect you to reach a 100% score. Instead, I believe they're looking if you have what it takes to learn what they want to teach you in the future.

3 - obviously, it is also possible to pass the tests by previously training. I am not against those who do this, on the contrary actually - I think it shows initiative, willingness to pass and motivation. A good friend of mine, who also applied, bought the SkyTest CD and trained really hard. He told me that the FEAST test was pretty much easier than the one provided in the software. I think that, after some weeks training, he got 100% in the distances/headings/angles test, 100% in the english comprehension test, and between 50% and 80% in the others, with the exception of the cubes, which were significantly lower. Still, he passed the FEAST test.

4 - Regarding the SDM test, he was pretty nervous for some weeks, because he could not reach a score higher than 50% on level 1. That's because the SDM test in the SkyTest software is a lot harder than the actual SDM test. Strips appear constantly and most ETAs are separated by less than 5 minutes. In the actual test, the ETAs are much further apart (e.g. 15:31 and 16:10), which facilitates how quick you can look for conflicts for example. At the end of the SDM test, he had found 7 local conflicts, 0 opposite conflicts, but he never had a warning, that is, he never removed a strip too early or marked an already marked conflict, so that must have given him a good score, because it shows accuracy. Of course, one can argue that his accuracy was due to his training and not to his natural ability, but I do think that what counts is how you are able to learn - either by natural gift or by working hard. It doesn't matter. At the end of the day what matters is that you have done a good job.

I hope this post helps answering some of your questions, and best of luck in the future! :ok:

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I suppose I was just curious to see how the two compared and what level of difficulty skytest was compared to the FEAST. Perhaps they're not very comparable afterall!

Hi,

I should be starting at Eurocontrol in February 2011 pending my medical in November. Can't wait! Fingers crossed for the medical. I can't believe how quick the process has been, everyone at Eurocontrol has been so helpful.

I was just wondering if anyone knew what type of leave/holiday/study time trainees are given while on training in both phases? I have been given information, like phase 1 is 14 weeks in a location so far undecided, phase 2 is 20 weeks in Luxembourg and then the final phases are approx. 83 weeks in MUAC. But I'm guessing there must be some sort of breaks, just wondering if anyone with any experience could help me out so I could let my family know when they could see me again!

Also out of curiosity, what sort of holiday allowances are given to ATC's with Eurocontrol? Nothing is really given on the Eurocontrol website.

Thanks

Kind Regards,

Luke Jones.

Also, anyone else meant to be starting in February or have a medical in November (16th) ?

@lukejones
My medical should be sometime in March. I was told that the course will start at the end of May.
I'm also curious about the breaks from the training.

Good luck with your medical! ;)

Hi Luke,

For the first year, your leave will be arranged for you, taken as a group at certain points in the training programme.

You will get a break between finishing your basic training (wherever that may be) and starting at the institue in Luxembourg, and then again between finishing in Luxembourg and starting at MUAC (a week).

Once you come to MUAC, you will do your "transition phase" which is roughly 3 months, (7 weeks of theory, and 4 weeks of simulator training). After this you will do your CC-OJT phase which is about 4 months, and is your first opportunity to take leave when you like (so about 12-16 months after you first start). Depending on when it is in the year, most trainees take at around 3/4 weeks in this period.

After that its back into the simulator for 3 months, which includes a scheduled weeks break at the half way point. Once you have completed that its into the ops room again for your full OJT until you complete your training, and during this time you can take leave pretty much whenever you like.

When you first start though, you will be given the dates for all of your phases of training, so very quickly you will be able to work out when your scheduled breaks will be for the first few phases.

Also, when you are in the insitute in Luxembourg, you will get various long weekends for public holidays etc, which are a good opportunity for popping home for the weekend.

Finally, as for validated controllers, off the top of my head the leave allowance is 24 days, plus 17 days in lieu of public holidays, plus days that are given based on your age, and days for going home based on the distance between MUAC and the place where you lived when you were recruited. So its around 45 days at the moment, although by the time you actually get to MUAC, this will have been reduced slightly with upcoming changes to rostering, where there will be less leave but also less working days per year.

I hope this helps, any other questions feel free to post away or send a PM.

GJ

GlobalJourney - thanks for your great response, really informative. Really grateful! Can't wait to just get stuck in with it all.

evolv5 - where are you from and when are you taking the medical? Goodluck with it and hope to see you soon

tsorin16 - when did you sit the final phase to be on the May intake? I did the final stage at the very end July. Goodluck with your medical

To be honest, i think if you have an idea what to expect in the FEAST, SDM and Phase 2 tests, you will have an advantage. By idea i mean knowing that there will be a coordinate test for example, and roughly what youll have to do. I was surprised by the amount of people who had no idea there was going to be a cube test in teh FEAST package. Not surprisingly, they didnt pass.

With SDM, just take your time, i didnt find any opposite conflicts but still got through.

The interview is the bit to worry about, where they will root out a lot of people. Happily they do give feedback, though im yet to manage to get hold of the guy who provides it!

In Phase 1, in the questions containing distances, miles or kilometres are used?

Hello,

Is anyone going to the phase 1 testing on 20th this month?

Thx! :)

I received an e-mail asking me if I could make the 20th, I replied saying I could and I'm still awaiting the official invitation, so it's looking unlikely that I will be there. How long do they take do send the official invitation? I've been waiting almost 3 weeks which is absolutely ridiculous. How can they expect me to book flights when I have no idea whether I'm actually going?!

I'm going to attend for the test on 20th! but I'm quite nervous. They said you don't need to be prepared... but looking the post... I will stay at the Tulip Hotel, what about you?.:O
Do you know or someone knows how to obtain an example of the Feast test???

What are my chances?
 

Don't know if its worth asking anyone here on this forum, but its been on my mind recently. I sent all my stuff in to Imke and have received an email that they will be in touch to set a date for phase 1. This is what I'm curious about; what kind of experience do guys going in for ATC experience have? If any? My situation is having had previous schooling in ATC at a college at a school in the states where I also earned a bachelor's degree (I'm currently in the UK). I imagine that the interviewers will take this into account? Also, will I have a chance to mention my previous training to them?

Anyone with info feel free to message me.

mmcg and Esther, are you finally going to be there on wednesday? I'll arrive tomorrow to MST, more or less at 11 am. Hopefully we can meet up and share some knowledge and relax before the tests!

Best luck and see you soon! :)

icarus, i assume you have mentioned this in the application form. If so, you can guarantee that IF you get to the interview they will ask you about this. But getting to the interview is by no means a formality, its something akin to 1 from each phase 1 test group!

Yea, that's what I was thinking. Also, don't know if this was mentioned or not, probably was, but are transport and hotel fees covered by the applicant or by Eurocontrol. Someone here a while back mentioned that EC covers it or atleast a piece of it, possibly depending on the distance traveled, etc.

Cheers,

-
 

hi there,

EC will reimburse the travelling costs if you arrive there from 50km< and will pay your hotel room for 1 or 2 nights. Just bring your filled bank account paper and tickets to the big day, they will collect those before the tests and the breakfast.
The bio orange juice in the EC's canteen is really good, I'd recommend that!

Haha, I like orange juice. Thanks for the quick reply.

Yes Eurocontrol will cover expenses, assuming you dont take the cake. All details are provided in amoungst the details they send you when you confirm you can attend a certain session. And if all else fails, Imke and Sarah are pretty useful resources and will answer most questions!

hey.. any of the guys that attended phase 1 on 18th of october made it through to the second phase?
Portugal or sweden guy?
Hope to see you there on 10th of November!

Hey there! I'll be there on 9th too :) Best luck!

Did the spanish girl on 18th pass to the 2nd phase? Anyone present on the 20th tests ( I know your names but maybe you do not want them here ;p), I was there, PM me.

Very good luck again and hope to see you soon! :)

18th phase 1
 

hi there! i was on the 18th phase 1 testing.i was called to be there also on 9th of november. congrats mate.
Greatings from Portugal :D

Hey all,

I forgot most of the names but I was at fase 1 on the 20th. Anyone else who passed them?

At least I did! I was so happy when I saw the subject of the e-mail, Invitation phase 2.

Invited back at Eurocontrol on 8 November. Someone got any tips? Didn't have much time to read this topic trough, sure gonna do that soon!

Just curios if any of my fellow testers passed!

To everyone that will be there on 8 November, see you then!

Greetz,

Joost

Congrats for passing phase 1 and good luck with phase 2 :ok:

Reading this thread will give you guys a good idea about what to expect at phase 2.
Focus, pay attention, speak a good and clear English and don't stress yourselves too much! ;)

Hey JoosT!

I can see that you found out the proper thread ;D. This is the spanish guy that you met in the bus, and the girl sitting with us also did it! We'll all meet on 8th-9th :)

Good luck! :D

And you too Lupinas!

If any of you wants to chat/ share impressions/ get used to my spanglish accent xDDD feel free to send me a private message and we can use msn, skype or whatever :)

See you soon!