NATS
 

Hi All,

Ive always wanted to be a pilot.. I applied for CTC Wings and my application is "On Hold" as awaiting my A Level results in the summer.. However, it is soooo expensive!! I have also looked at Air Traffic Control.. people say NATs is the best.. how much is the course in NATs and how do you apply? Also price of NATs?

Thanks

Hi there,

If you look at the stick thread at the top of this forum you will find pretty much all of the information there. But, to give you a head start go to www.nats.co.uk and then click on careers. Follow the Air Traffic Controllers links until you reach apply. Then you just need to give a few details and they will give you a date for your first assessments. The rest they will explain via email. You don't need to pay for the NATS course if you are accepted. But I would suggest a lot of research about the job itself before deciding to just 'go for it'.

I hope this helps...

It does help thank you. I have been looking at it for awhile now to be honest.. my first choice is Pilot but the cost is beyond a joke.. I applied for ATCO Trainee if thats correct? It says "Stage - Invited to do tests" and then underneif it says Book Interview? Is this the tests?

I will look through the sticky now

Kind regards

chrisy08
 

Good luck. I've read all your previous posts....particularly around May 2008.
If you want to be a pilot.....fair enough.....great career. If you want to be a controller I would advise against giving the impression that you're only lowering yourself to this job because pilot training is so expensive. Many hundreds apply for each controller training place......the failure rate will make your eyes water.
If you do pass out from the college and go on to validate at a unit, the job is fantastic! Not everyone takes a liking to it.....not to worry....after three or four years on the "tubes" or in a "tower" you can go for supervisor and then on to manager. NATS has over two thousand managers, many of whom have very little operational experience.....but with over two hundred departments there is a wide variety of placements available. Some jobs allow you to pop into the Ops room every now and then to have-a-go on the world's best live video game.
Seriously though.....check out the NATS website.....loads and loads of good stuff on there.......some ATC games.....some employee profiles. In fact I may apply myself.....the job advertised is quite different than the one I do.....see you at the college!

I'd also try to have a book focussing on the use of English language and grammar!:ugh:

Or maybe that's just me being old fashioned expecting a "professional" to be able to spell??????????:confused:

Well my choosing career path is a Pilot.. but ATC is also a big option.. Thank you for the info I have been looking at NATs website it has alot of great things.. I didnt know the course was free:confused: I always thought you had to pay?

How long is the course length?

250 kts - Shhh If you want to be picky do it elsewhere if you don't mind:8

Don't worry Chrisy, no one is expecting you to be a 'professional' at this point in time. But to be constructive, which is what I guess 250 kts was trying to be ;), it's not advisable to type in text speak on here as the grammar police will be all over you like a rash - but I'm sure you knew that already!

If you look further on the NATS website it will give you all the answers you are looking for. The course length depends on the discipline; Aerodrom, Approach or Area. Area is the longest with approximately 12 months of college. Aerodrome and approach, correct me if I'm wrong are around 6 months.

Thank you.. I am sorry about my grammer Im just used to using text language as I am still young and use mobiles and msn :ok:

No you are right I found that on there careers website..

Kind Regards

Chris

chrisy08. Reading your posts I wonder if you have given this serious thought? I'd have thought that if you really wanted to get into ATC you would have pursued other lines of enquiry rather than here.

ATC is not a joke and it is not a kind of back-up for someone who really wants to be a pilot. Becoming a pilot does not necessarily mean paying for one's own training. Airlines all over the world train their own pilots so have you looked into that method?

ATC training is at least as demanding as that for a pilot and although many people pass the exams a significant number fail to make the grade when they reach the live training stage, which can be several years after college courses.

You may want to mug up on ATC Licensing so have a look at this:
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/43/a_guide..._licensing.pdf

On the subject of spelling and grammar, you will have to write various papers at several stages of your training so do get used to writing clearly.

Best of luck, but DON'T consider ATC to be an easy option if you can't make pilot. My ambition was ATC and, against all odds, I made it so keep trying to fly if that's what you really want.

I understand what you mean heathrow director.. I have given it serious thought.. I didnt only look at ATC because I might not make a pilot, because I believe I can make a pilot but I just dont want to be in £50-60,000 worth of debt at 19.. it would be worth it as I would be following my dream.. Im just uncertain.

I understand the job is not easy, its very stressful and long hours.. I write normally but when im on the computer I find it difficult to keep to the correct grammer as im used to things like MSN.. im sure every young person would agree on some level :O

Thank you for your advice its very kind

Chris