CTC ATP Phase 2 and 3
 

The pool is draining and has all but emptied.

With the possibility of Phase 2 and 3 ahead of me if you have been through this process recently I would appreciate any feedback and information that you can give on these selection days.

If need be send me a pm.

Cheers
TD

Sorry but you are mistaken. I know someone going through the process and they have been told there are 30 in the pool, anyone going into the pool will not be taken out for at least 1 year.

Hi guys

Just got a letter a few days ago and I'm through to phase 2. It seems that selection is going pretty slow and that I'll have to wait until sometime in January. Has anybody been called lately and how much time did you wait?

Any feedback on the phase 2 and 3 itself would also be extremely welcome.

I'm in desperate need of any advice that would help me get through those two dreaded days!

Good luck to everyone going through the selection process!

:ok:

I would have thought if 30 were in the pool with no anticipated movement for 12 months CTC would not be running further selections at this time. I think 2004 will see a lot of 'pool movement' at CTC and hence the requirement to start more selection days. Just my thoughts...............

PP

PP et al...

I think the CTC scheme has moved quicker than you may have thought - I hear rumours of 14 gone in the last month.

AS for the testing phases - perhaps a quick search might do you well..

Got that from a quick search myself and apologies to the contributor for not referencing.

Cheers

The above quote is for Phase 3, which also includes an interview. Phase 2 is about group discussions on "hot topics" and basic individual tests: maths, principles of flight, etc, nothing that can't be handled fairly easily by someone who's been through the ATPL theory!;)

MF

Apache

That's the point I was trying to make!;)

Regards

PP

Apologies PP - difficult to see that kind of stuff on the net. Not sure though whether they anticipate much Ej stuff due to the regs of number of hours being hired.

There's generally a steady trickle to easyjet avergaing one or two per month to keep the experience balance right. Other airlines sporadically accept on the order of 10 at a time so the 'pool' seems to empty in large chunks which are difficult to predict in advance. From my experience this is an excellent scheme and well worth applying if you meet the criteria and aren't expecting any big jet offers in the next year. If you do apply treat it as you would an airline interview and prepare accordingly because it is a great chance to give your career a jumpstart. It is likely that the pool will again be empty early in the new year and I think now would be an excellent time to get in before the backlog occurs again.

pool numbers
 

Turbo Rick,

There isn't as many as a pool of 30 waiting to go out to NZ. The waiting time is usualy about 2-3 months (can be as little as 1 month too) after stage 4. This is pendent on weather and it gives time to arrange things before setting out down under.

15 were netted from the pool by Monarch yesterday.

Pilot Pete wrote somewhere "the importance of research to keep ahead of the game to know EXACTLY what to expect and therefore what to prepare for "

On these wise words, does anyone know what are the type of questions asked at the Interview for phase 3 of the ATP scheme ?

SF

Phase 2 is the toughest phase of all (including AQC) in the sense that it seems to have the highest probability of rejection. i.e. there are fewer rejections at phase 3 and 4 than at 2.

You will do some written tests - nothing very difficult, just practice basic arithmetic in advance - long multi and div, fractions etc.. Study your Jeppessen plates and make sure you know what the main abbreviations mean. Do you know how it takes to rotate a jet, how long for jet engs to spool up from idle, what is the effect of flap on ground roll and climb gradient etc...

In the group discussions, as always don't hog the limelight but don't be a shrinking violet either. Make sure you don't interupt or talk over anyone and show that you are really listening and participating - read the papers the day before, think about what kind of qualities are expected in a pro pilot etc. Direct your points to your group with good ennunciation (spelling?) and eye contact - don't be tempted to direct your points to the moderators unless they ask you specific questions - show you're team oriented and are part of the team you're in...

Remember, there are very few situations in which a pro-pilot would act quickly without prior discussion / consultation with his colleague. These are:-

Rejected Take Off,
Stall recovery,
Windshear,
TCAS,
GPWS,
major loss of control

For the vast, vast majority of situations, you will work as a team to conduct normal and abnormal operations - even the above non-normals have a high team element for their execution but rely on the Pilot Flying taking quick decisive action to initiate as they are time-critical... Most situations are not time critical and you'd work as a team to correctly identify the problem before working through the solution together.

Phase 3 is team excercises - survival scenarios and building a bridge from blocks... Same advice as above - make sure you don't become competitive - work with your team to solve the problems.. remember the result is not the issue - it's how you work in a team environment that they are watching.

The last part of stage 3 is a personal interview with 2 training captains.. They are friendly but will ask you some direct questions. Be honest and direct and try to enjoy the experience. The interview is more of a personal than technical nature but you may be given scenarios - eg drunk captain (insist that he goes sick)... Why do you want to be a pilot etc.. Find out what GRADE and/or DODAR are used for and why they are important....

Good luck

p.s. In case I didn't make the point forcefully enough - make sure you demonstrate your team skills!

;)

Excellent post, Buttline; thanks.

Buttline,

Thanks a lot for your input ! One very interesting post indeed. I do remember of DODAR from my Human factors ATPL book but GRADE tells me nothing . Is it British Airways specific too ? Superfly

So there is no simulator check on phase 2?

GRADE and DODAR??
 

Well I've done my ATPL exams and I'm onto CTC Phase 3....so should I know what GRADE/DODAR are?? A search on here has only produced one result other than this thread with those words in it. Would anyone be kind enough to explain what they are?

Cheers
Daniel

GRADE and DODAR are essentially the same thing. BA uses DODAR, eJ use GRADE.

They are a decision-making framework designed to slow you down in a stressful situation and lead you to the correct course of action rather rushing into a potentially disasterous one - check out the Midland Kegworth incident..

G - Gather information - gauges, atc, cab crew etc
R - Reject irrelevant info
A - Analyse info and alternatives
D - Decide on a course of action
E - Evaluate and be prepared to change decision

You won't be expected to know everything about this at this stage but if you can show some multi-crew awareness, it'll come over well.

Never heard of GRADE either but now we know!

DODAR is used to evaluate what to do & stands for:
Diagnose the problem
Options available
Decide what to do
Allocate tasks
Review.

NITS is the next step after DODAR, used to communicate to ATC & Cabin Crew:
Nature of emergency
Intentions of the crew
Time available
Supplementary information

BTW CTC use Aerad plates, not Jeppesen. The legends are slightly different so be aware! & no there's no sim check anymore, you just need to "make the grade" during Phase 4 (the AQC).

MF

Nice one Buttline and Manflex :ok:

SF