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 A CAREER IN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL


To apply to NATS (many other UK employers also use the same criteria) for a job as an air traffic controller you need to...

   be at least 18 at the date of application.

   have 5 GCSEs at grade C or above, including English and Maths.

  be eligible to work in the UK.

   Selection Process

NATS operates an online recruitment system through its careers website at www.atcocareers.co.uk .  There are a number of stages you have to pass through before you are ready to begin the training. Please note that this may not be provided by other employers.

1.           Initial online test   

Following receipt of your application you will be invited to take an online “checking test”.  If you score well on this you will be invited to the next stage of the process, the initial Assessment day. 

2.           Initial Assessment

The initial assessments last up to half a day and are held at our headquarters in Fareham, our College of Air Traffic Control in Bournemouth and our Scottish and Oceanic Control Centre in Prestwick. There is either a morning or afternoon session.
 

At the test session you will initially be invited to take two selection tests, an ATC test and a numeracy test.  Again if you score well you will be invited to stay with us and take two further tests, a spatial reasoning test and a logical reasoning test called Diagramming.   These tests measure skills such as spatial visualisation and short-term memory.

There's no need to feel intimidated by all these tests - we just want to make sure you're right for the job and we're right for you.

We'll get back to you within 15 working days from the end of the test week to let you know whether you've been successful. If not, you can reapply after twelve months up to a maximum of three times.

3.      Computer Assessment Day
 

If you are successful at the initial assessment you will be invited to come and join us for a day at our headquarters in Fareham.  During the day you will take a series of computer tests, these include the NATS Assessment tests, the FEAST test battery and the SDM test.  These tests are designed to provide us with more information on some of the key attributes and aptitudes of successful Air Traffic Controllers.  

FEAST includes a number of sub-tests, all of which were specially developed to assess applicants for Air Traffic Control training. The NATS computer assessments and SDM are a range of tests which assess abilities which are important for success in the role.  

During the lunch break you will have an opportunity to meet with an Air Traffic Controller to find out more about the training and the career.

 The results of the computer assessment day will be sent to you within 15 working days

3.       Final Assessment day

If you were successful in the computer tests, you'll be invited to attend the final assessment. This will consist of a group exercise and a competency based structured interview with trained assessors from across the NATS business. These may include operational ATCOs, HR staff and members of the Human Factors group.

During both the group exercise and the competency interview, you will be assessed against a set of the core competencies which make a successful operational ATCO.

These competencies are ATC Motivation; Conscientiousness and Rule Adherence; Decisiveness and Confidence; Emotional Stability; Error Awareness; Openness to Learning and Development; Planning, Decision Making and Problem Solving, and Team Working.

More information on the group exercise and interview, including some hints on how to prepare, can be found, on the NATS careers website at www.atcocareers.co.uk.

As with the previous stage, the results of the final assessment stage will be sent to you within 15 working days.

Prior to attending this stage you will be encouraged to visit an Air Traffic Control Unit.

4. Security Check, Medical Examination and References

Before you are given the job, you must supply references and have security clearance.

ATCOs also have to pass a thorough medical examination every 2 years until they are 40, then every year after that.

A good standard of health including colour vision and full hearing are needed. Contact lens and glasses are allowed as long as they fall within certain limits.

 
 © GATCO 2010