NATS Air Traffic Contoller Assessment Centre, Aptitude Tests, Hiring Process & Interviews Preparation – 2024

What Is NATS?

NATS is the largest air traffic control service provider in the United Kingdom. Formally known as the National Air Traffic Services, they regulate millions of flights carrying hundreds of millions of people domestically and internationally per year. Since 1962, NATS has consistently been training some of the best ATC’s in the business rewarding them with favorable benefits such as competitive pay and plentiful vacation days.

NATS’ has such high-quality air traffic control operators because NATS trains them with the company’s time and money. Their trainees are educated at Fareham college or a variety of other institutions and paid an annual salary as well as a weekly per diem. Trainees are promised employment on the condition that they successfully complete the courses.

 

What Is NATS Hiring Process?

NATS training programme for ATC’s is competitive with thousands of new applicants each year. They require each applicant to go through a three-stage recruitment process which includes:

• Online Application
• Online Assessments
• Assessment Centre

If an applicant is unsuccessful at any stage of the hiring process, they must wait two years until they can apply again. NATS only allows people to apply a total of three times.

 

Application

The online application for NATS is fairly self-explanatory. However, there are some prerequisites for the training programme that NATS expects to see. These include at least a C average in five GCSE’s, be eighteen years of age or older, and meet class 3 medical standards.

 

NATS Online Assessments

NATS online aptitude tests come in two parts: part 1 and part 2. Part one examines the aptitude and technical abilities of the candidates while part two focuses on the personality and behaviourial aspects of the candidates. Part one’s assessments include:

• Concentration
  This is a two-minute assessment that asks only one question: does this shape represent the letter E with three dots around it? The test supplies randomly assembled objects and the candidate must mark “Correct” or “Incorrect” regarding whether or not the shape contains a capital E with three dots surrounding its exterior. Read more about concentration tests.
• Deductive Reasoning
  The deductive reasoning test analyzes the test taker’s capacity to draw logical conclusions from a general premise. The test places one shape in each row or column of a 4×4 grid with a question mark in one of the frames. Candidates must pinpoint which shape belongs where the question mark is from multiple answer choices. This assessment has a six-minute time constraint.
• Fluency in English
  The Fluency in English is a basic literacy test. It will cover word choice and grammar and ensure that the candidate can effectively communicate in the English language.
• Inductive Reasoning
  NATS inductive reasoning assessment is six minutes long and non-verbal. The test-taker is presented with two matrices on the left and four on the right. Their job is to identify the pattern on the left and find two of the four grids on the right that use that same pattern. This test appraises a candidate’s ability to use logic to find conclusions from arbitrary data.
• Monitoring Ability
  The Monitoring Ability assessment is another two-minute test. In a small circle, multiple objects will be moving constantly, and the goal is to accurately calculate the number of objects in the circle. There are five different answer choices.
• Spatial Reasoning
  The spatial reasoning test provides a zone and direction that an aircraft is hypothetically flying in. These measurements are exhibited on a GYRO and RBI compass. From there, the candidate must use these numbers to place one of four aircrafts facing north, east, south, and west on a 3 by 3 grid that counts to eight. Candidates will have three minutes to complete this assessment.

 

Part two’s assessments include:

• Situational Judgement Test
  The Situational Judgement Test, or SJT, appraises the emotional intelligence of the candidate. Given a hypothetical scenario, the test-taker must evaluate three subsequent responses to the scenario and rank how likely they are to utilize one of those responses. This assessment is untimed.
• Occupational Personality Questionnaire
  The Occupational Personality Questionnaire matches the candidate’s personality to prospective careers and positions. There are 104 questions in a scale-based format where the candidate must rank the statements by how much they relate to them. While the assessment is untimed, it takes an average of twenty-five-minutes to complete.

 

NATS Assessment Centre

NATS Assessment Centre is the final stage in their hiring process. This step can be broken down even further into six parts:

• DART
  The DART, or Dynamic ATC Radar Test, is a simulator for air traffic controllers. The assessment is adaptive and require the use of some mathematics. Candidates must guide multiple aircrafts to their necessary positions safely and quickly. There are specifications and constraints that dictate the paths of the flights which candidates must strictly follow.
• FEAST
  The First European Air Selection Test is a technical assessment that examines the depth of knowledge the candidate possesses in regard to ATC work. They will only have forty minutes to complete the test. Eurocontrol designed the test to include three sections: ATC example work, general aptitude, English test, and a FEAST personality questionnaire.
• Interview
  NATS interview is based on the competence and technical abilities of the candidate. There are numerous hypothetical problems that will be presented to the candidate and it is their job to offer their expertise on the matter.
• Group Exercise
  The group exercises highlight the candidate’s ability to communicate, lead, and work in teams. There will be anywhere from eight to sixteen other candidates in a given group.
• ATC Knowledge Test
  The Air Traffic Control Knowledge test is a thirty-minute assessment that quizzes candidates on various documents they received before the test. All of the questions are technical and will discuss aircrafts, weather, and other ATC related topics.
• Retest of the Part 1 Assessments
  Candidates are retested on the assessments from part one to verify that their scores are genuine. Once this is completed successfully, applicants are guaranteed a job with NATS.

 

It’s important to know that these are sequential and that you must pass one to move on to the next.

 

How to Prepare for NATS Online Aptitude Tests?

The NATS online tests may seem abundant and complex which is why the first step is prioritizing the assessments based on difficulty. When you read about the tests, which seemed the most difficult to you? Rank these from most to least difficult, then dedicate more time to the difficult ones.

Once you have made this list, it’s time to start studying.

Once you have made this list, it’s time to start studying. The most effective way to prepare for these tests is by taking practice tests. They come in short or full-length versions and replicate the testing atmosphere of the genuine assessments. They have the ability to track your progress, increase your speed, and improve your accuracy. It’s also important to set aside enough time to prepare for all of the upcoming assessments

 

Conclusion

There is no need to stress about your upcoming assessments and interview for the National Air Traffic Service. By utilizing the above outline, you will be able to begin the interview process feeling confident and prepared. Best of luck!

 

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