ATC recruitment with IAA

Jesus1222 · 17-01-2009 4:03am

Best of luck to everyone. 2000 seems like a lot but turning up and having a good attitude is a great start I think, as somebody else said.

Jim236 · 18-01-2009 10:14pm

I applied for the Shanwick position and have my apptitude test on the 30th Jan, can anyone offer any advise on how best to prepare for it, and can anyone give examples of the type of questions they asked in the ATC apptitude tests in 2007?

iceax · 18-01-2009 11:32pm

got the same as yours but for WED 28 at 12.30 just to let you know
regards iceax

electron · 19-01-2009 5:37pm

Jim236 wrote: »

can anyone give examples of the type of questions they asked in the ATC apptitude tests in 2007?

i think http://www.practicetests.co.uk/ as mentioned earlier is quite a good place to start

tracker-man · 19-01-2009 10:36pm

i think http://www.practicetests.co.uk/ as mentioned earlier is quite a good place to start

Yes and (probably quite obvious) remember to read up on the IAA website itself. It has alot of info regarding how the aviation sector operates in this country so read up on the ATC part especially. It is amazing how many people would go into an interview without this kind of research done!! http://www.iaa.ie/index.jsp?p=153&n=248 there is a wealth of information there so browse through it:)

tracker-man · 19-01-2009 10:40pm

DubDubDub

Can you let us know what exactly the test is comprised of once you have it done? As you can see here there is a LOT of confusion about this aspect of the interview process and if you could give us an idea of what its like, look at all the people that will be grateful!! Including myself, i might go for the ATC job in some years time, either here or abroad!!

ch252 · 19-01-2009 11:06pm

You don't expect him to give it away that easily do you:p

Nah to be honest this aptitude is little good to anybody looking to apply as a student air traffic controller, tracker.
This is a communications role so they just want to make sure you have a good grasp of the english language and your mathematic ability is up to scratch. ATCO's need to be able to see conflicts on a screen and think ahead knowing where planes will be and where they are now and need meteorological skills also. This job is just relaying messages, but don't get me wrong, both jobs are very important. For the student controller programme you either have it or you don't for the most part, with this luckily for you all who applied you can do a lot of practice for it. They're two completely different jobs, if you get this you may not pass the student controller programme tests and it is certainly not a back door into it. There are plenty of ways to get into ATC in Ireland also forf those who don't get this and want to be an ATCO.

Jim236 · 20-01-2009 12:56am

tracker-man wrote: »

Yes and (probably quite obvious) remember to read up on the IAA website itself. It has alot of info regarding how the aviation sector operates in this country so read up on the ATC part especially. It is amazing how many people would go into an interview without this kind of research done!! http://www.iaa.ie/index.jsp?p=153&n=248 there is a wealth of information there so browse through it:)

Cheers but I've to get past the apptitude test before worrying about the interview.;)

bfinlay02 · 20-01-2009 11:37am

Darragh k
when you say there are plenty of ways to get into atc in ireland what do you mean?

ch252 · 20-01-2009 5:37pm

The way I see it you have 3 options and becoming an aeonautical radio officer isn't one so if you want to count that its 4, but thats not ATC.

You can go by self-sponsorship. Go to ASTAC in England get the training and come back here, do the test and get your license and wait for a vacancy to come up in a regional or something.

Get sponsored. If an airport wants atco's they may pay for your training. They'll send you somewhere like ASTAC in England and you come back, get your license and work for them. Same as previous only your being funded and you have a job to come back to.

Thirdly you can go via the IAA. This is the most mainstream and common but the others do pop up often enough, generally there is in and around 3 to 4 atco positions that become available on an average year.

ASTAC: http://www.astac.co.uk/

Jim236 · 20-01-2009 6:41pm

darragh-k wrote: »

The way I see it you have 3 options and becoming an aeonautical radio officer isn't one

While it may not be a direct route to becoming a controller, having the experience of doing the apptitude test, going through the interview process, not to mention actually working in the IAA itself will give you a significant advantage over anyone else applying for the Student Controller Programme. Obviously you wouldn't become an aeronautical radio officer just to become an air traffic controller, but if you were to decide a few years into the job you wanted to switch to ATC...

ch252 · 20-01-2009 7:38pm

Jim236 wrote: »

While it may not be a direct route to becoming a controller, having the experience of doing the apptitude test, going through the interview process, not to mention actually working in the IAA itself will give you a significant advantage over anyone else applying for the Student Controller Programme. Obviously you wouldn't become an aeronautical radio officer just to become an air traffic controller, but if you were to decide a few years into the job you wanted to switch to ATC...

Exactly, I mean you have to do the aptitude test to get into ANY ATC job, even at the regionals, its not about who you work for, you need to pass it to get a license.

tracker-man · 20-01-2009 9:21pm

darragh-k wrote: »

You don't expect him to give it away that easily do you:p

Nah to be honest this aptitude is little good to anybody looking to apply as a student air traffic controller,

True, didn't think of it that way! No harm in knowing though!

turtleshead · 20-01-2009 9:55pm

Does anyone have any idea on how many positions are available? What is the 12 month training program like, is it predominantely on the job training or is it mainly class room based. Also what type of numbers will the cut after the aptitude test? If I remember correctly from the last ATC student recruitment drive it was 250 people were called for the first interview from approx 2000 applicants, after that 100 people got called back for the final interview. Cant remember how many positions they had though...

aero2009 · 20-01-2009 11:05pm

There is 12 positions for the Radio Officer job with over 2000 applications.. The last ATC competition had c.1800 applications for 24 positions. So if your figures are correct with 250 called for first interview I would predict half will be called for the Radio Officer positions c.150.
I would suspect that there will be a very small number called for first interview as the time period between the tests and the actual start date for interview is only 2 weeks (beginning on the 16th February.
Jesus is there anything easy!!!

Jim236 · 21-01-2009 7:07pm

This may seem like a stupid question, but are you allowed use a paper and pen for rough work in the numerical apptitude?

electron · 21-01-2009 10:28pm

no idea to be honest. i think they're meant to be done without, though...
have you ever done an iq test? did you feel like paper and pen would have helped you a lot?

Jim236 · 21-01-2009 10:40pm

electron wrote: »

no idea to be honest. i think they're meant to be done without, though...
have you ever done an iq test? did you feel like paper and pen would have helped you a lot?

Lol no, but have done a few practice questions and I don't know how anyone could do some of them in their head, then again those websites allowed you to use a calculator or a pen & paper, so maybe the IAA's questions will be more reasonable if neither are allowed. I hope...

JonnyK · 22-01-2009 1:47pm

electron wrote: »

i think http://www.practicetests.co.uk/ as mentioned earlier is quite a good place to start

Hey,

Do you know what the story is with practicetests.co.uk? I have been answering the questions but the answers never come up when I click 'yes' at the end.

Frustrating!

Jim236 · 22-01-2009 1:58pm

JonnyK wrote: »

Hey,

Do you know what the story is with practicetests.co.uk? I have been answering the questions but the answers never come up when I click 'yes' at the end.

Frustrating!

Same thing happens to me, tried on 2 different browers, on 2 different computers, and couldn't get the results to load.

JonnyK · 22-01-2009 2:04pm

Jim236 wrote: »

Same thing happens to me, tried on 2 different browers, on 2 different computers, and couldn't get the results to load.

Cheers for that, I re-loaded Adobe flashplayer thinking that might help but no joy. Getting sick of practising aptitude tests at this point, don't my level will improve drastically between now and next week.

Hopefully they won't be too difficult and generally speaking you are allowed to use rough paper for maths aptitude tests - unless we're expected to be robots!

electron · 22-01-2009 9:25pm

i don't get you.
it's primary school stuff after all, arithmetics only.

Poloman · 23-01-2009 1:58pm

Are we allowed to bring a calculator for the numerical?? :-)

JonnyK · 23-01-2009 2:27pm

Poloman wrote: »

Are we allowed to bring a calculator for the numerical?? :-)

That numerical aptitudes have loads of variations from simple adding, multiplying etc to sequences, problem solving, graphs, charts and accompanying questions.

Some people are more skilled and suited than others and we aren't sure which types of the above will feature.

Calculators are usually allowed but can't be certain.

Poloman · 23-01-2009 2:43pm

Cheers. Stiff competition so folks

2000+ of us for 12 jobs. Getting an interview will be a decent achievement! Good luck

aero2009 · 24-01-2009 10:49am

Questions are multiple choice - so I would imagine there will be not calculators allowed.

jd83 · 24-01-2009 4:59pm

There obviously going to be taking a set amount of people. Now this is going to sound very bad but maybe those of us who do the exam first shouldnt give out info about the exam and what its like. Like your just helping someone else get higher up on the list, resulting in you ( and me!) not getting to the next stage.
Im normally not as evil as this you can see from other posts of mine where i have been happy to give out info after I have done a test, but it is tough competition in this 2000 applicants and only 12 places.

aero2009 · 24-01-2009 5:30pm

I agree 100%.
this is a competition..

JonnyK · 24-01-2009 6:26pm

I agree too lads,

My test is not till Thursday but there's no way I'd expect tips from anyone who have done their tests before that.

All I'll say to everyone is best of luck and hopefully a few of us will strike gold.

Good luck...:rolleyes:

Jim236 · 24-01-2009 7:37pm

Jaysus way to ruin it for those of us takin the test on Friday!:p

J/k, best o luck to everyone!

hannah-j · 25-01-2009 1:45pm

someone tell me what atc stands for???/

i love flying and planes and ive never heard of that before and would love to learn more

???

x:D

Jim236 · 25-01-2009 5:12pm

hannah-j wrote: »

someone tell me what atc stands for???/

i love flying and planes and ive never heard of that before and would love to learn more

???

x:D

Are all Galwegians as special as you?

jd83 · 25-01-2009 5:47pm

Dont tell her this could be on the test

ch252 · 25-01-2009 6:34pm

Jim236 wrote: »

Are all Galwegians as special as you?

No.:)

Hannah its Air Traffic Control, and I can see how you're confused seeing as they're not even recruiting air traffic controllers....:P

swapple · 26-01-2009 7:47pm

good luck to everyone!
i got mine tomorrow :eek:

iceax · 26-01-2009 9:59pm

swapple wrote: »

good luck to everyone!
i got mine tomorrow :eek:

Best of luck 2mor . tell us all after what it was like !! be sure to give an example of the hard ones !!!!!

missghughes · 26-01-2009 11:26pm

Dont worry its not hard!!

DOnt want to give away to much because you are my competition!!:D

I did do some prep beforehand but honestly dont think it helped!

3 tests, 20minutes each.........its a lotto!!

Best of Luck

aero2009 · 26-01-2009 11:34pm

My test is on Friday evening and I dont think it should be discussed..
Leaving hints etc is not of any benefit to either people who have done the test or planning to do same over the next few days.

please DO NOT discuss the tests until they are completed.. last test I believe is Saturday evening.:mad::mad::mad:

ToeRag881 · 27-01-2009 1:06am

Its been a recurring issue in this thread that i feel needs to be addressed. Its an APTITUDE test.. lol You can't practice. You either have it or you don't.

Aptitude [ap-ti-tood, -tyood] –noun
natural ability to acquire knowledge or skill; the condition of being suitable

Jim236 · 27-01-2009 1:40am

ToeRag881 wrote: »

Its been a recurring issue in this thread that i feel needs to be addressed. Its an APTITUDE test.. lol You can't practice. You either have it or you don't.

Aptitude [ap-ti-tood, -tyood] –noun
natural ability to acquire knowledge or skill; the condition of being suitable

Exactly, its not as if knowing some of the questions is gonna help you in any way. I don't agree with yeah though that you either have it or yeah don't, IMO if you practice enough you can train your brain to think a certain way in order to answer the questions, but obviously studying won't help yeah.

jd83 · 27-01-2009 6:01pm

Hi guys,

Just for your information. The girl at our test said that 1200 people applied for the job not 2000. So its not as bad as we thought

ch252 · 27-01-2009 6:14pm

jd83 wrote: »

Hi guys,

Just for your information. The girl at our test said that 1200 people applied for the job not 2000. So its not as bad as we thought

It wouldn't take a genius to realise that it was in the person who said that's interest to say it. Double the number of applicants and people think they have half the chance they actually do. People see 2000 people applied for the job and think its never going to happen for them. then the odds are in the posters favour again. Not saying that he meant it like that or anything but it would make sense, its a competition after all.

and +1 about the aptitude definition lads, 2 things everybody got wrong here are that it is not an Air Traffic Control job and aptitude tests have been clarified already..

jd83 · 27-01-2009 6:21pm

darragh-k wrote: »

It wouldn't take a genius to realise that it was in the person who said that's interest to say it. Double the number of applicants and people think they have half the chance they actually do. People see 2000 people applied for the job and think its never going to happen for them. then the odds are in the posters favour again. Not saying that he meant it like that or anything but it would make sense, its a competition after all.

and +1 about the aptitude definition lads, 2 things everybody got wrong here are that it is not an Air Traffic Control job and aptitude tests have been clarified already..

I think people think that its a way into ATC but I dont think they would be very happy if they spent a year training you for a specific job and then you try to change.

Yh your probably right it could have been scare tactics to preb for the test. It wouldnt put me off applying for a job, if your not in it you cant win it.

ch252 · 27-01-2009 6:29pm

jd83 wrote: »

if your not in it you cant win it.

You said it!

They're both very important jobs but nothing alike apart from the fact that you're talking through a mic.

DUBDUBDUB · 27-01-2009 6:29pm

Well, its over and done with and to be honest I am not too pleased. Ya cant study for it Im afraid, as someone said earlier, you have either got it or ya dont, and Im afraid I dont.

early start and long journey didnt help but no excuses. Back to the drawing board I suppose, hopefully there will be a campaign next year and will be more prepared.

Good luck to everyone else.

JonnyK · 27-01-2009 6:31pm

Hey folks,

The amount of misinformation is surprising. This job clearly is not related to the ATC - a quick read on the IAA website shows that.

Also, someone earlier stated that you can't practice for aptitudes which was agreed by many. Common sense says you can improve speed, familiarity and knowledge of certain tests through practice.

Anyhow, I'm up on Thursday so hopefully all will go well. I'm heading from Carlow so hopefully it's not too hard to find. Does anone know if you have to go through Limerick City or can you avoid it?

Thanks and best of luck to all.

JonnyK · 27-01-2009 6:35pm

Sorry to hear that Dub,

It's not over till its official. Also, many times it feels like you do sh*t at something only to be pleasantly surprised.

Best of luck.

highlydebased · 27-01-2009 6:36pm

JonnyK wrote: »

ed, familiarity and knowledge of certain tests through practice.

Anyhow, I'm up on Thursday so hopefully all will go well. I'm heading from Carlow so hopefully it's not too hard to find. Does anone know if you have to go through Limerick City or can you avoid it?

Thanks and best of luck to all.

You can avoid the city centre itself, coming off the Dublin road past the parkway/homebase, straight until the small roundabout next the petrol station take a right, straight out, passing king johns castle, straight through the lights at Thomand park, the left hand exit on the roundabout at LIT, take a right at the lights at Ivans, straight out through the next roundabout and straight out the dual carraigeway to Shannon

Hope this helps

aero2009 · 27-01-2009 7:10pm

darragh-k wrote: »

It wouldn't take a genius to realise that it was in the person who said that's interest to say it. Double the number of applicants and people think they have half the chance they actually do. People see 2000 people applied for the job and think its never going to happen for them. then the odds are in the posters favour again. Not saying that he meant it like that or anything but it would make sense, its a competition after all.

and +1 about the aptitude definition lads, 2 things everybody got wrong here are that it is not an Air Traffic Control job and aptitude tests have been clarified already..

I can assure you I am not that devious...

when I made the call was advised 2000 applications.. 12 positions etc etc.
my test is on Friday.. best of luck to everyone.

phi · 27-01-2009 7:22pm

Just to clarify. The lady said that there were 1,284 called for aptitude test. As the aptitude test is stage 2 in the process, it is possible that the 716 did not meet the education criteria.

I think that as we are going for Aeronautical Radio operators, its important to have the facts..

ATC recruitment with IAA

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