ToL to FoL Part 1 (2)

Ever hear the saying, "Hurry up and wait"?  Well that describes this process to the T. 


During your college career in ATC you will register for CTI (Collegiate Training Initiative) and register for the AT-SAT (Air Traffic Selection Aptitude Test).  I started UND in August 2008 and did this registration that Fall semester.  A note for the new people, if your instructor says it needs to be filled out by this date, DO IT!!  Several people have not filled out the CTI registration on time or even at all, and guess what?  If you don't fill it out, you are not a CTI student and cannot apply to the FAA as a CTI student which means you just wasted 4 years and a decent amount of money. 


With your CTI & ATSAT registration complete, ON TIME, you can continue your college career.  Usually twice a year the FAA holds the AT-SAT test.  The people that proctor it try to hold it in Grand Forks or a city closest to the majority of the test takers.  I took the AT-SAT in March of 2009. 


AT-SAT
People get all worried about this test like its the only test that measures whether or not you will succeed in ATC.  Well its not.  So stop worrying.  There is really no studying for this test.  The test consists of several sections that measure your aptitude for skills that controllers use.  These sections include math, gauge reading, analogies, scan test, scenario test, and personality test.  These sections are all pretty much self explanatory.  The only advice I can give for the scenario test is set the departures at 3 or 4 and arrivals keep them at 1 or 2.  Once you take the test you will understand what I mean by those numbers.  Another key to the scenario is to keep all the planes "Speed FAST" unless they are landing and then you want to change the speed to slow at the last second before they land.  Keep the planes going as directly to their destination as possible.  If you crash one or two no worries.  Recover and continue to work and keep your efficiency high.


For the personality section make sure that you choose, "Definitely no or Definitely yes".  This shows that you are sure of yourself and know what you want.


*on a side note, don't stop writing and go eat dinner because you totally forget what you were writing about.*



Next Time:
ToL to FoL Part 2