The current recruitment window for the AirNav Ireland Student Air Traffic Controller Programme will close on 31st January. An Air Traffic Controller is responsible for the safe, orderly and expeditious movement of air traffic on and in the vicinity of airports and in the airspace for which Ireland is responsible.
Air Traffic Controllers are recruited through our Student Controller Programme and applicants must be at least 19 years of age. They must also have passed at least five subjects in the Leaving Certificate (including Mathematics) with Grade C in at least two higher level papers or hold a comparable award at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). Applicants must be eligible to work in the EU.
There are four stages in the selection process:
Stage 1 – Screening Process
- Screening of applications to determine eligibility against minimum requirements.
- Online assessment may form part of the screening process.
- Progression through the recruitment process is subject to verification of the minimum entry requirements
Stage 2 – Air Traffic Controller Computer-Based Aptitude Tests
These tests comprise of two parts.
Part 1: First European Air Traffic Controller Selection Test (FEAST Test)
The total duration of the FEAST test is 2 hours 20 minutes. The Test Battery consists of a set of tests which examine a candidate’s ability in regard to a number of items, including the following:
- Heading & Range Test
- English Listening & Comprehension
- Planning Ability
- Soft Task
- Alertness in Simple and Multi-Tasking Situations Test
- Visualisation Test
Part 2: Dynamic ATC Radar Test (DART Test)
The total duration of this test is 2 hours 10 minutes.
- Applicants who obtain a sufficiently high standard on the Part 1 FEAST Test are called for Part 1 DART test, to be held later on the same day.
- The DART Test is a computer-based aptitude test, aimed at measuring your multi-tasking abilities. The test will require you to perform a number of different tasks at the same time like in the job of an air traffic controller. The test is designed for beginners with no background in ATC.
- Applicants who achieve a sufficiently high standard in the Part 2 DART Test will be called for work strengths profiling and may be called for a group interview/exercise.
Stage 3 – Work Strengths Profiling & Group Interview/Exercise
Part 1: Work Strengths Profiling
Applicants who achieve a sufficiently high standard following completion of Phase 1 of Stage 3 (Work Strengths Profiling) may called for a Group Interview/Exercise.
Part 2: Group Interview/Exercise
- All applicants will be required to produce a valid Passport / ID for identification purposes.
- Applicants will be required to attend in person for a group exercise. This is a simulation exercise that requires applicants to operate as a group to address a given set of circumstances.
- Applicants who achieve a sufficiently high standard following completion of Phase 1 of Stage 3 (Work Strengths Profiling) and Group Interview/Exercise will be called for a final interview (Stage 4).
Stage 4 – Final Interview
- Interviews for the final stage of the recruitment process will be competency-based. Applicants will be expected to have some basic knowledge of AirNav Ireland, the Air Traffic Control Service they provide and the various other activities in which it is involved. Most of this information is contained on the AirNav Ireland website.
- All applicants will be required to produce a valid passport for identification purposes throughout stages 2-4. All applicants for the final interview will be sent a CV template to contemplate and submit with proof of education.
To apply for the Student Controller Programme, please click here.
