Innovation outside the Ops Room – how we’re evolving air traffic controller recruitment

When people think about innovation in air traffic management, they probably picture new tools in the control room or new ways of managing traffic in the skies.  But important innovation also happens much earlier than that in how we identify, assess and support the people who will one day be responsible for keeping aircraft safely separated.

We recruit Air Traffic Controllers from a wide range of backgrounds, and you don’t need prior aviation experience to apply.  What matters most is your ability to learn, make sound decisions under pressure and operate confidently in a safety-critical environment.  Recruitment and assessment are therefore a vital part of the system that underpins UK aviation.  Traditional aptitude tests and interviews are invaluable tools and continue to play an important role in our process, but we also recognise the need to go further.

In recent months we’ve taken a significant step forward in how we approach that challenge by deploying a new realistic work sample exercise as part of the assessment process.  The exercise puts the candidate in the seat of an operational controller, managing a simulated section of airspace in real-time.  Candidates are briefed on the task, encouraged to talk through their thinking and assessed across a series of short runs.  Between runs assessors provide feedback, and candidates are observed on how they respond and adapt.

That structure is deliberate.  Air traffic control training isn’t about being perfect on the first attempt; it’s about learning, applying feedback and building safe, repeatable habits.  The work sample is designed to mirror key elements of the trainee experience, and it allows us to assess both current performance and learning potential, mapped against the competencies required for training.

This new assessment method builds on earlier research conducted during Project Bluebird, our AI-based research programme with the Turing Institute and The University of Exeter, which is exploring how digital twins and artificial intelligence can be applied in safety-critical environments.  The project created the first ever high-fidelity digital twin of UK airspace, allowing scenarios to be modelled, tested and refined in a controlled environment.  From a recruitment perspective, the value of that capability quickly became clear – it enables realistic, repeatable scenarios that reflect the complexity of air traffic control, while remaining structured enough to support fair and consistent assessment.  This is the first time this type of digital twin technology has been used in an operational recruitment setting.

Although the platform is underpinned by advanced technologies, assessment decisions remain human-led.  Experienced controller assessors sit at the heart of the process, supported by clear performance requirements to ensure fairness and reliability.  Feedback from assessors has been positive, with the vast majority agreeing the work sample is suitably challenging and an effective test of candidate potential.

For candidates, this approach provides a realistic insight into what training involves and a fairer opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities.  For NATS, it strengthens our ability to identify potential, improves consistency in assessment and provides a platform that can continue to evolve as we learn more.

More broadly, it’s an example of how innovation at NATS isn’t just about managing today’s airspace, but about investing in the people, systems and technologies that will underpin the future of UK aviation.

If you’re interested in becoming an Air Traffic Controller, applications are currently open.

You can find out more and apply via our recruitment page here.