I'mnotanERIC,
Complete Bolleaux.
1. Thames controllers must validate on another discipline. The only reason there are Thames only people at the moment is a) waiting to be cross trained or b) waiting for minimum time after 1st validation to pass before then joining the queue at point a.
2. SS and KK, although not as busy as LL, are less regimented and therefor probably more complex (wrt purely vectoring issues and the snags that come with not following the same track constantly like LL guys)... I'm not gonna get into the hassle that ensues when something happens to upset the regimented flow into LL.
3. Luton - see point 1 - replace 'Thames' with 'Luton'
ROFFA
a) For East only validations see point 1 above, replace 'Thames' with 'East'
b) Mids only? Midlands is a core sector and rightly so, tho like most people with a core validation at TC (i.e. they hold a validation that fulfills the MUR), most Midlands controllers will cross train on another sector.
The reason Mids is a core sector is plain to see by anyone in the TC OPs room.
c) Capital is never a first validation - ab initios would get blown away and taught all the wrong things. Ensuring separation is a long distant memory on Cap. Yes it's quiet 60% of the time, but when it's busy, it's probably the nastiest sector in the room. CAP only valid people (if indeed there are any) are possibly people who are fulfilling other tasks outside the OPs room whilst retaining a validation 14hrs a month.
Mr 777
During the wee small hours of night duty (after the SS rush at 2230) SS and KK get one A/C every 10 mins maximum when averaged out (and thats a generous estimate).. Admiteddly 2 or 3 may come in a 10 min period, followed by silence for the next 10-15 minutes, but SS and KK are not working their butts off - otherwise why would there only be one controller present for a 3 hour period?
KK are never bandboxed with anyone else or are you intimating that bandboxing means INT and FIN? If so, you need to experience other sectors to get an understanding.
TMA sectors are bandboxed (i.e. South/CAP; South/East; CAP/north, North/Midlands) depending on who is rostered on nights. Long sleeps are given out because of this bandboxing - we need the numbers to cover
a) the first and last 90 mins of night duties and
b) if someone has an incident.
For someone allegedly working in the TC OPs room, you have a very limited knowledge of what happens outside your single validation!