The question is: who should be blamed if there was a major incident and the controller(s) involved had not been given leave for almost 2 years?
An ATCO should naturally call in sick whenever she/he suffers from fatigue, but can management escape blame if they have turned down an ATCOs request for leave again and again - and she/he eventually screws up? One must bear in mind that sickness is frowned upon here and many tend not to call in sick when they actually should.
How much HKATC management and CSB care about the staffing problems became painfully evident earlier this year when a radar controller re-applied for her job after having had 2 babies. She was offered very poor conditions and SATCO salary! Guess what! She rejected the job-"offer", which was more of an insult, really! She would have her rating back in no time. What a waste - considering the disastrous controller shortage!
Last edited by RRSM; 15th July 2008 at 11:09.