stop the climb
12th Dec 2001, 16:18
Does anyone have any views about increasing charges for operators climbing and descending in the LTMA.
b.w.k
12th Dec 2001, 21:16
Interesting question, I wonder who you are and why you are asking it?
At the moment en route revenue is raised by miles flown and size of aircraft - I think.
So an aircraft pays loads to fly through a 150 mile sector working one controller at the same FL. Very cheap for NATS, little complexity, good profit margin, not so good for customer.
Yet a similar/same charging regime applies to the first 80 miles of flight from a London TMA airport where you may pass through 4 or more controllers, all working very hard requiring gold plated equipment (for reliability and safety) with safety nets because you and the other 50 aircraft around you are all climbing and descending in one of the most congested pieces of airspace in the world.
People are the biggest cost. So the present charging regime appears crude in that track miles and weight rather than complexity and service provider required investment doesn't dictate the price.
:D :D :D