roswell

Why can I not locate the Muscat Mutterings thread??

What has been happening in Oman? Has there been any action to rectify the dangerous list to starboard? Does anyone still work there?!

divingduck

It was deleted as a waste of bandwidth.

Anything new can be added here.

carkiller

hi folks,

there has been a lengthy discussion about the things that are done and more often not done in Muscat ACC's admin regarding traffic levels, safety, contracts,.....

But i have the impression , now we have reached a new dimension. The are really doing it! For a while it was only a rumor that the admin comes up with a sector split for North. But now they really do it, they are simulating new airspace structure in a live environment. And because some controllers refused to work it, now every morning the chief of ACC himself and/or some of the other office guys sit in position and simulate new procedures in North.

Explanation, i cite:
" we don't have a simulator that can properly reflect the strip board.
And anyway there is no legal requirement to simulate before new structures are implemented.
And we are basing this on our vast experience.
We (the office) sat together and were discussing the risks of doing this, so we even have done a risk analysis.
We don't need to publish anything for this evaluation, because nobody is affected outside of Muscat, we just call UAE and Teheran to use another frequency and that is it.
No there are no new procedures between the new sectors and since we didn't really change the airspace besides splitting it and extending it a bit to the south and the west we don't need a new licensing for it.
The system will not allow a handover/takeover (as is mandatory for the other sectors) until mid next year but we write a hand down item to use caution when operating the sector."

Somehow i'm loosing track here. Is that just me having some idiotic major concerns or is something going horribly wrong here???

divingduck

Great news!
It's only about 3 years late, but better late than never.

I totally understand the Muscateers reluctance to do anything without sim trials. But what is better, continuing the same way that you have for the past 10 years, or giving something new a try?
In reality, what is the difference to simply introducing a new frequency for one of the areas?

The split was tested at length when first mooted, and the team recommended immediate implementation, with each controller getting several days in the sim to famil themselves with the changes.
If it is the same split as was then recommended, the changes to the current setup are small and easily adapted, but have the advantage of reducing the North controller's traffic levels by around the 50%.
Apart from wanting extra breaks, why would anyone not want this to go ahead?
Regarding the handoff function...UAE operated without one until only very recently, when it crosses or approaches the sector boundary, hand it over. Rocket science it is not.

Even the most cynical amongst you must admit that at the very least, management are trying to alleviate a real problem.

carkiller

Ok, maybe i'm panicking or i'm still just too pampered with proper airspace design from Europe. And it's not the new sector i'm worried about (Even though in my opinion the simulated split is the worst of all options). I am just worried about not following any proper rules. New sector yes appreciated but as i learned it , that was

1.Design on paper
2. Design on Sim
3. Design procedures on sim and adjust on sim
4. safety case
4. prepare the live system
5. prepare documentation (updates and amendments)
6. go online

and not the other way around....

DTLP

I'm with you Carkiller, the live environment is no place to start trialling new sectors and procedures, never, middle east circus or not. The other thing is the office staff have not maintained currency in any shape or form, working on position irresepctive of the trial is dangerous and lunatic. Muscat is an accident waiting to happen.

Excan

OK Muscateers sing along with me:

M......I.....C.....K......E......Y.....

M......O......U......S.......E.......

Farrell

Well....am finally getting kicked out of here tomorrow night.
Have to spend 24 hours in AUH before coming back in as a tourist.

Anyone want to meet me for a beer?

galliwalli

I know I keep asking, but can someone please tell me if the new salary has been approved yet. If so, when is it going to be implemented?

carkiller

did you really expect that we'd ever see some more money?

It's already close to a miracle that after just 16 months we've been granted an (by far not adequate) rise in housing allowance.

you get patient here and learn to live with what you get, or you leave, like most of the expats do right now, another 4 on the run by years end....

divingduck

Hey Farrell, next time you are in Shannon, give me a shout!
I'll stand you a Guinness or two.

Good luck

DTLP

broadcast the off watch message and don't forget to turn out the lights

galliwalli

I am considering a move to Muscat, am very aware of salary issues and am not too concerned. Would appreciate it if someone can try give me an expected timeframe for the OR4100 increase and what the holdup may be. Also, there is a rumour doing the rounds that Oman is not hiring any expats at all for the forseable future due to political issues, comment anyone?

!turnleftrightnow!

I just hope the DG will take a decision pretty soon because I´m freezing my a off where I am right now!
I´d go any time!

FUN.LEVER.FORWARD

I'd rather freeze my a#$e off in a western democracy with a transparent judicial system, than roast my a#$e off in a prison in a third world oligarchy after being the poor sod who happened to be sitting on position when the s%&t hit the fan due to a severely understaffed/overworked/ill-planned ATC system.

Ask yourself 'why have another 4 resigned this month?????'

Farrell

Two more about to hand in notice as well, if my sources are correct.

That makes six.

galliwalli

Are the current pending resignations due to no increase, or are the working conditions playing their part as well?

!turnleftrightnow!

No PMs please!
Let others (me) know, too.

Thank you!

Farrell

Oh dear......rumours in the office say that Muscat will not be shot of me for another year......sigh.

carkiller

i expected there would be some more words here after the latest rumour saying that another one of the expats has been sacked by the management.

but maybe just no one left to complain...