ATC IssuesA place where pilots may enter the 'lions den' that is Air Traffic Control in complete safety and find out the answers to all those obscure topics which you always wanted to know the answer to but were afraid to ask.
Its almost the end of October and still there is no confirmed announcement who the new Contract for ATC and Air Navigation services, is going to be awarded to. The new Contractor, whether it be NATS, SERCO or GAL or who-ever, is still a very big secret or maybe still not awarded yet. There is a lot of roomers floating around and the local boys(Arabs), is not very keen on signing up with the new contractor. Their reason is, they woun't have all the benefits they enjoying now. PS: They get away with alot of stuff, where expats would've been fired on the spot. The new Law that was introduced also, about Abu Dhabi visa holders, must have an apartment in the Abu Dhabi emirate. This is for Government workers and government public companies for now, and soon before you know it, it will be eventually for each and every Abu Dhabi visa holder to recide in Abu Dhabi. That's also an big headache for alot of people. Mostly for the ADAC employees. Serco ATC is safe for now i recon. But if GAL takes over contract, that means that there is a possibility that every ATC who wants to live and commute to work, will loose their housing allowance. Interesting times lies ahead and its going to be interesting to see who wins the bid to supply ATC and ANS at Abu Dhabi. April is suppose to be the D-Day for new contractor.
Is there anyone out there who knows whats cooking behind the scene, cos the ATC's at Abu Dhabi is in the dark.
Will there be enough controllers left to keep the place open though? That's the real question. Very unhappy ship for both Emiratis and expats from what I hear. A few of the latter already left and more to follow.
Most GAL workers live in Dubai as well so the visa thing is not applying to them (yet) but like most things out here its subject to change and then changes again the following week!
Yep, still no word on the new contract... But the are rumors a plenty.
We're all expecting letters of termination at the end of this month as they are required to give us three months notice. While we will be told not to worry about it too much, I (and other I've spoken to) can't afford to wait until the end of March for them to say, "Actually, sorry, you need to leave".
I've got my ducks in a row for departure early next year.
Last edited by Grigri; 8th Dec 2012 at 07:10.
Reason: No sooner posted, than confirmation received from "ducks"
Fox3,
not at all. Just based on what I've read on the NATS website.
They have recently appointed a 'Middle East Director', and several of their top ATCOs from MACC are out there, including a very clued-up ATC OPS officer.
Just speculating.........As you do.
There should only be 4 contenders left in the running (no particular order)...
1) Serco 2) NATS 3) LFV (supported by GAL in a partnership) 4) Airways New Zealand
The rumours keep changing week after week, unfortunately staff working on the current Serco contract knows nothing and doesn't know whether they will be terminated on the 31/12/12 or not
Airways Corp - Not been back for tea and bikkies for some time now
GAL (for Tower Rangers sake) - GAL is a trusted partner of LFV. Both parties are working together to provide civil aviation services covering airport infrastructure management companies such as Abu Dhabi Airport Company (ADAC). LFV is a Swedish public enterprise employing 1400 people and providing Air Navigation Services (ANS) for civil and military customers at over 40 locations in Sweden. (from GAL press release)
Serco - is still in the building (by default) it will be the dealers choice as to who stays by March 31st.
Tis the life of mercenaries at the end of the day, love it or hate it...it's the contract world!
Don't waste your time riche, Serco about to get termination letters as the 3 month lead in period for end contract is December 31st.....Happy New Year!!
As the contract negotiations have all gone underground and nobody has a clue what's going on we are expecting our letters accordingly! We have been through these motions before, the difference is there is a 'local' company on the doorstep that may actually pull the rug out from underneath the incumbent!
So back to my original point about not wasting your time...the contract is in complete limbo so anything is possible!
We need ATCO's (and a MATS for that matter!!) but don't expect anybody to sign up one day and get their letters the next!
Repost your question once the resident provider has signed sealed and is delivering is my hot tip!
managers
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