Originally Posted by
LookingForAJob
A slightly more realistic answer might consider that all civil ATC in the UK is provided by (to one extent or another) private companies. Each company will have its business objectives and will, all things being equal, seek to achieve those objectives. Amongst those objectives there will be some related to finance and others to market profile. To take the example of Southend, it is possible to imagine that NATS could provide approach services at a lower cost than the operators of the airport are able (economies of scale and the like playing a part). Of course if such a situation were to be investigated, set against a reduced cost the airport operator would consider many things including whether it loses anything of substance - including reputation - by giving up its ability to operate approach services independently and whether NATS could meet its service level requirements. Assuming minimum service levels could be assured, any such non-monetary losses would be weighed up against the cost savings and the business objectives. The same sort of debates would be had by NATS in order to evaluate whether it would be interested in seeking to provide those services to Southend.
Issues such as staff redeployment are secondary and would not necessarily require a single organisation to operate all facilities involved although, admittedly, it is likely to make things easier and to offer additional tangible benefits.
There is a final, complicating factor which could come into play where the UK, as a State, determines that combining service provision in the way you suggest might better enable limited airspace resources to be used. The CAA has the power to 'direct' changes to be made to the way that services are provided. Whilst these powers are rarely used and are traditionally focused on ensuring safety of aircraft operations, performance obligations and targets might equally be drivers for use of these powers. Of course, the performance scheme is a European Commission initiative and may not be of concern either to the UK or Southend from 30th March.
LookingForAJob
Could you please edit this as it credits all the quote to Mooncrest, whereas it is actually mine.
I was merely answering Mooncrests query re the provision on APS for Southend from Swanwick. No doubt NATS have looked at taking over as ANSP at Southend, however their bid will be for the cheapest solution and as the airport operator has, in recent years, spent loadsa money upgrading the provision of ATC, I don't think they would be very happy if a new ANSP decided to abandon all the expensive radar and other equipment which has been installed in the last few years.