One ATC's feeling about NAS
I can not speak for all of my fellow controllers but the general feeling of 99% of them would be that NAS has no place in Australia and they consider it a downgrading of service, not an increase in service or safety.
It is the Minister for Aviation, Mr Anderson who has charged Dick Smith and the NAS Implementation Group with Airspace reform only because Dick Smith threatened to run against him in the next election if he didn't have his way with airspace reform.
Personally,I find it embrassing that I have access to millions of dollars worth of Radar and Radio equipment in front of me and I am hamstrung by not being able to use it to its full potential.
Apart from a lot of other more important things, the money spent on NAS could have been spent on more radar for Country Australia or ADSB sites.
NAS stage 2b (27/11/03) is the thin edge of the wedge. If it gets up then it will be a sad day for OZ aviation.