The inability to comply with ICAO Doc’s 7030 / 10151 & 9426 coupled with being viewed with hilarity at all PIRG meetings is what the Qatar CAAs Air Navigation Department has been reduced to. All these recent posed pics of document signing in relation to the approved FIR phased implementation is nothing short of a badly edited version of Attack of the Giant Killer Tomatoes. You really dont know whether to laugh, or be scared, although your kneejerk reaction is laughter through disbelief at just how successful ‘smoke & mirrors’ can actually be. Hardware, software & underwritten procedures is all it is. Half heartedly or never applied in practise.
With an AOC (Air Operations Centre), Air Defence in which the “fighter controllers” cannot read a basic radar tag, this new FIR phased approval is like throwing fuel on a fire. Fools and a state of confusion reign supreme. The UAE has reluctantly succumbed. I don’t blame my old colleagues for this as I’m certain they are sick to death of the unrelenting whinging and wining anyway. The UAE has a robust internal organic growth program that is light years ahead of its GCC counterparts and matches those of its ‘western’ counterparts. Qatar having its own FIR is of little consequence in their bigger picture. Bahrain however have put forward worthy and realistic operational and policy questions to Qatar about their ATM of an FIR. To date Qatar is still unable to answer those questions without misdirection & untruths. Bahrain however is closely monitoring them and not allowing Qatar to monopolise on any previous misdirection. So Qatar will continue to procrastinate and play the victim.
Controllers are actively jumping ship at any and every opportunity out of Qatar/QCAA. Some may say that is normal staff turnover. Maybe, however, in a time when jobs are scarce!?! Seems at odds with labour market trends.
The Air Navigation Department of Qatar has been allowed to sink into disrepute through years of gross mismanagement by its Director. His very own countrymen in the aviation profession think him the ultimate buffoon and cartoon sideshow. Yet given a title, even a buffoon backed by government money ends up being addressed with a smile and a handshake. The narcissism of this height challenged man is such that when any of his staff are accredited with praise his weaknesses shine through as that is when he actively and negatively targets his own employees behind their backs. In essence he detests hearing anything good said about any of his staff, expatriate or local, as he sees it as a personal affront. Poor poor little man.
The controllers here, in fact all the staffing in the Air Navigation Department not only deserve, but are worthy of far far better management and leadership. They all adapt and give it their best, under appallingly poor leadership/management. In fact referring to those with titles as ‘leaders’ or even managers is like putting a Lamborghini label on a toddlers walking ring. This place has proven conclusively to me that money can buy you whatever you want except what is really needed in any profession. That being ability, skill, integrity, honesty, quality training, education, vision, strength, insight, compassion, empathy, understanding, encouragement, growth, development etc etc etc. The shiniest of shiny is here, however at the same time, the absolute worst leadership/management possible, is also prevalent.
Last edited by Phillybound; 12th Sep 2022 at 20:52.