Originally Posted by
Ratatat
The problems started with the initial change from Nats to ANS.
I can't recall the exact numbers but about 7 Atcos (20%) took the option of staying with Nats - - GAL knew this was a possible outcome but took the risk anyway.
GAL took a risk on a new atc provider knowing atco levels could plummet to extremely difficult levels.
It has backfired spectacularly. They have tried to rectify this by bringing Nats back but the problem is far bigger than any of them wish to admit.
It's happened in the past; a new ATS provider bids for a contract assuming that almost all the people in post will be willing to transfer.
At Boscombe Down in 1992 for instance, the company which 'won' the contract knew they had only previously provided APP and had little experience of APS provision and then only about 2 of the incumbents elected to transfer from NATS and they were due to retire within a few years anyway. This meant the 'new' provider had to try to get APS rated controllers in to train up and were unable to get enough suitably rated controllers with the required experience hence in this particular case as the operations were already military orientated albeit using civilian staff the RAF were asked to take over the contract.
In another case I heard of, the 'new' provider decided that he could provide the service with fewer controllers and when the contract commenced, the new provider fired all the controllers then offered contracts to a few of the remaining ones.