Lon More: Thanks for your input. With regard to the negotiators, all I can say is that I am not surprised that they put your backs up. They do ours, as well. There was as far as I am aware NO consultation of operational staff before they came up with this FLAS and more often than not the first we hear of any negotiation is when a new SI or TOI is issued with 'Instructions to ATCOs'. Still, with Pat the Hat in charge things can only get better...!! <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
On a related issue to NSEA, I wonder whether the airlines have been made fully aware of the implications of the staff shortages which prevent us from opening both Sector 11 and 33 at the same time. The TSF for each sector when split is in the mid 30s per hour, giving an hourly capacity of approx 64 aircraft per hour for this part of the London ACC. However, when they are bandboxed (as they have to be as we have insufficient staff) the combined capacity is in the mid 30s. So what this actually means is that the NSEA sector is planned to run for the foreseeable future at a little above 50% of its published (?promised?) capacity. But the airlines are assured that delays will be short term only...
Thanks for the good wishes.. I'm sure it will all go swimmingly!!