Scrap NERC!
Remember the hype surrounding the film Jurassic Park? Now as I recall the slogan was '200 million years in the making'.Well now how many years has NERC been 'in the making'? 10 at least? Not bad to create a new dinosaur.Unfortunately messrs Eddington,Bishop,Branson et al that's exactly what you have bought.D'oh!
Now doubt Chis, President Blaaaaah and two jabs/jags Prescott did a brilliant make over on the product on offer.(appologies to all the other Nats units who have their own problems,staff shortages etc but Nerc is centre stage right now)
Perhaps the sales pitch went something like this:Now look lads Nats is a steal at £800 million.We've done all the hard work at Nerc.It's a fantasic place.The equipment is top notch and state of the art.(totally reliable as is the Nas computer at Latcc)Nerc will enable you to move more of your aircraft with minimal delay and lower costs.There are plenty of staff and they are all totally subserviant to Nats management so you wont have any bother with them.The electronics are dead easy to use so you can train even Atcos up in no time.There might be some minor delays next spring while some of the luddite Latcc staff make a meal out of having to use a keyboard,but there's always one isn't there!
So there you have it, Nats is real bargain we can't see how you can turn it down!(besides you don't want to upset Tonys' thought police at Millbank now do you?
Well lads at the AWG, sorry to be a party pooper but unfortunately fings ain't always what they seem.
Hopefully you will see through all the bulls##t from the men in suits at Nats/Nerc.
Here' a gentle hint:
The operation at Nerc is labour intensive.The T&P system requires between 25 and 30% more controllers to operate the positions currently in use at Latcc.(probably a conservative estimate)Suprise suprise Chis we don't have the staff)
The electonics are over comlicated,cumbersome and not user friendly.The planners role is to soley satisfy the software with little or no relation to the real Air traffic situation.
Aircraft will have to get used to frequent level changes to suite the system and remain 'enroute'as constantly updating the electronics will be in the too busy/difficult pile.
Nerc will not move any more aircraft than at present.(perhaps only gaining more CAS would do that)
There's no fall back system when the software falls over.
The delays you will experience next summer will be appalling.(look out Mr Easyjet)and what has been gained?.er...... I'm struggling.
As a low life Atco it's not for me to dare to suggest a solution,but you can have it anyway:
Scap the Nerc concept.Cancel OCT(and the delays this summer will suddenly get less).Forget opening on Jan 27th 2002.Maintain the operation at Latcc until the furniture at Nerc has been modified to accept the current Latcc mediator operation then move the Area control operation down.
Meanwhile look for an off the shelf proven workable system which can be installed and operational at Nerc circa 2004.
Good luck.
PS If I were you (ie the Airline Group)I would ask those con men you bought the company from for £600million off the list price!
Over and out.