So where do they do Luton Approach Radar from? And Thames Radar
You're right that both are provided from TC West Drayton, but this is because both Luton and City interact closely with other London TMA routes.
This is not the case with Bristol.
The provision of Luton and Thames radars is via a subcontract arrangement between NATS En-route (NERL) and NATS Airports (NSL) whereby NATS Airports pays NERL for service provision.
TC is a Band 5 ATCO 2 unit because the requirement is for all operational ATCOs there to hold at least two sector 'validations'; the fact that some of those who transferred in from Luton when approach radar relocated do not hold more than one sector competence is an anomaly.
If any further approach radar functions were to be transferred to TC (and ultimately to Swanwick) and it's a big IF...then the ATCOs would most probably now be required to comply with the unit competency requirement and hold two 'validations'. Or it's possible that they might instead, be employed as ATCO 3s with single competency, thereby reducing the cost of the contracted service to the aiport.
Thus, Ebenezer's comment isn't that wide of the mark.
