Agree with an earlier post. In NATS a great deal of current management, up to chief executive, used to be ex ATCO's. The head of HR used to be an ATCO at LATCC even though most still do not have any qualifications in HR, business skills or - management! Instead NATS spends a fortune on 'leadership' training. The last one was "Leadership Now" what's this one called?
HR still 'spot' future managers mainly in the ATCO grades. The new broom is slowly ridding NATS of the old pals act and replacing ATCO's with managers in key posts and about time too. Its pretty obvious that a number of NATS managers are not very good at running a commercial organisation and whilst being intelligent people are way out of their depth as they have no management or business experience. Friday radar controller, weekend shopping for a suit, Monday senior manager! Gods teeth!!!
Thats the key point, commercialisation is even taking hold in USA ATC. naturally staff do not like uncertainty an change, especially as ATCO's have been top of the pile until now.