AS an ATCO with quite a few years experience i have noticed a decline in standards in some areas of aviation. Now, i'll grant you that this is extremely difficult to quantify but i'd be interested in opinions on the following few points;
ATCO training course has been gradually shortened to the point where new area controllers no longer do the aerodrome course as they used to do- surely this can only lead to a deterioration in the appreciation of how the whole atc system works?
R/t , particularly amongst g/a pilots has deteriorated, readbacks often have to be prompted a few times and understanding of the difference between FIS/RIS and RAS seems to be occasionally lacking. Again it's fairly subjective but noticeable.
Unfortunately the appreciation of why knowledge about other parts of the industry is important seems to be ebbing away and an attitude that each person only needs to know his or her little bit is prevailing (which of course is driven by and drives cost).
opinions?