As I understand it, come what may, the RAF will pull out of the Inverness task on 01 Apr 07. I don't blame them at all; the level of ac being worked now is far beyond what it was at the tasks conception and is likely to continue to grow, if recent press releases are anything to go by.
As this date has now come and gone - is there any update on the situation at Inverness, have the RAF now pulled out of the Inverness task as mentioned. When are the newly trained Inverness radar controllers taking over ?
The RAF have not pulled out of the Inverness task as yet. However they no longer provide a service on public holidays and have stated that they will cut back their service provision in June to Mon-Thur 9am-7pm & Fri 9am-5pm. There is a suggestion that there might be further cuts in service provision come July.
It's hardly surprising really. HIAL loudly trumpeted that Approach Radar provision would be in place by 31st March and subsequently Lossie, who have staffing issues of their own, have not given much priority to training individuals on the Inverness task.
The quoted '
newly trained Inverness radar controllers' are very few in number with several yet to even commence the necessary rating course.
The start date has gone from 31st March to early April to late April, to early May to early June.......and has now become 'delay not determined due several ATCOs holding for management improvement'.
It could have been so different, but would they listen?