I think the key requirement for working time policy here is empowering the Mil ATC community with the power and right to say “NO” and the adoption of a common approach to non-established tasks.
Mil ATC establishment is well suited to providing the required levels of service to home base military customers and LARS etc within core-working hours (0800-1700 as a rule). The problem lies with Mil controllers who are exposed to excessive periods of duty as a result of additional air traffic ie civil airlines outside of these times. I know Mil controllers who are working far in excess of legal civil guidelines (SRATCOH) and are only controlling civil traffic. Not a military aircraft in sight.
WTD are used to good benefit for civil controllers – they are law. Civil terminal units have off-loaded traffic to terminal Mil controllers on a stand-by sleeping shift because they are out of hours. The same Mil controller could equally be out of hours by their rules but is/feels unable to refuse the traffic.
Military personnel are prepared to work extra long hours to support military and operational air traffic. That is what we joined for. Everything else we do is based on spare capacity that is becoming less and less. This includes FOAs whose numbers are currently critically low across the RAF.
The key here is distinguishing between military/operational interests and commercial/profit making interests. I don’t believe that Mil controllers should routinely be asked to “go the extra mile” and essentially risk their own neck for the sake of a commercial airline. They must be able to say no and given the authority to do so. Especially given the reasoning behind the civil controller working times.
At a local level, guidelines on the refusal of service can be adopted. Perhaps a system along the lines of the aircrew duty time could also be effective.
I don’t think things are much better in area. I know colleagues in the area radar world who are continually battling to refuse traffic that might wish to cut corners, go off-route etc that the civil insist they should take. Certain airlines are notorious for this. At least they have a formal priority system and the ability to refuse a service. Something currently lacking across RAF terminal.
SID
