Just exactly how does a manager defend closing the ATC service due to staff shortages!Is that managing the situation! I think not. Its a typical idtiotic situation which is indefensible.The reason it comes up, is that to save money, some buffoon who can manage the department, will also agree to act as short term cover, then, no doubt goes on holiday leaving his department to work out how to manage itself once shortstaffed.You can easily rearrange cover to suit, but the question has to be asked. There has been no changes to the opening hours of LBA since 1998. In that time it has never closed its ATC service. It will have had staff sickness and holidays to cover, including people leaving and time taken to renew these positions.Its another poke in the eye for the word Manage!It is an indefensible position, and no amount of tyring to cover it up with suggestions that other ATC departments have staff hanging about just on the off chance they get caught short in the staffing arrangements is just ludicrous.Clearly the Admiral needs not only a good talking to, but a stiff finger poked in his chest with the words "You are managing this department, start managing". It is best done by talking at the guy, and not letting him answer. Sometimes people need to be told. This is one example of it.And before anyone jumps to defence here, can you imagine if the AirOps department suddenly ran out of baggage staff and had to close the airport while the existing staff had a break? Its not happening is it?In planning your staffing commitments, you would work into it, break times, leave, and busy work periods, then you would introduce a contingency plan to account for the aviations fluid situations. The man at the top would step in only, and if, the last resort is to close for a shortwhile as a situation develops during the day. However, if he had planned to go on holiday, what preventative measures did he put in place before going?Or was the holiday so short a notice he found himeslf waking up in a different country?Totally defensless bad inept management.No wonder Ed is leaving. He probably gave up!
Last edited by QueNewlynHarbour; 3rd Aug 2007 at 15:10.