Dick, I have been asked to pass on the following from my sources and connections.
As has been pointed out a number of times on this thread, virtually all of the Flightwatch staff have already gone
No; this is not the case. A large number have left but there are still sufficient staff to perform the flightwatch function as a stand-alone entity.
There are 75 staff working quite happily in ausfic and who do you think is do the ghosting?
The same staff who run the VHF console are capable of working the HF consoles and in the Briefing Office, the NOTAM office and the communications centre. The ausfic staff are in the main, multi-function people and this has enabled the rosters to be cut to the bone.
As a result of VRing 19 people this year, there significant amounts of overtime being performed and there is a pool of very capable people available but the replacement of absences is very very difficult.
The VHF function is being done with exactly the same staff on exactly the same console using exactly the same frequencies as before any of this “transition” started – just now it is on overtime with a 3 hour lack of service in the morning as merely an attempt to do some “load shedding” and a result of poor long term planning.
If you think this is going to change you really need think this through again.
very good chance of re-instating an independent system that is properly thought out, properly managed, and staffed with people who are properly trained
Dick, You really are dreaming.
You might get an independent system but you have no chance of any more staff or facilities because of the mammoth that is the “wonderful” SDE project and the fact that they just VRed 19 people out of the place!
There will be no more people doing the job than what you have available now. The old’n Bold retired ATCs that Civil Air proposed is a fanciful notion I’m afraid.
Many arguments have been made for new staff but there is not going to be recruitment into the Flightwatch function and if there was, there is a significant training requirement for both systems and procedures.
And I’m sure that the Flightwatch people will not appreciate your insinuation that they are not properly trained at this point.
with trained operators who can actually give weather advice to both IFR and VFR pilot
Clearly you do not understand the recent change to the provision of FIS by ATC as a result of the VH-PYN in-flight break up.
Because ATC screwed up issuing a SIGMET, (and 3 times in fact to VH-PYN) ATC can no longer make assessment of weather and must now merely pass on any new weather information so that the pilot makes all the operational decisions.
If an ATC is not able to do this, it will be interesting to see you get up a proposal for some other entity to do so.
Besides that, you have wanted and fought for autonomy for years and now you want other people “in the cockpit” – make up your mind Dick!
Flightwatch to run down until it was so ineffective,
What is ineffective about the Flightwatch function?
It is an on-request service and not able to crystal ball your needs.
More VHF coverage would be good apparently but they are only running the remnants of the old Flight Service system that the aviation community, and as orchestrated by you, was happy to see the end of.
You don’t want to pay for services but yet you want the services. Interesting concept.