So, without hopefully descending into excessive banter (or worse; insults
), what is the consensus on the benefits of grouping the Approach Radar function for several airports in one TMA together in one ops room?
For those who don't know, the London Terminal Control Centre, as well as 'area' sectors, also includes the Approach Radar function for Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, City and Biggin. Also low-level radar positions for traffic in and around the London Control Zone around Heathrow and City airports.
The idea to put them all in the same room was to make co-ordination between them and the preceding TMA sectors more efficient.
I've been at Heathrow Tower for nine years now, and I've noticed an increasing 'disconnect' (to use management speak!) between us in the tower and Heathrow Approach...even more so since LTCC has moved down to Swanwick, 70 miles away, rather than just a few miles from Heathrow. There is a feeling in the Tower that increasingly that Approach fail to appreciate our problems.....I'm quite sure Approach feel the same in return.
How do the Approach guys and girls feel about this?
What about those in a similar situation in other countries?
What can be done to address this?