Which idiot put his signature to that?
Pick one, we've got heaps.
A 'safety orientated culture' that is bonus driven, and puts ATS Front Line Managers (ALMs) on vastly inflated contracts.
This leads to situations, due staff shortages, where ALMs deem it is okay for trainees to train for ratings in the simulator by themselves with no instuctors, that people who have been assessed as being no longer proficient are instructing due no-one else available. This is all being done to facillitate the transition to SDE, whose benefits are dubious and over inflated to say the least.
SDE is predicated on controllers having generic ratings, like pilots being endorsed and assessed as current on multiple aircraft types. A controller recently returned from Europe, states that studies done over there indicate that controller efficiency drops around 25-30% because they have to continually be thinking about what sector they are on, what co-ord is required,what separation standard they use, etc, etc because, like aircraft, every sector has its own quirks and set-ups, and a more conscious effort has to be made to double check everything you are doing when previously it was more of an 'unconscious competence' action. You MUST slow down to make sure you are not applying an action from somewhere else to your current environment.
Also, ASA want to take what is currently an autonomous Check and Standardisation area and put it under the control of, and make it the pathway to, the contract ALM position.
Not impugning on anyones integrity, but there does seem to be a conflict of interest when someones rise to the riches of the ALM non 24/7, non separating of aircraft ( thats right no more 24/7/365 shiftwork,more weekends off, no responsibility of separating aircraft, @$200k package) is predicated on keeping the ALMs happy with the checking of controllers. Besides being impartial you must be seen to be impartial. A la the Westminster system of the Separation of Powers.
If something does go wrong the day of reckoning with what has gone on will have to be seen to be believed. Pity the travelling public.
Last edited by max1; 6th Nov 2008 at 21:39.