A high number of 'future tools' developers are currently ATCO's, the others on the ATC side are T&S 'ATSA' grades, so how would ATSA's fill that need? BD is quite correct, systems development is a whole new world and not everyone can do it! My view: ATCO's go and control aircraft. Correct selection and training for ATC grades in systems development - use the DSS's as a good example of ATCO's replaced by ATSA's in a systems role. Engineers should stick to engineering and stop assuming that they fully understand ATC requirements. In my experience and with the best will in the word, they rarely do!