LH2...Are you suggesting that the spanish government should do 'a Ronald Regan' on the ATCO's in Spain..??
If so you are obviously unaware and ignorant of the long term detremential effect which has played out in the US due to said person's actions.....a shortage of qualified senior controllers, lack of qualified staff at busy centers etc etc....and in general a disasterous situation for all.....all at the whim of a president who wanted to 'look good' in the opinion of the public.....Ask any US ATC how this effected them in the long term!!
It remains a fact that there is a shortage of qualified controllers all over the world. I can only speak about what I know, but most European ANSP's spend a a large amount of money just advertising to encourage people to even apply for the job!!!.....that is only the first hurdle they face....getting enough people from that pool of applicants who are even suitable to begin training is a feat in itself...and as we all know the success rate in training can sometimes be as low as 50 percent
It's human naure to 'milk the cow'.....it is a manager's job to ensure that this should not be allowed to happen. Obviously in Spain's case this was extreme and some took the cream as well but you cannot blame the ATCOs for this......its human nature. I agree the salaries were excesssive but this according to the goverment sources is due to 'overtime' which is hardly the fault of the ATCOs...purely 'mismanagment' to extreme....The exact same thing is happened in Ireland and I believe Austria as well so who's fault is it......not the worker.....
Hopefully in a years time we will be back to the normal situation where the econony will be back on track.....
ATCOs worldwide will however be back to the 'normal' situation where we have too much traffic and not enough staff .... but who cares then.......
Every country in the world needs controllers......if you feel it is such an overpaid luxury job...apply!!!!! and stop moaning about it as if all ATCOs were handed the job on a plate...........
Last edited by alwaysmovin; 9th February 2010 at 11:42.