Re " All it would have took was a couple of unions to kiss and make up."
Sorry OZ, but I recall 'it' went a lot deeper than just that.
Despite several 'suggestions' over the years, the ATC 'heirarchy' of the time had no regard for FSO's....like they were the 'officers' and we were the 'lower ranks', the 'smellies'....came from B.O....as in Briefing Officer, which we were in many locations....
So, they refused to allow us to have RADAR training, on the grounds of....
whatever. It was made out to be so 'specialised'.
(Didn't matter that a boat I used to drive occasionally had a radar, and it wasn't THAT hard to understand and be proficient in its use....)
At one time we were scheduled to get VHF direction equipment for SAR purposes.....but.....
However, during the 'downsizing' period, post 12/12/91, 'our mob' then stuck to their guns and despite some strong opposition, actually gained access to and passed ATC training courses, and 'broke the impasse' of the times. The rest is history, as now there are many ex FSO's employed as ATC's....formerly referred to as 'The Dark Side'....
tongue in cheek....
The ATS services provided were seen by most, as the supply of specialised services for which 'ratings' were / still are required.
The commonality of the courses meant in reality, that there were a some 'bridging' ratings / subjects in both disciplines to effect a 'full rating' in either service.
So, you are quite correct in one sense, there should have been an 'integration' of ATS Personnel! Period! And let the various 'ratings' system dictate which job / task was performed by any individual.
However, the Politics were 'agin' us, and Dick wanted to get rid of us, so he did!
No foresight...IMHO!
However several of our mostly younger members now enjoy a career as an ATC, and not only here in OZ, but many are serving o/seas as well, as these pages will confirm.....and GOOD LUCK to them all!!!
So, these ex FSO's, now licensed ATC's, use RADAR and ADSB etc for their job functions. So again, you are correct, except that the SERVICE has been conveniently been 'dropped' to 'when workload permits' for us bug smashers, and virtually no 'discrete' VHF to use without interrupting traffic separation services....
Nice idea OZ, but you'd have to work real hard to 'sell it' now.......
Cheers
(Forgive the 'ramble'....)
Cheers
And REGARDS to ALL..!!