I think we're all being far too hard on management. After all it is only about 8 years ago that they were warned by the staff/unions that they wouldn't have anywhere near enough ATCOs to run the number of sectors that they were planning on.
The customers are now reaping the rewards of believing what they were told by NATS. The truth is that the flow rates are back at LATCC levels and were at that level relatively quickly. It is purely a FORESEEN staff shortage that has caused this mess.
Management even had the nerve to blame too many people retiring early as a factor-funny I thought they knew we had a flexible retirement scheme
The sooner we have a policy which posts people around the country into LACC & LATCC the better. I know this is controversial but I see the only way out is to train our way there-and the quickest people to validate will be previously valid staff. I know you won't get them all through but at least the chances should be increased.
It's really not bad down here-once you get used to the huge mortgage.
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