Leaving aside personal culpability for the moment, the fact remains that Skyguide is essentially a "string and cellotape" outfit. And despite the recent tragedy, there is no sign of any internal reflection on spending priorities. We now have the following expenditure planned:
- CHF 130 million required to meet Intl Accounting Standards
- CHF 20 million as provisions for pensions payable to former military ATC personnel whose functions are now integrated into Skyguide's "to do" list
- CHF 40 million required for Skyguide's new centre at Dübendorf (ready in 2007)
So, we have planned expenditure of CHF 190 million of which only CHF 40 million (~20%, equivalent to the investment in a new ATC centre), are going to contribute anything tangible to improved ATC levels; all else is administrative and provident fund expenditure.
All this against a background of a CHF 16 million loss in the last FY and a projected "negative profit" in the same order budgeted for the current year.
Due to political pressure on the home front (the country has, unfortunately, a new flag carrier that's ailing, too), ATC fees are not going to be raised. Instead, it's the taxpayer who is going to be footing yet another Swiss aviation debacle.
