This is the result of years of increasing demands made on belgian controllers.
I have some figures that I would like to compare with other ATC colleagues.
The following numbers are the 'on duty' days/year for an ACS controller working at Brussels ACC. (specific case, not average) The duty days do not include any sick days or annual leave)
2007 231 duty days/20 weekends off
2008 255 duty days/19weekends off
2009 281 duty days/15weekends off
Is this comparable to ATCOs in other countries?
BTW, Belgocontrol management is of the opinion that recruitment is not necessary! (I think I heard that Belgocontrol went from around 340 to around 305 ATCOs over the last 5(?) years)