Great post.
Many years ago I worked as an assistant at an ATC unit where ATCOs did the half-hourly met reports.
Just before I left the forward-thinking SATCO realized the situation was getting impossible, (due to missed reports as a result of handling A/C), and sent the ATSAs on MET courses, which added to the variety of their work.
Many of the current NATS 'managers' have little or no ATC experience. Also there are many arrogant, 20/30-something, children of the Thatcher generation in the system who were raised on the culture of greed. They know the cost of everything, but the value of nothing. Sad, yes, but it's the way the country is. Hardly surprising that many people simply 'can't be @rsed' anymore.
We hear a lot from management about 'Ops-Room distraction' in safety notices.
Surely having to 'do MET' is another distraction ATCOs can do without.
P.S.
Stats should be the responsibility of the aerodrome management, not ATC assistants.
Last edited by ZOOKER; 17th May 2011 at 23:03.