Having said that we need to reduce the bargaining power
of the unions.[...]. Controllers will
intervene only in the event of emergencies.
The CANSO new stategy apparently. read the CANSO DG ( G.Lake) blog/healines on the German controllers.
I always thought this was wishful thinking and kind of , shall I say "envy" or " jealousy" over our working conditions. But indeed what the"prominent Kiwi ATCO " said , certainly not diplomatically, is very true nevertheless.
The shortage of qualified controllers worldwide and the over-specialisation of our job makes us unique, so they have to pay. They hate that and hope automation will make ATC less " human" |dependant and they can reduce their costs = our salaries in the future.
They expected that to happen in the 90's but you can still move today more aeroplanes using controllers and a radar than with automated technology. But one day ( somewhere between 2030 and 50 if you ask me ) it will come.
Airbus and Boeing are separately looking into ATM. Airbus just aquired Metron a few days ago. I know some people in Airbus who are looking into autonomous aircraft for some time. An autonomous aircraft does not need ground based ATC to fly.
This is perhaps what Ashley was referring to. But not in his and my lifetime.
Well there still will be VFR to keep us busy !
