Questions of ATC.
Perhaps some of our esteemed ATC colleagues could answer some questions which keep cropping up at Safety Management meetings. We have asked your management but the answers seem a little too 'fluid' for practical purposes. All questions are safety related and we would like some answers.
1) Why is it so hard sometimes to get the latest METAR or traffic for descent lately, we had one crew report actually overflying a reporting point and not being able to make that position report for 18 minutes. Why is frequency congestion such a repeated reported complaint?
2) Why are there so many promises about new technology to resolve the expensive, potentially dangerous delays, especially during bad weather made and not kept?
3) What is the delay on restructured airspace, this has been coming for years; in flight delays involve costs approximating the proposed budget surplus. When is our new efficient airspace due into service?
4) Is true that the indecent amounts of fees your monopoly generates are used to provide funds for court cases and first class travel and accommodation for the 'management' class. Does this explain why important safety matters above are not being dealt with?
5) Can you confirm that combined or reduced service routes or airspace is no longer declared on NOTAM ?
We ask these questions in the interest of the travelling, tax paying passengers who may at some stage become the victims of the current situation. Please explain so can acquit the safety issues our committee has to deal with on a regular basis.
Last edited by Kharon; 8th Dec 2012 at 20:15.