Re: air traffic control services
Why does airport management not do a Birmingham and do their own thing?
A couple of reasons:
1. Controllers have historically been reluctant to transfer to posts in NI, so such staff usually have to be locally hired and trained ( instead of just putting out job ads to attract qualified applicants ). $$$. Look at the history of Ulster Radar for an example!
2. Aldergrove Radar has en route responsibility which under UK law can only be provided by NATS. So they would have some NATS staff on premises anyway, might as well give them terminal ATC too.