Finally got round to a detailed review of the report, for which congratulations are due to the whole On Track team. Well balanced, fairly reported and stick has been waved where appropriate at both sides of the debate, with carrots on offer as required!!
Particular items in the report which particularly struck a chord with me personally seem to primarily revolve around LARS and Maps / Charts:
Para 7.1 (P21) LARS
Suggestion of 'Flight Following' code - great idea!
Later on in the Para, the report states 'Poor standard of R/T and unfamiliarity with LARS procedures......' - I take issue with this, never having flown in an area covered by a LARS unit when the service is available, I don't see how I will ever get familiar with PARS procedures! Only time I was ever within an area covered by LARS, the service was shut!
In the same para, there is a reference to ATSUs instructing pilots to 'standby and wait and failing to return' [in a timely manner]. There is one South coast ATSU that is notorious for this, which carries far less traffic than others that manage to provide an excellent service (such as one to the east of Glasgow
). However, this is not a witchhunt - just pointing out differences in service.
Overall, Problem Statement 1 and most of the recommendations encapsulate the issues I have on LARS nicely.
7.3 (P25) Maps & Charts
Strongly support Problem Statement 2 and related suggestions - Problem 1 is also good.
The subject of AICs and NOTAMs has already been discussed to death elsewhere, but most of the suggestions are fully endorsed.
Great suggestions on PPL/IR + moves towards GPS acceptance!
One suggestion that I maybe would have is to gather all the problems / proposed solutions into a database / spreadsheet and assign priority levels to them + difficulty assessments + target resolution dates, so that the CAA can sort out the important things that are readily achievable with minimum effort / risk, whilst planning for the other important but 'more difficult' tasks.
Once again, well done on a great report - hope you manage to get some holiday before your next assignment!