jocko
The NSC is a political decision and most people with half a brain know that.
I don't think your half brain has been focused for the last couple of years. The NSC and now NPC business case has been one of the most complete and thoroughly tested business cases NATS has ever made. It has had to be because the original O date was 1996 and it has been examined by the CAA as owners, the Government as directors, the private sector as PFI bidders, the airlines as owners, the CAA as economic regulators and IATA airlines as customers. It must have passed you by somehow at Manch.
Basic fact - 2 centre strategy concentrated on the two current biggest sites.
2nd centre built at minimal cost using new technology which will be the proving ground for a possible Swanwick repalcement.
Never planned to go to Swanwick because the system there is too expensive to double in size and maintain. Just one of the many considerations is the cost of operating each sector. To take the 20+ sectors which are Scottish and Manch and staff it with LACC paid ATCOs and ATSA 4s in a permanent T,P & A operation is more staff than NATS has and more money than it will have.
There are lots of other parts of the business case which your managers know so why not go and ask them.
We have been fed so much crap over the last few years regarding a possible move.We have never been given a straight answer to any queries about it.
Most of the crap is because you haven't been watching what was being said elsewhere or asking questions of your managers. When the decision was announced about Manch coming north nearly 2 years ago what did Mr Robinson have to say to the staff ? What staff meetings did he hold ? What consultation did he hold about your options ? If you didn't ask him then don't expect too much sympathy from elsewhere.
Just one contrast in the approach from elsewhere. We recently heard that there was a proposal to change airspace in conjunction with the Irish. Staff here were upset to the point that the Director of Area services and Finance director came and spoke to the staff within a week. A well attended meeting with day section engineers and ATCOs as well as operational staff on their days off. Didn't solve all the problems but stopped the rumour mill dead in it's tracks.
The information has been there for years if you chose to read it instead of hoping it would never happen.