I hope all Swanwick NATS controllers don't have the same attitude, shown by the two FIS persons. Neither showed much knowledge of the activity they work with.
One said. "You'd never get me up in one of those" And the lady who implied GA aircraft a bit of a safety worry as they not maintained properly, like Comercial planes. Obviously hasn't heard of mandatory 50/100 hr checks,oil changes etc. etc. Thought their 21st Century workstation a bit crude too. Pins stuck in a wallchart, and bits of paper. A radar screen nearby appears not to be used??
As with NATS controllers, the FISO's in NATS have various backrounds......from extensive flying experience to none at all. Of course in the TV series we do not know exactly what context the remarks were made, TV producers tend to edit as they please for effect.
Although their workstation may seem 'Crude', FISO's are not licensed to use radar. So a chart on the wall is the next best thing to have some sort of situational awareness.
NATS is constantly under pressure from the CAA (who are pressured by airlines) to reduce costs. Between 2015 and 2019, NATS is expected to handle 10% more traffic while maintaining safety and service levels, while at the same time reduce costs to the airlines by 20% in real terms. Providing a radar service outside controlled airspace with radar controllers would cost NATS many times more than the current FIS service costs.