DURHAM TEES VALLEY AIRPORT - 4
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The DTVA ATC staffing levels are as follows:
To cover H24, 7 days a week there are 21 ATCOs to man Tower and Radar positions (any thought of manning Rad2/Director has long gone).
Of the 21 ATCOs, two are trainees awaitng validation on Tower.
Of the 19 remaining 2 are on maternity leave.
Of the 17 remaining 2 are on sick leave at least until late June.
Of the 15 remaining 1 is part time.
Of the 14.5 remaining 3 have radar ratings but are not valid and are either receiving sporadic radar training or none at all due to having to cover Tower.
This leaves 11 Radar validated controllers.
These figures do not include anyone on leave.
Only one radar controller can be rostered for a whole 8 hour shift on some days.
Doesn't stop barbed comments like "enjoy your cup of tea" etc.
To cover H24, 7 days a week there are 21 ATCOs to man Tower and Radar positions (any thought of manning Rad2/Director has long gone).
Of the 21 ATCOs, two are trainees awaitng validation on Tower.
Of the 19 remaining 2 are on maternity leave.
Of the 17 remaining 2 are on sick leave at least until late June.
Of the 15 remaining 1 is part time.
Of the 14.5 remaining 3 have radar ratings but are not valid and are either receiving sporadic radar training or none at all due to having to cover Tower.
This leaves 11 Radar validated controllers.
These figures do not include anyone on leave.
Only one radar controller can be rostered for a whole 8 hour shift on some days.
Doesn't stop barbed comments like "enjoy your cup of tea" etc.
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DTV Closures
Thanks for that informative review Bol Zup...would it not help greatly if the airport closed say at 2200 and reopened for the morning flights at 0700 ish?? that would release much needed controllers for day time shifts?? A short term solution maybe..but 
SRG - Safety Regulation Group
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The Specialist Teams
To monitor the activities of UK’s complex and diverse industry, SRG employs a team of specialists. They have an exceptionally wide range of skills, including ... aerodrome operations and air traffic control specialists..."
"The role of the CAA’s Safety Regulation Group is to develop our UK world-class aviation safety environment, in partnership with industry, by driving continuous improvements in aviation safety in the UK and...
The Specialist Teams
To monitor the activities of UK’s complex and diverse industry, SRG employs a team of specialists. They have an exceptionally wide range of skills, including ... aerodrome operations and air traffic control specialists..."
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Bol Zup
Out of that number - how many are retiring in the next 2-3 years? It sounds like your management's walking into a trap that many airfields are now discovering. You have to train people up (and obviously spend the money) before they're required - not when they are.
Out of that number - how many are retiring in the next 2-3 years? It sounds like your management's walking into a trap that many airfields are now discovering. You have to train people up (and obviously spend the money) before they're required - not when they are.
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I believe that is what the airport is currently doing - last night seems to be a one off, having just one (I presume tower only due to the NOTAM), controller on shift. There was a further Notam sent extending the radar hours until 2245z, probably due to the late running Globespan and a couple of FRA Falcons I heard going out about 2100z.
Thanks Bol Zup, for the information regarding current staffing levels.
Thanks Bol Zup, for the information regarding current staffing levels.
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Chilli Monster
Management's strategic planning with regard to ATC staffing seems to be a combination of head-in-sand and fingers crossed.
Fortunately the majority of ATCOs are in the 35-50 age bracket, the nearest retirement is 3 years away.
Of more pressing concern is the prevention of staff leaving. One would think, given the present situation, management would be moving hell and high water to keep the existing staff sweet. Not a bit of it.
At present the unit does not have an Air Traffic Service Manager. The previous two incumbents having resigned due to the pressure of trying to squeeze a quart out of a pint pot.
The Unit Training Officer has resigned and that post remains vacant.
The unit remains just about the lowest paid in the country.
The latest recruit was offered a contract with 4 days less leave than the previous new start, 9 less than the old hands. When this was queried he was told that the contract was correct and it was management's intention to "harmonise" the other staff's leave to this, raising many an eyebrow.
Rumours abound that, come October, staff in the existing local government pension will be removed from the scheme.
Conspiracy theorists espouse the belief that the present situation is being deliberately engineered by Peel as a pre-cursor to closing the airfield permanently, with a view to turning the place into an housing development.
Whilst of course these rumours and theories could be easily quashed, management remain steadfastly silent on the subject. Direct communication between management and ATC within recent times has been a big fat zero.
Management's strategic planning with regard to ATC staffing seems to be a combination of head-in-sand and fingers crossed.
Fortunately the majority of ATCOs are in the 35-50 age bracket, the nearest retirement is 3 years away.
Of more pressing concern is the prevention of staff leaving. One would think, given the present situation, management would be moving hell and high water to keep the existing staff sweet. Not a bit of it.
At present the unit does not have an Air Traffic Service Manager. The previous two incumbents having resigned due to the pressure of trying to squeeze a quart out of a pint pot.
The Unit Training Officer has resigned and that post remains vacant.
The unit remains just about the lowest paid in the country.
The latest recruit was offered a contract with 4 days less leave than the previous new start, 9 less than the old hands. When this was queried he was told that the contract was correct and it was management's intention to "harmonise" the other staff's leave to this, raising many an eyebrow.
Rumours abound that, come October, staff in the existing local government pension will be removed from the scheme.
Conspiracy theorists espouse the belief that the present situation is being deliberately engineered by Peel as a pre-cursor to closing the airfield permanently, with a view to turning the place into an housing development.
Whilst of course these rumours and theories could be easily quashed, management remain steadfastly silent on the subject. Direct communication between management and ATC within recent times has been a big fat zero.
Last edited by Bol Zup; 31st May 2007 at 12:13.
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mole
Hey Bolz you certainly seem to have a lot of insider info, sounds like things at mme will get worse before they get better! Perhaps srg can get the place sorted out. The local press had a bit in today about closures, only a matter of time before the punters revolt. I'm cringing at what the airlines must think of the (mickey mouse) place.
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Conspiracy theorists espouse the belief that the present situation is being deliberately engineered by Peel as a pre-cursor to closing the airfield permanently, with a view to turning the place into an housing development.
At the moment there is a plan to construct up to 3million square feet of factory warehouse units on the land at the South of the runway. Once the services are in for that little lot it wouldnt be a quantum leap to put in a housing estate. Ingleby Barwick is about full and there will be a need for an large housing estate south west of stockton in the next 25 years.Pell are lots of things but they ain't daft!
Anyway what's with these globespan e-mails changing the times of pre booked flights?
At the moment there is a plan to construct up to 3million square feet of factory warehouse units on the land at the South of the runway. Once the services are in for that little lot it wouldnt be a quantum leap to put in a housing estate. Ingleby Barwick is about full and there will be a need for an large housing estate south west of stockton in the next 25 years.Pell are lots of things but they ain't daft!
Anyway what's with these globespan e-mails changing the times of pre booked flights?
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Onthephone - which paper carried the story? Can't find anything on the Northern Echo or Evening Gazette's websites??
Delta 8 - stirring things possibly? I'm guessing you are an employee of NCL otherwise you wouldn't be making such a stupid comment.
Delta 8 - stirring things possibly? I'm guessing you are an employee of NCL otherwise you wouldn't be making such a stupid comment.
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Why put in for all that development of the airport facilities, terminal, hotel complex etc, and go through all the planning applications, if they want to shut the site down?
The Longnewton road interchange is now well underway. Seems unlikely they'd push for that to start (so that they could develop the terminal) if they have no intentions of keeping MME open as an airport.
The Longnewton road interchange is now well underway. Seems unlikely they'd push for that to start (so that they could develop the terminal) if they have no intentions of keeping MME open as an airport.
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Why put in for all that development of the airport facilities, terminal, hotel complex etc, and go through all the planning applications, if they want to shut the site down?
Firstly any development commercial or residential would be enhanced by an improved transport infra structure. Secondly regarding the site itself, the more planning that is approved on the site, the better, as once granted, would be difficult to revoke and quite possibly able to be substituted for other use,albeit possibly not from commercial to residential use. Such moves may only strive to increase the value of the site. Possibly what you should ask is actually how much has Peel invested of their own money on such projects that is in the greater scheme of things irrecoverable ? I believe they came out very well indeed with Sheffield and even what could potentially have been deemmed as expenditure written off on the construction of a terminal was to an extent recovered by it's conversion into office space
What you need to consider that DTV in private ownership is a business the same as any other, and if there is no return on the capital invested then it becomes under increased scrutiny as to how to deal with this. There are of course many options, but if revenue can not be generted from pax, then other avenues need to be considered.
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The Long newton interchange is not being constructed to serve the Airport as such.It is there to facilitate the development of "the site" which includes the North Side Business Park.It is very debatable how much of their own money the airport owners are putting into the proposed developments.
The South side proposals may or may not materialise.The fact is that once the public bodies have put in all their preparatory infrastructure what is left becomes a very desirable ,and highly valued, site.I suggest a quick google of Peel Holdings and a trawl through the web sites will paint you a clearer picture of what this company is about.They are, after all Manchester based, and I suspect have few allegiances to Teesside.
And I would still love to know why the changes to Globespans flight schedules.Lack of ATC perhaps? Does anyone know?
The South side proposals may or may not materialise.The fact is that once the public bodies have put in all their preparatory infrastructure what is left becomes a very desirable ,and highly valued, site.I suggest a quick google of Peel Holdings and a trawl through the web sites will paint you a clearer picture of what this company is about.They are, after all Manchester based, and I suspect have few allegiances to Teesside.
And I would still love to know why the changes to Globespans flight schedules.Lack of ATC perhaps? Does anyone know?
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I have been very reliably informed that Peel have spent absolute zero on MME. The new access road was funded by One North East, and the new terminal front was funded by the airport itself. Whether Peel funds the new terminal, cargo village, hotels and business centre etc which have just been approved, remains to be seen, I doubt the airport itself has the finances to fund it.
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I think there's some confusion there. Peel own 75% of the airport, therefore the majority of the airport. So saying the 'airport' paid for things as if it's some separate entity is probably not correct.
True, it may have paid from the funds which the airport as a business had accumulated. But Peel still have 75% responsibility of that business.
Going back to earlier responses - based on all this, are we just agreeing then that MME is going to shut and Peel have no interest in it being an airport? All this based on hearsay and the fact that there are ATC shortages.
True, it may have paid from the funds which the airport as a business had accumulated. But Peel still have 75% responsibility of that business.
Going back to earlier responses - based on all this, are we just agreeing then that MME is going to shut and Peel have no interest in it being an airport? All this based on hearsay and the fact that there are ATC shortages.