ukatco_535
22nd Oct 2004, 09:55
So did anyone see this programme on BBC1 last night?
As usual, Hammond, the presenter, gave a fairly balanced view, but I was a bit disappointed with the ATC aspects on two accounts.
Firstly, does anyone know who the heck Kim O'neill is, the 'expert' who had worked for the CAA for 8 years?? They did nothing to qualify his 'expertise' - why did he leave the CAA, what is he doing now etc!! He basically tried to paint a black picture alledging that go arounds on parallel runways are extremely dangerous (there obviously is an issue, but it is so well practised as to make it negligible) and also mentioned a/c head on at the same level -claiming that this happens daily and that only onboard equipment saves the day!! He also said that incidents are not reported so people do not know the number per year. This is obviously tosh - the general public may not have access to the info but we, as ATCOs certainly do.
Secondly, NATS, once again, refused to let anyone be interviewed. WHY???!!! What are management scared of? Do we have a PR department in NATS and if so, what do they do??
Here was a perfect opportunity to boost the company profile, but instead a phone call statement simply said 'we have carried out a survey of our ATCOs and they are all very happy'!!
Why does NATS continue to shoot itself in the foot?? The last example of this was when the HCS failed just before the summer and the Sun etc came out with crass diagrams of how we had to hand write information on scraps of paper!! The papers then wheeled out some retired BA pilot who stated that flying was now inherently dangerous and that ATCOS were not up to the job, stating that if it were not for onboard computers, the ATC system would collapse!!
It riles me that management let the ATCOS down by allowing such dross to be published without refuting the claims... they get paid enough so why can they not get off there backsides and start promoting the company - yes there are issues within it, but no more than any other large company
Should I worry about ......ATC?? Probably not.
Should I worry about ...... the managment? Yes
As usual, Hammond, the presenter, gave a fairly balanced view, but I was a bit disappointed with the ATC aspects on two accounts.
Firstly, does anyone know who the heck Kim O'neill is, the 'expert' who had worked for the CAA for 8 years?? They did nothing to qualify his 'expertise' - why did he leave the CAA, what is he doing now etc!! He basically tried to paint a black picture alledging that go arounds on parallel runways are extremely dangerous (there obviously is an issue, but it is so well practised as to make it negligible) and also mentioned a/c head on at the same level -claiming that this happens daily and that only onboard equipment saves the day!! He also said that incidents are not reported so people do not know the number per year. This is obviously tosh - the general public may not have access to the info but we, as ATCOs certainly do.
Secondly, NATS, once again, refused to let anyone be interviewed. WHY???!!! What are management scared of? Do we have a PR department in NATS and if so, what do they do??
Here was a perfect opportunity to boost the company profile, but instead a phone call statement simply said 'we have carried out a survey of our ATCOs and they are all very happy'!!
Why does NATS continue to shoot itself in the foot?? The last example of this was when the HCS failed just before the summer and the Sun etc came out with crass diagrams of how we had to hand write information on scraps of paper!! The papers then wheeled out some retired BA pilot who stated that flying was now inherently dangerous and that ATCOS were not up to the job, stating that if it were not for onboard computers, the ATC system would collapse!!
It riles me that management let the ATCOS down by allowing such dross to be published without refuting the claims... they get paid enough so why can they not get off there backsides and start promoting the company - yes there are issues within it, but no more than any other large company
Should I worry about ......ATC?? Probably not.
Should I worry about ...... the managment? Yes