NERC.... The story so far..
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NERC.... The story so far..
Dear all,
There have been numerous requests for info about NERC/LACC/Swanwick (pick your title), so here are a few of my own observations.
<img src="smile.gif" border="0"> OK, lets start with the Good Points.. .The ops room is a very pleasant environment. Not at all cramped, fairly light and easy on the eye. We even have some vey large pretty pictures on the walls (tropical beaches, waterfalls etc.. No, I'm not kidding)
The square tubes are good (IMO) and the radar has some very useful tools. Very accurate Groundsped (not at all like NODE-L), rate of climb/descent, predict vectors with predicted levels are all "nice to have". Moving the lables around to avoid overlap is simple. Best of all is that they are vertical (nearly), so no more backache from leaning over the flat tops at West Drayton.(Some have complained about the shrimp boats slidin off, but they are just dinosaurs
)
The system has so far been stable, giving people some confidence in it.
<img src="wink.gif" border="0"> The not so good points.. .The ops room is BIG, no I mean REALLY BIG. Sitting on your own sector you feel somewhat isolated. It's not possible to actually see any other bananas from your seat. You can go for a whole shift without actually knowing exactly who is on the other sectors. Still, you've got the pretty pictures to look at.
<img src="frown.gif" border="0"> The BAD things . .Surprisingly few, you will be glad and probably somewhat amazed to hear.
First up, and a major disappointment, the RT is VERY POOR. A combination of lots of things. The requirement to route everything thru the remains of LATCC (AC), **** poor headsets, a "dodgy" cross couple device.
Telephones are likewise a bit of a disappointment. They should have been at least as good (bad?) as LATCC, but no, they aren't very good at all.
The two things together are the major reason why flow rates are being kept down. Next review 14th Feb (no jokes about St. Valentines day massacres pls).
Big problem from my point of view (pun INtended) is the legibilty of the windows used on the Planner (and assistant) displays. The Fonts are too small, and very difficult to read.
Fixes for all the above are allegedly "in hand", hopefully as a matter of urgency. Until then, and until we ALL get a bit more experience with the system we are going to have to be a bit cautious. Nothing wrong with that.
So there you go. Not too shabby, all things considered, and it could have been much, much worse (we could have all been back at LATCC!).
rgds BEX.
There have been numerous requests for info about NERC/LACC/Swanwick (pick your title), so here are a few of my own observations.
<img src="smile.gif" border="0"> OK, lets start with the Good Points.. .The ops room is a very pleasant environment. Not at all cramped, fairly light and easy on the eye. We even have some vey large pretty pictures on the walls (tropical beaches, waterfalls etc.. No, I'm not kidding)
The square tubes are good (IMO) and the radar has some very useful tools. Very accurate Groundsped (not at all like NODE-L), rate of climb/descent, predict vectors with predicted levels are all "nice to have". Moving the lables around to avoid overlap is simple. Best of all is that they are vertical (nearly), so no more backache from leaning over the flat tops at West Drayton.(Some have complained about the shrimp boats slidin off, but they are just dinosaurs
)The system has so far been stable, giving people some confidence in it.
<img src="wink.gif" border="0"> The not so good points.. .The ops room is BIG, no I mean REALLY BIG. Sitting on your own sector you feel somewhat isolated. It's not possible to actually see any other bananas from your seat. You can go for a whole shift without actually knowing exactly who is on the other sectors. Still, you've got the pretty pictures to look at.
<img src="frown.gif" border="0"> The BAD things . .Surprisingly few, you will be glad and probably somewhat amazed to hear.
First up, and a major disappointment, the RT is VERY POOR. A combination of lots of things. The requirement to route everything thru the remains of LATCC (AC), **** poor headsets, a "dodgy" cross couple device.
Telephones are likewise a bit of a disappointment. They should have been at least as good (bad?) as LATCC, but no, they aren't very good at all.
The two things together are the major reason why flow rates are being kept down. Next review 14th Feb (no jokes about St. Valentines day massacres pls).
Big problem from my point of view (pun INtended) is the legibilty of the windows used on the Planner (and assistant) displays. The Fonts are too small, and very difficult to read.
Fixes for all the above are allegedly "in hand", hopefully as a matter of urgency. Until then, and until we ALL get a bit more experience with the system we are going to have to be a bit cautious. Nothing wrong with that.
So there you go. Not too shabby, all things considered, and it could have been much, much worse (we could have all been back at LATCC!).
rgds BEX.
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So are the stories relating to multi million pound fixes for the problems relating to software/hardware issues just rumour?
Allegedly as the story goes, the board has turned down the proposals on cost grounds?
Swanwick related delays are rather large even taking into consideration the traffic levels in February. When are the flow rates going to improve?
Anyone like to comment
Allegedly as the story goes, the board has turned down the proposals on cost grounds?
Swanwick related delays are rather large even taking into consideration the traffic levels in February. When are the flow rates going to improve?
Anyone like to comment
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Bex, you make no mention of the rostering especially on nights. The fact that people are being asked to operate without ATSAs-something that we were always told was a no no.
The breaking of SCRATCOH on nights cos not enough people are being rostered.
The fact that a number of the OLDI links don't work correctly, and oh yes, managements' refusal to let us switch to a roster pattern that MAY just make the night duties slightly more bearable (ie 3 days off after the sleep day following the double nights that EVERYONE is now having to work).
Yeah, it's a major advance-----not!!!!!!! <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
The breaking of SCRATCOH on nights cos not enough people are being rostered.
The fact that a number of the OLDI links don't work correctly, and oh yes, managements' refusal to let us switch to a roster pattern that MAY just make the night duties slightly more bearable (ie 3 days off after the sleep day following the double nights that EVERYONE is now having to work).
Yeah, it's a major advance-----not!!!!!!! <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
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StandingH...
No idea how much the fixes will cost, but what are the NERC induced delays costing the members of TAG? I'm not a bean counter (GOD FORBID) but I would have thought that paying out a bit to fix NERC would save a lot for them? (No, you're right, I'm applying logic here... and that can't be correct )
The Flow rates will improve when the fixes are in, and when the staff are confident in the equipment. Oh, and if and when there are enough staff (see below). The next flow review is tomorrow (14th Feb)
250kts..... . .Sorry, you are quite correct in all you say of course, I was just sticking to my own impressions of technical side only. You will have seen different things I'm sure and I guess anybody reading this will be interested any info.
Rostering is indeed a major problem (or shambles if you prefer), and I do not dispute it at all. NERC is rather labour intensive compared to LATCC, and there are not enough ATCOs/ATSAs. This fact has been brought up in Parliament / Commons Select Committee and many other forums. I seem to recall a statement made to that committee that "We have 60 more controllers than we actually need". Now, remind me, WHO said that? And why have they never been brought to task over this blatant lie?
Rgds BEX
P.S. Yep, I prefer 6 on, 4 off as well. Voted, for it (twice), won once (i thought).
No idea how much the fixes will cost, but what are the NERC induced delays costing the members of TAG? I'm not a bean counter (GOD FORBID) but I would have thought that paying out a bit to fix NERC would save a lot for them? (No, you're right, I'm applying logic here... and that can't be correct
)The Flow rates will improve when the fixes are in, and when the staff are confident in the equipment. Oh, and if and when there are enough staff (see below). The next flow review is tomorrow (14th Feb)
250kts..... . .Sorry, you are quite correct in all you say of course, I was just sticking to my own impressions of technical side only. You will have seen different things I'm sure and I guess anybody reading this will be interested any info.
Rostering is indeed a major problem (or shambles if you prefer), and I do not dispute it at all. NERC is rather labour intensive compared to LATCC, and there are not enough ATCOs/ATSAs. This fact has been brought up in Parliament / Commons Select Committee and many other forums. I seem to recall a statement made to that committee that "We have 60 more controllers than we actually need". Now, remind me, WHO said that? And why have they never been brought to task over this blatant lie?
Rgds BEX
P.S. Yep, I prefer 6 on, 4 off as well. Voted, for it (twice), won once (i thought).
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Just one more thing to add....
I wonder how many people outside of NERC know that the Swanwick System still relies on the 30 year old technology of NAS (still at West Drayton) and CANNOT function independently of it (at least not for very long..... about 45 mins)
Think about it.
Rgds BEX
I wonder how many people outside of NERC know that the Swanwick System still relies on the 30 year old technology of NAS (still at West Drayton) and CANNOT function independently of it (at least not for very long..... about 45 mins)
Think about it.
Rgds BEX
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WHY? Have the HSE decided that the displays are just fine? Or have "management" decided they ain't gonna pay for improvements?
Presumably NATS has insurance against any class action that might be brought in the future by someone who's eyesight has been damaged. I wonder what those insurers would think of this arguably "negligent" attitude. Not a lot I would imagine.
Rgds BEX <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
Presumably NATS has insurance against any class action that might be brought in the future by someone who's eyesight has been damaged. I wonder what those insurers would think of this arguably "negligent" attitude. Not a lot I would imagine.
Rgds BEX <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
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BEXIL;
LMART already has the software for the display fonts. They made them for US!!!!! Tell them to give you some of the adjustable fonts that they have for DSR. <G> We have youngster size, journeyman size, wizened controller size and then you ought to retire size <G>....
regards
Scott
PS. Just got put on the national team for ERAM (Enroute Automation Moderinization). If we ever get full funding, it will be what finally gets us out of NAS and into something really modern... Some of the stuff that we are looking into is REALLY neat stuff.
LMART already has the software for the display fonts. They made them for US!!!!! Tell them to give you some of the adjustable fonts that they have for DSR. <G> We have youngster size, journeyman size, wizened controller size and then you ought to retire size <G>....
regards
Scott
PS. Just got put on the national team for ERAM (Enroute Automation Moderinization). If we ever get full funding, it will be what finally gets us out of NAS and into something really modern... Some of the stuff that we are looking into is REALLY neat stuff.
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BEXIL
I do not know why. All I can tell you is that we have been told not to set the customers (i.e. you) expectations too high.
S VOIGHT
Its not about the display drivers, its to do with the size of the windows.
I do not know why. All I can tell you is that we have been told not to set the customers (i.e. you) expectations too high.
S VOIGHT
Its not about the display drivers, its to do with the size of the windows.
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Huh? "Size of the windows?" No, the WINDOWS are about the RIGHT SIZE. The FONTS ARE TOO SMALL.
BEX.
P.S. no "H" in Voigt. He's a controller, not an Actor.
BEX.
P.S. no "H" in Voigt. He's a controller, not an Actor.
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Aside from the displays which are poor,what about the poor ambient lighting? Many people are going home sick with headaches.. .This problem isn't going to go away despite certain mangers saying"they'll get used to it"-until things like this are addrsssed , I expect any flow increases will be resisted.
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As yet the central problem of NERC has not been addressed. It is too labour intensive to be cost effective. Many sectors that at LATCC were open daily cannot be opened at NERC for this summer. The result is that traffic will have to be severely restricted all summer as the "west end" sectors cannot all be open neither can Hurn or Daventry open all their sectors. By September we will have 15 LESS controllers than at O date. Their is likely to be few validations this summer. At the moment sector opening is being driven by the ATSA figures as much as the ATCO figures. That can be cured more quickly but it may take 2-3 years to start to solve the ATCO numbers even given a quick return to training which is by no means assured given the present feelings
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But the size of the windows is what determines how much 'space' there is for characters. To increase the character size would mean (AFAIK) increasing the size of windows to be able to contain the increase. This does, of course, mean increasing the size of everything else associated with the flight data, EFS, TDB etc. etc.. .Interestingly less than 0.5% of staff havereported problems with font size, and the number complaining about lighting is much less.
BTW I'm prejudiced because in the 2 years I've worked there I've never had a problem 'reading' the screen.
BTW I'm prejudiced because in the 2 years I've worked there I've never had a problem 'reading' the screen.
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0.5% of staff,does this mean ONLY operational staff or are you also counting people who helped build it,managers and their subordinates etc -i feel these may be somewhat biased- just by reading the safety obs. forms alone and counting those who have gone home sick equates to a little more than 0.5% (of actual operational atcos)i think you'll find
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Take3 etc.... .If you look at the windows, there appears to be room for bigger characters without changing the size of the windows. Put another way, the existing crap fonts do NOT fill the space available for them. Even if this is not the case what is the problem with making all the windows bigger and therefore more legible? The cost?
If you think there is no problem then perhaps to put all our minds at ease you might like to do a proper survey of ALL the OPERATIONAL users to see what their opinions are.
I don't think that NERC management will ever countenance a survey because then they would not be able to hide behind such mis-information as "only 0.5% of staff have a problem". UTTER RUBBISH. The truth is worse, much worse.
As ever I started off with the positive things, and yes, there are some. My colleagues have also pointed out the things that could and should have been done better. Much better. They are quite right. Now, under the new openess regime that NERC was supposed to operate I, and my colleagues, would like to see changes. VERY SOON.
Rgds BEX
If you think there is no problem then perhaps to put all our minds at ease you might like to do a proper survey of ALL the OPERATIONAL users to see what their opinions are.
I don't think that NERC management will ever countenance a survey because then they would not be able to hide behind such mis-information as "only 0.5% of staff have a problem". UTTER RUBBISH. The truth is worse, much worse.
As ever I started off with the positive things, and yes, there are some. My colleagues have also pointed out the things that could and should have been done better. Much better. They are quite right. Now, under the new openess regime that NERC was supposed to operate I, and my colleagues, would like to see changes. VERY SOON.
Rgds BEX