Gretchen Burrett to leave NATS
OK it seems those of you at Swanwick/CTC know of her; what effort has she made to visit other units? She NEVER visited Farnborough to my knowledge(prior to Nov '08 that is).
StandupfortheUlstermen
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Can't remember her coming to Brizzel either, but on the occasions I met her and had a chat, it was very enlightening. I wish her well in her new job. Although whether others wish her well or not is neither here nor there, but what she does in her new role will directly influence our working lives and at least she's going at it with knowledge of the industry gained while at NATS.
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As an ex-military man who now spends his time meandering around the Highlands I have heard of her. In fact, I did attend a safety presentation a while back where she enlightened us all. I'm rather confused as to why NATS employees have never heard of her. I always thought that NATS' corporate/internal comms strategy was comparatively good; I guess there are people out there who never read company literature. 
NATS Internal Comms are based on the Intranet; many people don't bother to look at this, it's not compulsory after all. After reading about one or two people with absolutely no ATC experience being given highly paid jobs in NATS management, I ceased to bother too.
Many don't even bother to use their NATS e-mail account either.
Many don't even bother to use their NATS e-mail account either.
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Alfaman
It was me that mentioned apportioning blame. Pity you seemed to miss the tone of the post, which was light. How you missed the 
though I don't know.
Chevvron
Why should anyone in senior management posts in NATS have to have a background in ATC or even aviation? Whether we like it or not (I don't), NATS is a business now... fact.
As such I'd rather have people at the helm who will steer that business through the stormy waters of recession etc and make sure it is still here for me in 15 or 20 years. The fact that I don't always agree with the way they do it is why I am a memebr of the union because I would hope that negotiation would take place.
Leave senior management to manage the processes of running a big business - that includes the head honcho of safety (who actually had aviation experience if you read her blog).
God knows, the ATCOs who have progressed to middle and upper management within NATS regularly get slated by the people on the shop floor for their ineptitude at being managers etc. Maybe having outside experts at the top is a good idea.
It's disappointing that certain people still feel the need to talk about apportioning blame
though I don't know.Chevvron
Why should anyone in senior management posts in NATS have to have a background in ATC or even aviation? Whether we like it or not (I don't), NATS is a business now... fact.
As such I'd rather have people at the helm who will steer that business through the stormy waters of recession etc and make sure it is still here for me in 15 or 20 years. The fact that I don't always agree with the way they do it is why I am a memebr of the union because I would hope that negotiation would take place.
Leave senior management to manage the processes of running a big business - that includes the head honcho of safety (who actually had aviation experience if you read her blog).
God knows, the ATCOs who have progressed to middle and upper management within NATS regularly get slated by the people on the shop floor for their ineptitude at being managers etc. Maybe having outside experts at the top is a good idea.
Beady Eye
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She's one of those 'invisible' people who you don't necessarily know about unless they mess up which has large consequences, or have met in which case you'll never forget them.
Lots of info in the Wide world Interweb Net if you search, this article gives a flavour.
BD
Lots of info in the Wide world Interweb Net if you search, this article gives a flavour.
BD
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Why should anyone in senior management posts in NATS have to have a background in ATC or even aviation? Whether we like it or not (I don't), NATS is a business now... fact.
Corporate management skills are different from ATC skills. Whether our management have them or not, that's another debate. But the CEO of Nats does not have to be an ATC expert.
There are plenty of well paid specialists to take care of the technical side of things.
Anotherthing
Thanks, but I wasn't directly quoting you, or I would have used quotation marks; I was endeavouring to summarise the sentiment in both posts & expressing my personal sadness that it still exists; as one of the many who've endeavoured to move the debate beyond the "his/their/my fault" of yesteryear, I find it wearisome at times.
I saw your emoticon; however what "evil" meant in that context eluded me. I think, perhaps, the last couple of lines in your post don't read quite as humourously as you'd meant them to, certainly to me. However, if that was how you meant it, fair enough.
Otherwise, the peculiarity to me in the article above, & in the previous posts is, I don't feel Gretchen was one of the invisible movers & shakers: whenever I've met her, we've usually been in the company of many other ATCOs, & she always come across as very knowledgable in her field & very approachable. I appreciate my experience may not be universal,but she certainly wasn't hiding from where I've been standing. I'm quite intruiged to see who steps into her role, if indeed the new CEO feels it needs filling.
Thanks, but I wasn't directly quoting you, or I would have used quotation marks; I was endeavouring to summarise the sentiment in both posts & expressing my personal sadness that it still exists; as one of the many who've endeavoured to move the debate beyond the "his/their/my fault" of yesteryear, I find it wearisome at times.
I saw your emoticon; however what "evil" meant in that context eluded me. I think, perhaps, the last couple of lines in your post don't read quite as humourously as you'd meant them to, certainly to me. However, if that was how you meant it, fair enough.
Otherwise, the peculiarity to me in the article above, & in the previous posts is, I don't feel Gretchen was one of the invisible movers & shakers: whenever I've met her, we've usually been in the company of many other ATCOs, & she always come across as very knowledgable in her field & very approachable. I appreciate my experience may not be universal,but she certainly wasn't hiding from where I've been standing. I'm quite intruiged to see who steps into her role, if indeed the new CEO feels it needs filling.
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I had the pleasure of working for Gretchen for 3 years and still regularly see her. She was in the Swanwick AC ops room last Wednesday morning, speaking to the atcos who were dealing with the weather - she certainly knows where the shop floor is
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I've just read the first page of this thread - has anyone ever wondered that she might actually read this stuff and she is a human being with feelings? A talented woman gets a high powered job - why do we immediately find the need to have a pop at her? If you don't know her, why do you assume the worst?
RANT OVER
RANT OVER
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"Won't You pour me a Cuban Breeze Gretchen?"
(A great line from a great song, often played in the environs of Mt. Belzoni).
Had the pleasure of 'doing lunch' with Gretchen on a couple of occasions recently. An absolute professional. Totally charming.
"I beleve I just got the good-bye look"
(A great line from a great song, often played in the environs of Mt. Belzoni).
Had the pleasure of 'doing lunch' with Gretchen on a couple of occasions recently. An absolute professional. Totally charming.
"I beleve I just got the good-bye look"
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Maybe you unit was so so safe that Gretchen didn't need to bother you Chevvers 
I met her through the NATS Infringement Group along with representatives from your airfield.
Top lady, once met never forgotten
I met her through the NATS Infringement Group along with representatives from your airfield.
Top lady, once met never forgotten
Last edited by SwanFIS; 9th Jan 2010 at 08:54.
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Good luck
I also think Gretchen's departure is a loss for NATS and a gain for the CAA. She regularly visited units, including the non NERL unit I work at. She always had time for the staff and had the real skill of being able to engage with everyone. In terms of incidents her position was two fold, how we stop this happening again, and what can we change in the equipment, traning and procedures, or with the airlines, it was never one of blame. Good luck to her.
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Good luck to her and I agree with comment. I think she's just the right person to make the lumbering dinosaurs in CAA sit up, take notice and bring themselves into the 21st century, gonna be an uphill struggle though.
I found both David Chapman and his boss Mike Bell too set in their ways, unreceptive to any new ideas and had no wish to make changes.
I found both David Chapman and his boss Mike Bell too set in their ways, unreceptive to any new ideas and had no wish to make changes.