The impending sale of NATS
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If you know where he was before PC then you will know why
I would still maintain that there would have to be a serious review of the method of operation to just go from Tactical and Coordinator to just a T and I am assuming that it what you are referring to? And why you would want to do that at the unit which apparently scored so highly in traffic and complexity during the banding debate is beyond me.
Apologies for the "thread drift" but some points needed to be challenged. Back to the possible sale of NATS now?
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radarman
Exactly.
I am amazed how little we have heard from the Unions about this sale. Maybe we should ask NATS' management what our Unions think.
Try Googling 'TUPE'. Basically your T&C's are protected and have to be honoured by the new company until such time as staff and management negotiate new ones. Does not apply to pensions
I am amazed how little we have heard from the Unions about this sale. Maybe we should ask NATS' management what our Unions think.
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Could anyone please help,
I have a British passport and ten years experience on a modern ATC system working as an active area radar controller. Are NATS looking for experienced controllers, and who is the contact person who may shed more light on the subject.
Many thanks.
I have a British passport and ten years experience on a modern ATC system working as an active area radar controller. Are NATS looking for experienced controllers, and who is the contact person who may shed more light on the subject.
Many thanks.
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Could anyone please help,
I have a British passport and ten years experience on a modern ATC system working as an active area radar controller. Are NATS looking for experienced controllers, and who is the contact person who may shed more light on the subject.
Many thanks.
I have a British passport and ten years experience on a modern ATC system working as an active area radar controller. Are NATS looking for experienced controllers, and who is the contact person who may shed more light on the subject.
Many thanks.
I am amazed how little we have heard from the Unions about this sale
In fact if you go to ATCOs.co.uk - you can see the initial statement from Prospect although it is probably time an update was published.
Last edited by 250 kts; 25th Aug 2010 at 19:34.
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Didn't want to start a new thread with this, but thought that NATS staff might find it of interest!
Dilbert comic strip for 09/01/2010 from the official Dilbert comic strips archive.
Dilbert comic strip for 09/01/2010 from the official Dilbert comic strips archive.
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Just spotted this on my share dealing site as I was buying some TT. shares
U.K. air-traffic controller NATS Holdings Ltd. could be floated as its shareholders look to reduce their holdings, but its chief executive remains focused on growing the business with a push deeper into international markets.
In the wake of its high-profile handling of the closure of airspace after the eruption of a volcano in Iceland spewed ash over much of Europe earlier this year, a sale would allow shareholders to realize at least part of the value of their holdings at a time when public and private sector budgets are under pressure.
A variety of options were under consideration, including "whether it will be sold through an (initial public offering) or a trade sale" or even both, NATS Chief Executive Richard Deakin said in a recent interview.
Deakin expects to learn over the next few months the extent and form of a sale. "I think it's likely there will be a fair chunk of shares" would be sold, he said.
Its two key shareholders are the British government, with a 49% interest, and the Airline Group, a consortium of seven airlines, with 42%. Each is looking at what percentage of its stake to sell, Deakin said. Another 5% stake is owned by employees and U.K. airports operator Baa Ltd. holds 4%.
The U.K. Treasury didn't return calls and the Airline Group couldn't be reached for comment. The Airline Group comprises British Airways PLC (BAY.LN), Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA.XE) unit bmi British Midland, Virgin Atlantic, TUI Travel PLC's (TT.LN) Thomson Airways, Monarch Airlines, easyJet PLC (EZJ.LN) and Thomas Cook Group PLC (TCG.LN).
At the same time, Deakin hopes to take the opportunity to double the work force's shareholding to 10% to better engage the 5,000 workers and ensure their interests are more closely aligned with the company's goals. Even though 80% to 90% of its employees are unionized, NATS hasn't suffered industrial action since 1981.
National Air Traffic Services was established in 1962 but rebranded as NATS in 2006. In July 2001 it became a public private partnership, which led to the division into the regulatory part, NATS (En Route) PLC, which is responsible for U.K. commercial airspace, and NATS Services Ltd., which provides takeoff and landing services at airports.
Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in the U.S., NATS was forced to restructure after declines in traffic volumes, which led to the government and BAA, a unit of Spain's Ferrovial SA (FER.MC), each investing GBP65 million in NATS and BAA receiving its shareholding.
NATS last year was responsible for guiding 2.2 million flights through U.K. airspace and the eastern part of the North Atlantic. It generated revenue of GBP767.3 million in fiscal 2009.
About GBP175 million of that revenue comes from NATS Services, which Deakin aims to grow, particularly in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions, where demand has bucked global trends over the past couple of years and the rates of growth provide attractive expansion opportunities.
NATS in July signed a deal with Oman's Ministry of Transport to redesign its airspace, or the routes that aircraft travel, in order to increase capacity, efficiency and safety. Deals like that were becoming increasingly important given the political fragility of the region and the proximity of Iran, Deakin said.
"There are also a lot opportunities for consultancy, designing airspace so that it's efficiently handled," Deakin said, adding NATS can also design airports to maximize efficiency.
Winning further business will be easier now that it has a more prominent profile following volcanic eruptions that grabbed the world's attention. Air-traffic controllers were in the spotlight in April when they closed airspace over much of Europe for all commercial flights on safety grounds after Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted, and ash that billowed into the sky was blown across the continent.
Deakin, 46 years old, had been in his job at NATS only two weeks when the crisis hit. Sitting in a room equipped for coordinating emergencies, the former Senior Vice President for Air Systems Division at Thales S.A. (HO.FR) recounts how he watched images of the volcanic eruption on a bank of televisions covering one wall and relayed the order to close airspace to air-traffic controllers in the 2,000-square-meter operations room below.
"It wasn't an easy decision," Deakin said, adding, "It hurt us commercially as well."
Deakin is confident the decision was the correct one. Even then Prime Minister Gordon Brown called to voice his support, Deakin said.
A spokesman for the Labour Party declined to comment.
"I'm absolutely convinced the decisions that we took were timely and proportionate and kept safety at the forefront," Deakin said.
He said the existence of ash "wasn't a figment of anyone's imagination" with the pilots of the first three Boeing Co. (BA) 747 aircraft--commercial flights flown by British Airways PLC (BAY.LN)--that landed at Heathrow after airspace was reopened all complaining of a sulphur smell as they descended from 6,000 feet.
BA declined to comment.
Still, Deakin said there would be significant differences if the volcano erupts again, namely that Europe would have a more consistent approach and that new rules would provide operators with more flexibility to allow aircraft to fly through volcanic ash provided operators, airlines and regulators were satisfied that a safe case had been demonstrated.
- By Kaveri Niththyananthan, Dow Jones Newswires; 4420 7842 9299; [email protected]
U.K. air-traffic controller NATS Holdings Ltd. could be floated as its shareholders look to reduce their holdings, but its chief executive remains focused on growing the business with a push deeper into international markets.
In the wake of its high-profile handling of the closure of airspace after the eruption of a volcano in Iceland spewed ash over much of Europe earlier this year, a sale would allow shareholders to realize at least part of the value of their holdings at a time when public and private sector budgets are under pressure.
A variety of options were under consideration, including "whether it will be sold through an (initial public offering) or a trade sale" or even both, NATS Chief Executive Richard Deakin said in a recent interview.
Deakin expects to learn over the next few months the extent and form of a sale. "I think it's likely there will be a fair chunk of shares" would be sold, he said.
Its two key shareholders are the British government, with a 49% interest, and the Airline Group, a consortium of seven airlines, with 42%. Each is looking at what percentage of its stake to sell, Deakin said. Another 5% stake is owned by employees and U.K. airports operator Baa Ltd. holds 4%.
The U.K. Treasury didn't return calls and the Airline Group couldn't be reached for comment. The Airline Group comprises British Airways PLC (BAY.LN), Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA.XE) unit bmi British Midland, Virgin Atlantic, TUI Travel PLC's (TT.LN) Thomson Airways, Monarch Airlines, easyJet PLC (EZJ.LN) and Thomas Cook Group PLC (TCG.LN).
At the same time, Deakin hopes to take the opportunity to double the work force's shareholding to 10% to better engage the 5,000 workers and ensure their interests are more closely aligned with the company's goals. Even though 80% to 90% of its employees are unionized, NATS hasn't suffered industrial action since 1981.
National Air Traffic Services was established in 1962 but rebranded as NATS in 2006. In July 2001 it became a public private partnership, which led to the division into the regulatory part, NATS (En Route) PLC, which is responsible for U.K. commercial airspace, and NATS Services Ltd., which provides takeoff and landing services at airports.
Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in the U.S., NATS was forced to restructure after declines in traffic volumes, which led to the government and BAA, a unit of Spain's Ferrovial SA (FER.MC), each investing GBP65 million in NATS and BAA receiving its shareholding.
NATS last year was responsible for guiding 2.2 million flights through U.K. airspace and the eastern part of the North Atlantic. It generated revenue of GBP767.3 million in fiscal 2009.
About GBP175 million of that revenue comes from NATS Services, which Deakin aims to grow, particularly in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions, where demand has bucked global trends over the past couple of years and the rates of growth provide attractive expansion opportunities.
NATS in July signed a deal with Oman's Ministry of Transport to redesign its airspace, or the routes that aircraft travel, in order to increase capacity, efficiency and safety. Deals like that were becoming increasingly important given the political fragility of the region and the proximity of Iran, Deakin said.
"There are also a lot opportunities for consultancy, designing airspace so that it's efficiently handled," Deakin said, adding NATS can also design airports to maximize efficiency.
Winning further business will be easier now that it has a more prominent profile following volcanic eruptions that grabbed the world's attention. Air-traffic controllers were in the spotlight in April when they closed airspace over much of Europe for all commercial flights on safety grounds after Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted, and ash that billowed into the sky was blown across the continent.
Deakin, 46 years old, had been in his job at NATS only two weeks when the crisis hit. Sitting in a room equipped for coordinating emergencies, the former Senior Vice President for Air Systems Division at Thales S.A. (HO.FR) recounts how he watched images of the volcanic eruption on a bank of televisions covering one wall and relayed the order to close airspace to air-traffic controllers in the 2,000-square-meter operations room below.
"It wasn't an easy decision," Deakin said, adding, "It hurt us commercially as well."
Deakin is confident the decision was the correct one. Even then Prime Minister Gordon Brown called to voice his support, Deakin said.
A spokesman for the Labour Party declined to comment.
"I'm absolutely convinced the decisions that we took were timely and proportionate and kept safety at the forefront," Deakin said.
He said the existence of ash "wasn't a figment of anyone's imagination" with the pilots of the first three Boeing Co. (BA) 747 aircraft--commercial flights flown by British Airways PLC (BAY.LN)--that landed at Heathrow after airspace was reopened all complaining of a sulphur smell as they descended from 6,000 feet.
BA declined to comment.
Still, Deakin said there would be significant differences if the volcano erupts again, namely that Europe would have a more consistent approach and that new rules would provide operators with more flexibility to allow aircraft to fly through volcanic ash provided operators, airlines and regulators were satisfied that a safe case had been demonstrated.
- By Kaveri Niththyananthan, Dow Jones Newswires; 4420 7842 9299; [email protected]
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NATS sale
Well according to Sky news today it looks like the coalition are aiming to sell us off next year. After nearly 30 years in NATS I for one am concerned about losing my job and pension rights. I just hope that everyone inside and outside the ops rooms will for once stand together to protect everyone's interests. Unlike some I do not want VR/ER as anyone who has changed to work part-time will know the payoff offered reduces considerably for anyone who works p/t.
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Hot news....Govt. hires *ankers to sell off NATS
Exclusive: Government Hires Bankers For Air Traffic Control Sale | nats | philip_hammond | british_airways | Kleinman | Sky News Blogs It is a busy day for the privatisation of state-owned transport infrastructure.
In the last hour or so, the Government has announced the sale of the Channel Tunnel rail link (known as High Speed 1) to two Canadian pension funds for just over £2bn.
And I can also reveal that the privatisation of the company which operates Britain's air traffic control services is about to take another step forward.
I'm told that Philip Hammond, the transport secretary, has authorised the appointment of Bank of America Merrill Lynch to advise the Government on a process that could see National Air Traffic Services (NATS) floated on the stock market as soon as next year. Ministers will also consider the sale of part or all of its 49 per cent shareholding to a single buyer, although the reduction of its stake below 25 per cent would require new legislation.
"The appointment is to advise Government on its options for the NATS shareholdings. All options will be on the table," a source close to the situation told me. The Government's stake is likely to be worth about £500m.
As I've reported several times over the last 12 months, the sell-off of NATS is complicated by the number of stakeholders involved as well as the regulatory and legislative implications of a sale.
A number of airlines, including British Airways, easyJet and Virgin Atlantic, own about 42 per cent of NATS. They don't speak with one voice and in the past easyJet has objected to a sale of those shares by other members of what is known as The Airline Group.
Among those interested in buying part of NATS will be Global Infrastructure Partners, the owner of London City and Gatwick airports.
BAA, the airports operator, also owns a small chunk of NATS, as does the management of the air traffic control operator, who are understood to be keen on a stock market listing for the company.
Nobody involved in the NATS process would comment today
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NATS sell off
Does anyone remember an ad in Flight many years ago for ATCOs to become traders on the stock market? Apparently the industry thought we were good at taking risks!!!
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So the runners & riders are Lockheed Martin, Global Infrastructure Partners & Serco although Serco say they are more interested in offering services to NATS.
I wonder if Serco's interest is why Management appear to be trying to open up a division between NSL & NERL staff.
I wonder if Serco's interest is why Management appear to be trying to open up a division between NSL & NERL staff.
