Problems at Swanwick?
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I'm with you on the box clicking and menu madness HD, where the simplest of input or selection tasks can be reduced to a form filling nightmare, often with almost exactly the same sequence of multiple selections every time.
You'll eventually learn to remember the sequence from the continual practise, but reliance on rote means you may not notice when a slight distraction causes you to deviate. And aren't slight distractions everywhere in the modern open plan workplaces ?
The manufacturers think you're just 'stuck in your ways' when you try telling them, if you are old enough to recognise the difference.
Box ticking fatigue is an insidious and still largely unrecognised hazard of modern systems.
You'll eventually learn to remember the sequence from the continual practise, but reliance on rote means you may not notice when a slight distraction causes you to deviate. And aren't slight distractions everywhere in the modern open plan workplaces ?
The manufacturers think you're just 'stuck in your ways' when you try telling them, if you are old enough to recognise the difference.
Box ticking fatigue is an insidious and still largely unrecognised hazard of modern systems.
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An old one would be fine Gonzo, just so long as its separate.
Beady Eye
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So you want a completely redundant VCCS function, to enable 100% capacity ops when the current one is degraded? You want to develop and maintain a new set of hardware, from a different manufacturer, with a completely independent update/upgrade cycle? A new software set up with another million lines of code? You want to design and develop new interfaces to all the related systems in adjacent FIRs?
Really?
Really?
Having been closely involved in 'backroom' work at Swanwick this doesn't sound like the VCCS (Garrex) system that failed. Not having worked there for 2 years I'm not going to speculate further.
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It's obvious what happened really. Scottish Mil move South, disgruntled Scot throws sporran in the works. Beware Burns Night! 
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HD,
We had a similar system on both the Mediator and later NODE suites at EGCC. Each telephone line was terminated at every position. When the sectors were split, you simply de-selected the ones you didn't need to answer. It worked splendidly for over 30 years.
Otb, loving your work.
We had a similar system on both the Mediator and later NODE suites at EGCC. Each telephone line was terminated at every position. When the sectors were split, you simply de-selected the ones you didn't need to answer. It worked splendidly for over 30 years.
Otb, loving your work.
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Thanks s.
<<Otherwise you will impose flow due to controller unfamiliarity with the 'new' backup system.>>
Don't know where that happens. When we moved into the new approach room at a large airfield we had had very little expereince of the hardware - quick shufty during breaks - so flow control was imposed. We put up with it for all ten minutes and then got the show on the road!
<<Otherwise you will impose flow due to controller unfamiliarity with the 'new' backup system.>>
Don't know where that happens. When we moved into the new approach room at a large airfield we had had very little expereince of the hardware - quick shufty during breaks - so flow control was imposed. We put up with it for all ten minutes and then got the show on the road!
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That was back in the day HD. I know this a bit like apples and oranges BUT when we replaced our old voice switch for a new one I had to go to the factory with engineers and installers to do the acceptance tests for it.
When we installed it at my airfield there was a training plan ,practical demonstrations,hands on experience and a test before each operator ( ATCO and ATSA) was signed off.
SRG then came and "quality controlled" the whole thing BEFORE it was allowed to go live.
I tried...but the quick shufty option wasn't available to us.
Rather like the "eg" .....a thing of yesteryear (at my former airfield anyway)
When we installed it at my airfield there was a training plan ,practical demonstrations,hands on experience and a test before each operator ( ATCO and ATSA) was signed off.
SRG then came and "quality controlled" the whole thing BEFORE it was allowed to go live.
I tried...but the quick shufty option wasn't available to us.
Rather like the "eg" .....a thing of yesteryear (at my former airfield anyway)
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Coincidence ?
While the integration of the ScotMil system that night might seem an entirely possible cause, it is often not the most plausible explanation that is the right one and is often much simpler. Coincidence does exist.
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It used to be said of West Drayton, that there was a manhole in the street outside; where a single hand grenade would cripple the UK ATC network for a month.
Seems now a geek with a laptop in his bedroom could completely screw up the system with a couple of keystrokes.
Not to mention a foreign power with malicious intent.
Mr Scott - USS Enterprise
Seems now a geek with a laptop in his bedroom could completely screw up the system with a couple of keystrokes.
Not to mention a foreign power with malicious intent.
The fancier they make the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain
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The Register is claiming to have the inside track, quoting an un-named inside source, that it was on one of the Frequentis 3020(?) systems.
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HD,
On a visit to Visual at Heathrow a great many years ago, the finest piece of technology with a MTBF* measured in eons was the piece of guttering that took the Flight Strips from one end of the desk to the other ... Proof of the KISS principle!!
Back to the thread ...
* Mean Time Between Failure
On a visit to Visual at Heathrow a great many years ago, the finest piece of technology with a MTBF* measured in eons was the piece of guttering that took the Flight Strips from one end of the desk to the other ... Proof of the KISS principle!!
Back to the thread ...
* Mean Time Between Failure
None but a blockhead
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I don't know about coincidence. but when the system has been transitioning in and out of night mode for years without major incident and then goes down for 14 hours after a major reconfiguration, I know where I'd start looking...
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Originally Posted by FantomZorbin
the piece of guttering that took the Flight Strips from one end of the desk to the other
Back to the thread...
Beady Eye
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<<Otherwise you will impose flow due to controller unfamiliarity with the 'new' backup system.>>
Don't know where that happens. When we moved into the new approach room at a large airfield we had had very little expereince of the hardware - quick shufty during breaks - so flow control was imposed. We put up with it for all ten minutes and then got the show on the road!
Don't know where that happens. When we moved into the new approach room at a large airfield we had had very little expereince of the hardware - quick shufty during breaks - so flow control was imposed. We put up with it for all ten minutes and then got the show on the road!
I was involved in the move of LAC and LTC from WD to Swanwick and the move of SCoACC and MACC into the new Prestwick Centre. Fairly major flows on each time.
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" ... unfortunately doing things off the back of a fag packet isn't acceptable nowadays ... "
I hear it takes a method statement and a flight plan to be filed to pass wind these days at Swanwick.
I hear it takes a method statement and a flight plan to be filed to pass wind these days at Swanwick.
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Since Scottish Mil will have needed a chunk of new connectivity to both the outside world and locally within Swanwick I think it is a fair punt that a large config change would have been needed. Changes to configs is one of the more likely causes of this type of failure as it is virtually impossible to test every possible combination that the new config can make available to the user.
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I'd want to know whether or not Scottish Mil are using VCS before I'd take that punt.
I'd love to see HD's technical solution in use at Swanwick. I suspect NATS might have to build some rather large walls to put all the switches on though.
I'd love to see HD's technical solution in use at Swanwick. I suspect NATS might have to build some rather large walls to put all the switches on though.