NATS Lose Gatwick Contract (Split thread)
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Having made several visits there over the last few months, I can report back that most ATCOs are still unsure
I would imagine that the workers at Whitely, like the admin. and support staff at any large organisation do an excellent job keeping the wheels turning for the rest of us. I am also equally sure that they do not enjoy the "early go" perks which seem to be regarded as a right by the operational staff.
I would imagine that the workers at Whitely, like the admin. and support staff at any large organisation do an excellent job keeping the wheels turning for the rest of us. I am also equally sure that they do not enjoy the "early go" perks which seem to be regarded as a right by the operational staff.
Join Date: Jun 2013
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[QUOTE=obwan;9337866]Having made several visits there over the last few months, I can report back that most ATCOs are still unsure
I would imagine that the workers at Whitely, like the admin. and support staff at any large organisation do an excellent job keeping the wheels turning for the rest of us. I am also equally sure that they do not enjoy the "early go" perks which seem to be regarded as a right by the operational staff.
In fairness, I appreciate what you are saying, but, for obvious reasons, their salary scales make VR and "early gos" unattractive.
I wholeheartedly agree that their contribution, to the bigger picture, is very much appreciated.
I would imagine that the workers at Whitely, like the admin. and support staff at any large organisation do an excellent job keeping the wheels turning for the rest of us. I am also equally sure that they do not enjoy the "early go" perks which seem to be regarded as a right by the operational staff.
In fairness, I appreciate what you are saying, but, for obvious reasons, their salary scales make VR and "early gos" unattractive.
I wholeheartedly agree that their contribution, to the bigger picture, is very much appreciated.
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The staffing thing is not a new phenomenon. Somewhere, in the archives, i have a letter, dated mid-late 1980s, asking if I would be interested in VR/early retirement, or whatever it was called back then. It was signed by the same gentleman, (nice chap actually), who had been one of the 3 ATCOs on my 'final selection board' about 8 years previously.
The present problems stem partially from the 1970s 'oil-crisis', and the present top-down/tail-wagging-the dog staffing structure which was partially engineered by 'Red'.
The present problems stem partially from the 1970s 'oil-crisis', and the present top-down/tail-wagging-the dog staffing structure which was partially engineered by 'Red'.
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Whilst I have no desire to return to the havoc of the eighties, it's more or less inevitable that we are heading in that fateful direction.
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IIRC the official terminology was that you were rostered for Sector 8........
Much better organisation. I remember going in for afternoon duty at 1400 and being sent home at 1430, complete waste of an afternoon. Indicative of the current level of management I'd say. pip pip
Much better organisation. I remember going in for afternoon duty at 1400 and being sent home at 1430, complete waste of an afternoon. Indicative of the current level of management I'd say. pip pip
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I believe that NSL management don't have a clue about anything. I asked management 4 years ago why we weren't recruiting when it was quiet, so that when it got busy NATS was ahead of the game. The response was along lines that we don't need any more staff despite me seeing this happen for the third time in my years in NATS. Personally, I think NSL has a maximum of 5 years. All the contracts we lose are because of the 'overheads'. That's all the massive amount of management that we have to carry. Company is F@[]ed.
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3 miles. You really don't have a clue. Early go? At my unit we don't get them except for one shift where you might get away 30 mins early very occasionally (Bit like Friday afternoon. 
). I have worked beyond the end of my shift many times as well, as the wheels fell off again, but I got nothing for it, but I care about the people I work with and giving my very best.
Extra supplements? Only one we get is for working shifts and bank holidays. That is the same for everyone, even the units that close over Christmas or New Year, so not massive. Non-NATS airfields are a comparable salary to mine.
The Manager I was referring to was the head of HR. The only other one I deal with is the Unit GM and they earn more than me or an ATSA 4.
Just remember the moaning ATCOs do work hard, and if I work for another company so what. I started outside NATS, I still got paid, and had the usual management BS. Plus ce change. (apologies for the appalling French)
). I have worked beyond the end of my shift many times as well, as the wheels fell off again, but I got nothing for it, but I care about the people I work with and giving my very best. Extra supplements? Only one we get is for working shifts and bank holidays. That is the same for everyone, even the units that close over Christmas or New Year, so not massive. Non-NATS airfields are a comparable salary to mine.
The Manager I was referring to was the head of HR. The only other one I deal with is the Unit GM and they earn more than me or an ATSA 4.
Just remember the moaning ATCOs do work hard, and if I work for another company so what. I started outside NATS, I still got paid, and had the usual management BS. Plus ce change. (apologies for the appalling French)
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3 miles. You really don't have a clue. Early go? At my unit we don't get them except for one shift where you might get away 30 mins early very occasionally (Bit like Friday afternoon. ). I have worked beyond the end of my shift many times as well, as the wheels fell off again, but I got nothing for it, but I care about the people I work with and giving my very best.
Extra supplements? Only one we get is for working shifts and bank holidays. That is the same for everyone, even the units that close over Christmas or New Year, so not massive. Non-NATS airfields are a comparable salary to mine.
The Manager I was referring to was the head of HR. The only other one I deal with is the Unit GM and they earn more than me or an ATSA 4.
Just remember the moaning ATCOs do work hard, and if I work for another company so what. I started outside NATS, I still got paid, and had the usual management BS. Plus ce change. (apologies for the appalling French)
). I have worked beyond the end of my shift many times as well, as the wheels fell off again, but I got nothing for it, but I care about the people I work with and giving my very best. Extra supplements? Only one we get is for working shifts and bank holidays. That is the same for everyone, even the units that close over Christmas or New Year, so not massive. Non-NATS airfields are a comparable salary to mine.
The Manager I was referring to was the head of HR. The only other one I deal with is the Unit GM and they earn more than me or an ATSA 4.
Just remember the moaning ATCOs do work hard, and if I work for another company so what. I started outside NATS, I still got paid, and had the usual management BS. Plus ce change. (apologies for the appalling French)
NATS HR Dept always seem to operate in cloud-cuckoo land, assuming the offers they make to existing staff to be irresistible.
Both myself and talkdownman have personal experience of this.
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Now that it appears common knowledge that allegedly NATS lite ( NSL not NSL ) 🤔 have won the Gatwick ATC contract I thought it would be interesting to resurrect this thread to review the comments. As mentioned earlier on the ATC COVID thread “discuss”😎
Rgds
AyrTC
Rgds
AyrTC
Last edited by AyrTC; 18th Apr 2021 at 16:17.
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Nats lite? Would that also be known as the Solutions brand? Wonder how long it'll take for the takeover to complete, should be done and dusted by the summer from their previous experience. I wish the staff at LGW all the very best of luck. They'll need it.
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Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.....
NATS Solutions (aka “NATS lite”) contract starting in 18 months (Oct22). No explanation given by ANS to staff but the suspicion is they overcharged and under delivered on projects and staff numbers.....so I am told.
Good luck to all those involved, I do miss the place sometimes.
NATS Solutions (aka “NATS lite”) contract starting in 18 months (Oct22). No explanation given by ANS to staff but the suspicion is they overcharged and under delivered on projects and staff numbers.....so I am told.
Good luck to all those involved, I do miss the place sometimes.
Did Safeskys not bid for it then?
(Gisajobs successors don't seem to be interested in ATC contracts)
Wonder what effect this will have on the potential contract for a certain airfield in Kent.
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