SRATCOH new rules

[Gonzo]

Now now, WWW, you know that we don’t do facts here!

[whowhenwhy]

Sorry, what was I thinking. Have had a stern word with myself. Normal service will be resumed soon.

[callum91]

Sure if it’s a quiet period you can arguably stay plugged in for longer without suffering fatigue (which straight away reduces the minimum OR) but what about comfort breaks when you’re the only ATCO on duty valid on that position?

[2 sheds]

SRATCOH was designed to deal with the Heathrows of this world

With respect, I don't think that is accurate. It was/is probably needed just as much, if not more so, at other units.

2 s

[alfaman]

Originally Posted by 2 sheds

With respect, I don't think that is accurate. It was/is probably needed just as much, if not more so, at other units.

2 s

I agree - when I started, we worked the old 4 watch "A-M/N-S-O" system, which was very fatiguing as traffic changed (as busy at night as during the day). Without regulation of hours, I doubt very much that would have changed, the airport management would have seen it as a cost at a time when money was tight enough anyway. The CAA units, as it was, were already working to what became the norm anyway.

[2 sheds]

we worked the old 4 watch "A-M/N-S-O" system, which was very fatiguing

Or to put it another way, b***** criminal!

2 s

[Brian 48nav]

whowhenwhy

Please excuse a retired old git coming in on this again! I'm with 2sheds, Scratcoh was NOT brought in for Heathrow - I have no recollection of it being discussed there until it was implemented. As I said above I think a couple of airfields, maybe Roborough and Lands End ( I could be wrong here ) were having staffing difficulties, hence long hours for the validated controller/s. One of the main men in GATCO at that time was one of my colleagues at Heathrow and being an erudite chap he was probably involved in the discussions with SRG or whoever.

We worked MMAANN/various DAY duties with the old D1 starting at 0800, 10 hours after the end of the A shift ( if you didn't get an EG ) - I think most people were happy with that particularly as your 4 days off ran together and even started early with a 1430/1500 finish on the last day of six. I don't think many people liked having a day off between the second A and the D1.

Maybe Talkdown Man and Heathrow Director remember more?

[Talkdownman]

Originally Posted by Brian 48nav

Maybe Talkdown Man and Heathrow Director remember more?

I remember you.

Frank


ISTR that when LATCC went on to the AAOMMNNSOO, Heathrow went straight on to the MMAANNSOOO. Not sure Heathrow ever did the former. I think there was a day off between the second Afternoon and the D1s because they weren't separated, MMAAOD1D1OOO. Hated nights, hated D1s, I was a 'late days' man, nearly always got them...probably because I did the rostering...well, nobody else seemed to want them! Could do a lot before a 1600 start. Used to do about three hours flight instruction before a D4 or D5...until the secondary employment restrictions were introduced.

[whowhenwhy]

Brian48 Nav et al, apologies if I have it wrong about LHR being the origins of SRATCOH, I can only go off what I was told. The rest of what I mentioned though is gen

[spekesoftly]

There's some background information on the development of SRATCOH in the following link:-

https://atchistory.wordpress.com/201...ng-paper-1977/