They've been trying to get rid of ATSAs in toto since ah were a lad at LATCC in the early 70s.

It seemed that every time some bright management 'erbert came up with a plan to achieve it, some computerised system or other fell over and it was a quick scrabble to find the ATSAs to keep things moving, put fingers in dykes*, etc.

It seems to have been a gradual attrition, I don't know what the numbers are at Heathrow now but when I left there was much doom and gloom over the projected numbers after the move to the new VCR.

*If Ade's in here somewhere you KNOW what I mean Ade so stop sniggering.

MD, there are now only two 2s per watch (well, one has three). A few in non-ops posts.

I know some places you can do that but it costs good money ;-)

BD

Is it true that for every operational ATSA 'shown the door', The Barron has replaced them with a 'business support specialist', 'customer services manager', 'carbon solutions expert' or 'human ********' something or other?
Seems a bit like the NHS. - According to Jeremy Vine last week, 50,000 managers. - Equal to the population of Macclesfield!
"Things Can Only Get better"
P.S.
As for 'human ********'s involved in ATCO selection, no wonder validation rates are low.

DC10RM,

This is an internet forum isn't it, or have I missed something? That's what internet forums do, don't they?

Thought the chip might have fallen off the shoulder now you've retired as well:p

As usual you talk about things you know nothing about. Every division, every area, every department in NATS has been 'made lean' to the point where the pips are starting to squeak.

BD

And are you one of those 'pip-squeaks' BD? :E

ROFFA...........seems to me that DC10 RM is the only one that talks sense here......after all the ATSA grade is the only grade that had the balls to stand up for what they wanted some 33 years ago and go on strike.......maybe if some of our ATCO's had some of those same balls we would not have been shafted over our pension!!!!!!!!!!!:}:}:}

Job cuts
 

@ fisbang
Ha - I'll see your pension & raise you an upped retirement age - twice !! ;)

IMHO the real tragedy with all these cuts is the experience that is being wasted - the ones with the most seem to be the first to go. I can see why, but it bodes ill for the future.

I actually agree with ZOOKER when he said Get back to the 3 year cadetship - we lost only 3 from the College on my course & none who graduated failed to validate their first posting. OK I know it would cost a lot but how much money goes down the pan when someone with hundreds of hours at a Centre is chopped ?

[Grumpy old git + tumbleweed mode off - GO!]

ERIC T........could not agree more with what you say....sorry for the rant but I hate seeing what I am seeing at the moment with some of my unit ATSA's being sold down the river in the idea of progress!!!! :ugh::ugh:

And by the way was great to meet another grumpy old bugger last night....will hook up soon for a visit to your own world in the sky!! Take care :cool::cool::cool:

Perish the thought he would be melodramatic:hmm:

Unless of course the russians are upset then the controller dies too...