Crumbs, I wasn't expecting it to actually happen. Challenging times ahead for all in NSL, I expect.

YouSaidBolt:
Question 1 No. I attend one particular working group as a rep and feed results to several organisations including Safeskys, but I do not act as their 'voice'.
Question 2 No. I admit I did do a few days freelance A/G there early last year.

So who won the contract?

The bottom line in the awarding of this contract will have been the cost.

Birmingham airport is not a charity it is a business and as such exists to make money; it is not going to pay more than it has to for anything be that a cubic metre of concrete or its tower ATC service.

There will be an inquest now and I imagine the likely verdict will be that NATS will have to address their costs if they are to win or retain airport contracts within the UK.

That wouldn't surprise me, given that the Airport's CEO is an ex-Serco man.

In my previous post I should have said 3 ANSPs who bid in open contract, not just 3 ANSPs.

I think he's ex Airwork!! Did Serco buy them too?? I've lost track!

It doesn't matter who won the contract, whoever won it didn't win it because they could provide a better ATC service than NATS they won it because they were cheaper.

For whatever reason the winning company wins it, I suspect it is an outcome which will matter to very many people to be honest.

I know I am looking on with interest, just as a barometer for where UK ATC Services are heading really.

Phil

NATs so called overheads will suck dry non profitable contracts fact. This is just the start IMHO.