No. Virtualisation is a technology. It's already in use in other industries and NATS now wants to use it in ATC.

This is way off topic. I apologise.

Is this why EGKK are going for the DFS option then?

Phew !...Nicely back on track.

Don't apologise, tell us more, I am intrigued!!!

Not heard a dickie bird about it. Mind you it would be cock all use in a VCR unless we're going to get all Minority Report about it. But then life doesn't exist outside centres does it.

Don't say anything to Nimmer....he's using his fishing rod again:}

I am so glad that I am retired.

I am not fishing, I have put my rod away for December!!!

Have a look at ATCOS.co.uk Public Site and you may find a statement on what a good deal Prospect did for the Birmingham controllers. You need to be a Prospect member to get access I believe.

A possible consolation prize for NATS, I hear that the Aberporth & Ranges contract is to be renewed by QinetiQ. Hard luck Safeskys, coming back for more in seven years time? Enjoy Llanbedr!

And meanwhile, Qinetiq are looking to make more use of Llanbedr under Safeskys after closing it several years ago when it was SERCO.

Blwyddyn newydd dda Chevvron

My post #9 on the Llanbedr Airfield thread indicates how successful QQ have been to date with that current pie (unmanned of course) in the sky.

At least NATS have kept the Ranges contract, with West Wales Airport Watchkeeper UAVs apparently providing most of their current and foreseeable future business.

Sorry don't speak old Cornwellian, could you translate?.

Blwyddyn newydd dda Chevvron = Happy New Year Chevvron! From across the water in God's Country.


I think that the writer was passing you a greeting, no need for the sarcasm.

The update is after losing the Gatwick contract NATS management have decided that NSL needs is a drastic reduction in their cost base.

Things are going to get very interesting over the next year or so.

NATS Lose Gatwick Contract (Split thread)
 

It will be very interesting indeed. Although, I believe the cost reductions will be mostly coming from support services rather than the operational side of things. All part of the contract price though.

The bit of the email that surprised me was the mentioning of new T&Cs.

New T&Cs never easy to get through but NATS management must be encouraged by the lack of fight shown by the staff when they rushed through the last pension scheme changes.

What's your basis for this belief?

But the pension scheme change were on a 'you keep yours, we're asking you to shaft the new guy'

Might be a bit different if people are asked to change their T&Cs. Since recruitment is all but frozen I can't see much point in changing T&Cs just for new starters.

NATS Lose Gatwick Contract (Split thread)
 

Hangten,

That's the answer given to me by the union after the email was sent out

Not sure they're "shafted" when the company is still contributing up to 18%. A colleague of mine is on the new scheme and his fund is predicting over £1m on retirement and he joined in his late 20s.