Hi all,

Just seen the news that gatters has been shut due to the failure of the electronic flight strip system and I couldn’t help but wonder: how difficult would it be to revert to paper strips like they used only a matter of months ago? I assume it’s more complex than that, otherwise they’d have done it!

Matter of months ago?

Actually more like 13 years ago? More than half the controllers there, at a guess, have never used paper strips at Gatwick, many will have only used paper strips in a simulator, never live.

Pretty soon after going to electronic strips, it’s realised that reverting to paper strips is not a valid contingency, unless it’s practiced regularly (by regularly, I don’t mean at the annual emergency refresher training).

Perhaps I misunderstood the notam that was issued not so long ago about a new system being implemented (including the digital strips) and that we should expect delays / be considerate etc. I thought they were using paper strips right up until that! Ha!

I think you may be thinking of the transition to electronic strips at Terminal Control (including Gatwick Director) which has occurred in stages over the last year or so, rather than the tower (I agree it’s not something that might come over clearly in a NOTAM!)

ah, yes, that’ll be it. either I am misremembering the notam (or I didn’t read it properly at the time...:= ) but I had it i my mind that it included the tower! Thanks for the insight!