Spunky

No worries mate, the Daily Record crossword was getting pretty tedious.

Being a DINKI (Dual Income No Kids) let me know if you need any more wads to burn, I'm running out of places to store my cash!

I remember asking my union guy just this question when banding was being proposed.

Apparently at that years' conference a motion was put to the members by the BEC. It was about the possibility of having different bands within the same unit. The members gave a categorical "no" despite all of the potential pit falls being pointed out.

Whatever our thoughts on banding, it is the members who pushed for it in the first place and obviously didn't heed the BEC advice when asked the question.

I think that most of the Thames/ Luton guys are valid on at least 2 positions now, although I stand to be corrected.

Correct - some are valid Thames and Luton.... doesn't compare to say North or South and A.N. Other sector which the majority of the TMA controllers do... but them's the rules

But therein lies the problem.... don't pay the 'rock of ages', so regardless of the fact that we can be doing our one armed paper hanger trick on any given day, it matters not where banding is concerned.

Luton approach on it's own does not constitute minimum unit competency, you must do one of the other approaches or Thames Radar. They are demanding environments and difficult to validate on.

.... and no I don't do any of them.

That doesn't bode well for lil ole me who's got 8 weeks left at the college and desperate for an EDI posting. Oh well, Aberdeen wont be that bad I suppose :(

neodude,

worry only about getting your first validation. once you have that its a different ball game. your options become infinitely more attractive:ok:

Yep, I bet all those limited FIS's are a real menace!! ;)

Neodude

I believe we have one person earmarked to come from the college around Christmas. That could be you if all goes well. We also have a couple of guys trying to remuster within the company and one possibly to the sandpit. The boss needs to replace them now and also overbear for the impending EFPS training next year as it sounds like the times of goodwill and fudging things (helping management when they run deliberately short) are happily coming to an end!
You may be lucky but we need you in asap to get you trained up.

mmm, that sounds promising I suppose. Have to make sure I pass first :ok:

Hootin an a Roarin wrote:

Are you sure about the overbearing? The Ice Station is first (of the regional airports) to be going EFPS - we are not going to have any overbearing of staff, indeed with the way things are going at present we will be "underborn" ...... how we are going to be able to release staff for EFPS training I know not.

DD

Data Dad.

He is talking about overbearing by one I think. The training will still be tight however as was proven by the recent primary only sim runs we had to do. Some guys did the sim runs whilst officially the radar 2 controller which should not have happened but again fudged things and helped management out.

We down here have also heard a rumour that your impending EFPS has been delayed which obviously will put us back as well as I think we follow you.

Anyway we are about to enter WP negotiations which would only benefit management as any outcome means working longer hours. So I hope the rest of my colleagues stop bailing out management with good will when we do not get much in return. It is not our problem that the previous Manager ATC signed a WP agreement not advantagious to the Managers, were we work shortish day shifts. If we were LHR we would be offered a large bung so lets stick together and not give in for nothing.

Rant over :ok:

Sadly mistaken, I'm afraid. :}

Hootin'

how marvelous to see you on these boards again, knew it'd be a banding debate to get you away from JD Wetherpoons;)

To any lowly band 1/2/3/4 ATCOs if you can't get away from your unit because you can't get released but want a bigger challenge with bigger bucks, then the adventure of a lifetime awaits at DXB. Recruiting like crazy now for the new JXB and current DXB airports, everyone earns approx £5200 per month with an extra £3k per month for accommodation, schooling, health and travel home. All tax free.

What you got to lose? The Barron's gonna take your pension anyhow. Get out now, and your pension becomes ringfenced!!!

Tick Tock Tick Tock....

Eid Mubarrak

Yellow Snow

Hope you and the missus are doing well matey. I need to give you a bell.

There are a few around considering making the move and to Abu Dhabi as well.

Have you heard the rumour about Baron doing a deal with Dubai not to take any more LHR controllers?

P.S. Does Skippy still wear his scarf out there?

Hootin'

Life's magic buddy, really pleased with things. Give us a call.

The rumour about a deal was knocking about before I left.

On arrival here I asked the main boss about it. No such deal exists.

The position here was that they would take no more than the 4 LHR controllers in 2008 (4th starts in November) reason being so as not to completely mess up LHR's numbers and be friendly. 2009 however, is open season. They want as many NATS trained controllers as possible for both airports. Two more start in January, they see it as supply and demand, they'll pay one of the best ATCO's salaries in the world, come and get it if you want it. (Their words not mine)

Scarf not needed here!:)

Last time I looked at the figures, Luton was handling over 10m pax per year and then add in all the Biz Jets!

In order of passengers per year:

1 Heathrow
2 Gatwick
3 Stansted
4 Manchester
5 Luton

But then again, Luton is a quiet regional airport!

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/80/airport...K_Airports.pdf

It's movements that count. If I move 3 747's but you move 6 737's then you would be busier.

1 Heathrow
2 Gatwick
3 Manchester
4 Stansted
5 Edinburgh
6 Luton

....last time I looked.

Figures taken from: UK Airport Statistics: 2007 - annual | Data | Economic Regulation


1. Heathrow - 481476
2. Gatwick - 266550
3. Manchester - 222703
4. Stansted - 208462
5. Edinburgh - 128172
6. Aberdeen - 121927
7. Luton - 120238
8. Birmingham - 114679
9. Glasgow - 108305
10. East Midlands - 93989

Figures do not include overflights worked by the airport controllers