AirservicesAustralia wants Overtime to be compulsory
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AirservicesAustralia wants Overtime to be compulsory
I'm starting this thread with a post I already put in another because people have a habit of just remembering the headline and forgetting the story, and I want people focussing on a real issue, rather than some fictious "renegade controllers" [that TFN, aka Gregg Russell, seems to be intent on creating (see below) so that he has someone else to blame for this mess]
Rationing the skies
Ben Sandilands writes:
Source: Crikey.com.au (11 August 2008)
So much for "renegade" air traffic controllers causing chaos in the skies.
On Friday at its Melbourne centre AirServices Australia offered ATC officers three hours extra pay per shift at "additional duty" rates just to be rostered in advance as on-call replacements for anyone who reports absent for work, mainly during evenings or over weekends.
In recent days the chief executive officer of AirServices Australia, Greg Russell, has been blaming ‘renegades’ for calling in sick to add pressure to pay negotiations.
Civil Air, the union, has maintained the real problem is Russell’s incompetence in recruiting and training staff during a period of high attrition due to retirements or better job opportunities abroad.
An official summary of that collective negotiation meeting is here for those who want to study a management trying to buy its way out of a human resources crisis of its own making.
At the same time AirServices was forced to agree to CASA demands for a rationing of controlled air space by a procedure for declaring "temporarily restricted areas" when there are insufficient controllers available to man the radar consoles responsible for the safe separation of aircraft between or near major Australian cities.
Under the current stop gap measures both AirServices and CASA had tried to maintain the fiction that international, domestic and private aircraft could be safely left to control their own ‘separation’ in a free-for-all situation that led to angry protests from the airlines.
That fiction is now over, after CASA officers saw first hand how risky the process was, and Qantas, Virgin Blue and the International Civil Aviation Organisation went public with their concerns.
If some tricky details can be ironed out airliners approaching zones where AirServices can’t provide service will have to apply for permission to enter, meaning rationing can be enforced to keep jets very far apart.
The "tricky" part is international air space. Australia has the responsibility to control large areas of Oceanic airspace. Jets that are mid way along very long flights to Australia cannot be denied access to "temporarily" restricted zones without compromising the compulsory fuel reserves they carry for bad weather diversions at their arrival point.
A spokesman for CASA said a starting time for the new ‘temporary’ arrangements cannot be announced unless this problem is overcome.
These two developments should be a wake up call to Treasury if not Infrastructure. AirServices is a substantial profit centre for government.
Now it is proposing money for nothing for staff just to be available for duty, and being compelled to further reduce its air traffic revenues by diverting, or denying access to, the airliners that are its customers.
And in case you missed the embedded link to the official summary (or the crikey site is slow) it contains this little proposal in relation to "reasonable overtime": - which AsA would like us to agree to, PRIOR to the expiration of our current EBA in December.
1. There is an obligation on air traffic controllers to perform reasonable overtime where operational requirements make it necessary.
2. That obligation entails an expectation that ATCs will be contactable by telephone and if calls are missed, to call back promptly after the call from Airservices has been received. An ATC should only remain uncontactable or unable to respond promptly where there are special reasons for this being so.
3. Subject to paragraphs 4 and 5, ATCs will agree to work an additional shift or hours when requested to do so.
4. If the ATC has already worked an average of one or more additional hours shift per fortnight in the 30 day period preceding the request or no less than an average of 7 additional hours per fortnight in the 30 day period preceding the request, they shall be entitled to decline the request.
5. Further, Airservices will not require an ATC to perform an additional shift or additional hours if Airservices is satisfied that there are substantial and compelling reasons which make it reasonable for them not to be required to do so.
6. If an ATC does not agree to a request to work an additional shift and neither of the conditions mentioned in paragraphs 4 or 5 exist, Airservices shall be entitled to take appropriate disciplinary action in relation to their conduct.
So effectively, they want me to be on call, always contactable, and presumably not travel too great a distance away from work on my supposed days off.
And if I have the temerity to refuse to do an overtime shift, and they don't like my reason for not doing so (eg: " I just want a day off") , they want to be able to PUNISH ME.
how's that for work/life balance?
Rationing the skies
Ben Sandilands writes:
Source: Crikey.com.au (11 August 2008)
So much for "renegade" air traffic controllers causing chaos in the skies.
On Friday at its Melbourne centre AirServices Australia offered ATC officers three hours extra pay per shift at "additional duty" rates just to be rostered in advance as on-call replacements for anyone who reports absent for work, mainly during evenings or over weekends.
In recent days the chief executive officer of AirServices Australia, Greg Russell, has been blaming ‘renegades’ for calling in sick to add pressure to pay negotiations.
Civil Air, the union, has maintained the real problem is Russell’s incompetence in recruiting and training staff during a period of high attrition due to retirements or better job opportunities abroad.
An official summary of that collective negotiation meeting is here for those who want to study a management trying to buy its way out of a human resources crisis of its own making.
At the same time AirServices was forced to agree to CASA demands for a rationing of controlled air space by a procedure for declaring "temporarily restricted areas" when there are insufficient controllers available to man the radar consoles responsible for the safe separation of aircraft between or near major Australian cities.
Under the current stop gap measures both AirServices and CASA had tried to maintain the fiction that international, domestic and private aircraft could be safely left to control their own ‘separation’ in a free-for-all situation that led to angry protests from the airlines.
That fiction is now over, after CASA officers saw first hand how risky the process was, and Qantas, Virgin Blue and the International Civil Aviation Organisation went public with their concerns.
If some tricky details can be ironed out airliners approaching zones where AirServices can’t provide service will have to apply for permission to enter, meaning rationing can be enforced to keep jets very far apart.
The "tricky" part is international air space. Australia has the responsibility to control large areas of Oceanic airspace. Jets that are mid way along very long flights to Australia cannot be denied access to "temporarily" restricted zones without compromising the compulsory fuel reserves they carry for bad weather diversions at their arrival point.
A spokesman for CASA said a starting time for the new ‘temporary’ arrangements cannot be announced unless this problem is overcome.
These two developments should be a wake up call to Treasury if not Infrastructure. AirServices is a substantial profit centre for government.
Now it is proposing money for nothing for staff just to be available for duty, and being compelled to further reduce its air traffic revenues by diverting, or denying access to, the airliners that are its customers.
And in case you missed the embedded link to the official summary (or the crikey site is slow) it contains this little proposal in relation to "reasonable overtime": - which AsA would like us to agree to, PRIOR to the expiration of our current EBA in December.
1. There is an obligation on air traffic controllers to perform reasonable overtime where operational requirements make it necessary.
2. That obligation entails an expectation that ATCs will be contactable by telephone and if calls are missed, to call back promptly after the call from Airservices has been received. An ATC should only remain uncontactable or unable to respond promptly where there are special reasons for this being so.
3. Subject to paragraphs 4 and 5, ATCs will agree to work an additional shift or hours when requested to do so.
4. If the ATC has already worked an average of one or more additional hours shift per fortnight in the 30 day period preceding the request or no less than an average of 7 additional hours per fortnight in the 30 day period preceding the request, they shall be entitled to decline the request.
5. Further, Airservices will not require an ATC to perform an additional shift or additional hours if Airservices is satisfied that there are substantial and compelling reasons which make it reasonable for them not to be required to do so.
6. If an ATC does not agree to a request to work an additional shift and neither of the conditions mentioned in paragraphs 4 or 5 exist, Airservices shall be entitled to take appropriate disciplinary action in relation to their conduct.
So effectively, they want me to be on call, always contactable, and presumably not travel too great a distance away from work on my supposed days off.
And if I have the temerity to refuse to do an overtime shift, and they don't like my reason for not doing so (eg: " I just want a day off") , they want to be able to PUNISH ME.
how's that for work/life balance?
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and this has come to the attention of Dan Brown
(From Don Brown's Blog)
Monday, August 11, 2008
Fly By Night
Tell me, when was the last time you stayed up all night long ? I’m not talking about your all-night partying type of all night long. I’m talking about sitting through the wee hours of the morning, standing watch over a sick child or other loved one. I’m talking about staying up all night and paying attention. Not for the fun of it but because you have to do it.
It isn’t much fun is it ? Anyone that has done it and is over 40 knows that it actually hurts.
Let’s say it’s 9 o’clock at night. You’ve had a long day, you’re just settling in to watch the TV and the phone rings. It’s your boss and he wants you to show up in two hours to cover the midnight shift. What do you say ? Do you think the extra money would offset the pain of staying up all night long, ruining your night and probably whatever plans you had for the next day and night ?
As most of you have already guessed, we’re not talking about just anybody. We’re talking about air traffic controllers. So, there are a couple of other factors you have to throw in. First, if you had a glass of wine with dinner, you’re disqualified. You can’t come in and you’d be fired if you did. Now you’re not talking about messing up your life but possibly ending the lives of others. If you got up even as late as 7 AM that means you’ll be controlling traffic during the next morning’s rush hour without having slept in 24 hours. Is that safe ? It’s not even smart.
And then it occurs to you, the guy on the phone is the one that won’t let you take a nap on your break. As a matter of fact, he’ll try to get you fired if you do fall asleep at 4 AM. He’s the guy that won’t raise your pay. He’s the guy that says “good riddance” when the senior controllers retire early. He’s the guy that has scheduled you for overtime 6 weeks in a row. He’s the guy that keeps lying to the public, telling them that they don’t need to hire any controllers, which is the reason he’s bothering you at home on your time off, trying to ruin even more of your time off.
What would you say to the guy on the other end of the phone ?
If you were Australian, you’d tell him, “No”.
Good for them.
Don Brown
August 11, 2008
Now, the point I'm trying to make here is:
Do anyone think it's a good idea for Air Traffic Controllers to do an extra 2 shifts a month before they can say no? (this would mean that they only have 2 two day breaks a month)
Now in my group, most of the controllers have to work all night, every six nights, week after week.
The usual shift run (say it starts on a monday)
mon 1500-2300
tues 1130-1930
wed morn 0600-1315
wed night 2330 - 0615 thurs morn.
As you can see, there is reducign periods of time in between shifts, leading up to the night shift.
This is followed by two days off (eg Fri & Sat). And that's the period where we are expected to work the overtime.
So, when do we catch up on our sleep? Or see our family?
(From Don Brown's Blog)
Monday, August 11, 2008
Fly By Night
Tell me, when was the last time you stayed up all night long ? I’m not talking about your all-night partying type of all night long. I’m talking about sitting through the wee hours of the morning, standing watch over a sick child or other loved one. I’m talking about staying up all night and paying attention. Not for the fun of it but because you have to do it.
It isn’t much fun is it ? Anyone that has done it and is over 40 knows that it actually hurts.
Let’s say it’s 9 o’clock at night. You’ve had a long day, you’re just settling in to watch the TV and the phone rings. It’s your boss and he wants you to show up in two hours to cover the midnight shift. What do you say ? Do you think the extra money would offset the pain of staying up all night long, ruining your night and probably whatever plans you had for the next day and night ?
As most of you have already guessed, we’re not talking about just anybody. We’re talking about air traffic controllers. So, there are a couple of other factors you have to throw in. First, if you had a glass of wine with dinner, you’re disqualified. You can’t come in and you’d be fired if you did. Now you’re not talking about messing up your life but possibly ending the lives of others. If you got up even as late as 7 AM that means you’ll be controlling traffic during the next morning’s rush hour without having slept in 24 hours. Is that safe ? It’s not even smart.
And then it occurs to you, the guy on the phone is the one that won’t let you take a nap on your break. As a matter of fact, he’ll try to get you fired if you do fall asleep at 4 AM. He’s the guy that won’t raise your pay. He’s the guy that says “good riddance” when the senior controllers retire early. He’s the guy that has scheduled you for overtime 6 weeks in a row. He’s the guy that keeps lying to the public, telling them that they don’t need to hire any controllers, which is the reason he’s bothering you at home on your time off, trying to ruin even more of your time off.
What would you say to the guy on the other end of the phone ?
If you were Australian, you’d tell him, “No”.
Good for them.
Don Brown
August 11, 2008
Now, the point I'm trying to make here is:
Do anyone think it's a good idea for Air Traffic Controllers to do an extra 2 shifts a month before they can say no? (this would mean that they only have 2 two day breaks a month)
Now in my group, most of the controllers have to work all night, every six nights, week after week.
The usual shift run (say it starts on a monday)
mon 1500-2300
tues 1130-1930
wed morn 0600-1315
wed night 2330 - 0615 thurs morn.
As you can see, there is reducign periods of time in between shifts, leading up to the night shift.
This is followed by two days off (eg Fri & Sat). And that's the period where we are expected to work the overtime.
So, when do we catch up on our sleep? Or see our family?
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This is all to very similar to the whole Train Crossing boom gate issue. The Gov' will only take appropriate action once a substantial accident has happened at a crossing - this has to happen atleast a couple of times before they consider putting in gates.
What I am getting at here is that I am guessing that AsA/Infrastructure is waiting for things to go really bad before they do anything to prevent such an event - milking it for what it's worth, one could say.
So, the question is - how long until something happens? We have ATC already working their butts off and now AsA are wanting to promote a policy that is none short of policies used by communist states!
Moving forward. Let us say we do what AsA 'heads' want us to do; work the usual + minimum 2 shifts extra without question. Going by current practice, the chance of NOT getting bugged at 4am in the morning, having a scheduled day off etc etc is slim Anyways, what I am getting at here is that I don't even know of a third world Country that employs 1 employee for 24hours a day - how the hell does AsA plan to achieve this?
What is the game plan? How can AsA cope without increasing headcount? Is there a way to do it with without slamming aircraft in to the ground or in to other aircraft for that matter? Quite clearly, AsA is NOT interested in increasing headcount so we need to help find another way around this mess.
& I know how...
What I am getting at here is that I am guessing that AsA/Infrastructure is waiting for things to go really bad before they do anything to prevent such an event - milking it for what it's worth, one could say.
So, the question is - how long until something happens? We have ATC already working their butts off and now AsA are wanting to promote a policy that is none short of policies used by communist states!
Moving forward. Let us say we do what AsA 'heads' want us to do; work the usual + minimum 2 shifts extra without question. Going by current practice, the chance of NOT getting bugged at 4am in the morning, having a scheduled day off etc etc is slim Anyways, what I am getting at here is that I don't even know of a third world Country that employs 1 employee for 24hours a day - how the hell does AsA plan to achieve this?
What is the game plan? How can AsA cope without increasing headcount? Is there a way to do it with without slamming aircraft in to the ground or in to other aircraft for that matter? Quite clearly, AsA is NOT interested in increasing headcount so we need to help find another way around this mess.
& I know how...
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The usual shift run (say it starts on a monday)
mon 1500-2300
tues 1130-1930
wed morn 0600-1315
wed night 2330 - 0615 thurs morn.
As you can see, there is reducign periods of time in between shifts, leading up to the night shift.
This is followed by two days off (eg Fri & Sat). And that's the period where we are expected to work the overtime
mon 1500-2300
tues 1130-1930
wed morn 0600-1315
wed night 2330 - 0615 thurs morn.
As you can see, there is reducign periods of time in between shifts, leading up to the night shift.
This is followed by two days off (eg Fri & Sat). And that's the period where we are expected to work the overtime
In actual fact, regarding the period where we are expected to do overtime, AsA actually includes the the afternoon following the night you've been awake all night! (or, Thursday afternoon/night in the example above) Now, in fairness, AsA will normally call everyone else on a day off first, but if they all say no, or are uncontactable, you will be called to try to prevent service interruptions.
That's right, it's perfectly legal
(and some people do, for their own reasons 
) to come back in the afternoon, (a mininum of) 8 hours after their night shift finished, and work an overtime shift, up to 10 hours in length (but usually 7 or 8).And our "fatigue management software" says its okay, so long as I've "really, truly, I-swear-I-did-officer" slept for 4 to 5 hours in between returning to work. Or if I'm really lucky, it'll also say if I do this shift, I can't do anymore overtime for a few days
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wesky, what you are referring to is "tombstone regulation".
My question is who is going to go to be in the dock if the worst happens (eg a Lake Constance)? Is the media going to ask the hard questions of the Minister, the CEOs of CASA and the CEO of AsA? Could the families of the dead start pointing fingers at the 4th estate for not uncovering the true staffing situation, the rostering practices, just swallowing the spin?
Some light reading...
Tombstone Mentality | AVIATION WEEK
"If you think safety is expensive, try having an accident".
My question is who is going to go to be in the dock if the worst happens (eg a Lake Constance)? Is the media going to ask the hard questions of the Minister, the CEOs of CASA and the CEO of AsA? Could the families of the dead start pointing fingers at the 4th estate for not uncovering the true staffing situation, the rostering practices, just swallowing the spin?
Some light reading...
Tombstone Mentality | AVIATION WEEK
In today's complicated world, it is rarely easy or inexpensive to enact proactive safety measures before the tombstones are erected. It takes strong leaders, motivation and a willingness of various entities with vested interests to collaborate and sometimes compromise in order to make necessary changes. Often times progress seems to move at a snail's pace -- that is, until a bystander records a tragedy's unfolding sequence on a cell-phone camera to share with the world within minutes through the Internet and cable systems. A flurry of fixes may follow, but for those experiencing the tragedy, that's too late.
Yes, it's complicated and sometimes more costly to adopt proactive safety measures, but the price of deny, delay and counter-accusations can be much higher, and that's something we shouldn't be willing to bear nor tolerate.
Yes, it's complicated and sometimes more costly to adopt proactive safety measures, but the price of deny, delay and counter-accusations can be much higher, and that's something we shouldn't be willing to bear nor tolerate.
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Lawyer for the Plaintiff: "You knew you were tired, yet you came in for overtime anyway? Is that correct?"
ATC Defendant: "Yes, but my employer required it."
Lawyer: "Required it? Do you take your responsibilities seriously, or do you just do what any person tells you to do regardless of the consequences?"
ATC: "I take my responsibilities seriously!"
Lawyer: "You sure have a funny way of showing it. My client is seeking damages. You can kiss your assets goodbye."
I can't see this overtime proposal standing up to any serious challenge. It's ridiculous in the extreme.
ATC Defendant: "Yes, but my employer required it."
Lawyer: "Required it? Do you take your responsibilities seriously, or do you just do what any person tells you to do regardless of the consequences?"
ATC: "I take my responsibilities seriously!"
Lawyer: "You sure have a funny way of showing it. My client is seeking damages. You can kiss your assets goodbye."
I can't see this overtime proposal standing up to any serious challenge. It's ridiculous in the extreme.
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This is all to very similar to the whole Train Crossing boom gate issue.
Without raising the spectre of an accident, keeping it purely economic, why doesn't the association negotiate an arrangement with AsA that will please all parties? You are always going to get people prepared to work OT -why not get paid at a rate that
1. makes it attractive enough to warrant the personal intrusions/health issues/etc etc.
2. makes it economically unpalatable for AsA to run it's business this way. Surely it's obvious that if it is dearer to run short-staffed and use lots of overtime than employ adequate staff numbers, then AsA will employ the numbers (which will lead to other issues- but that's why they get paid the big bucks in management).
I would think that $3000 per shift would be reasonable, but you could go for more. I mean, it's only for a short time (facilitative arrangement), right? Right? Stop working for less than you are worth.
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Ferris is right. Allow the true value of your work to be reflected in the contract. Demand four days off after every night shift rostered or worked as overtime... why? Because the research supports it and the legislation requires you to be Fit For Duty. This isn't a Public Service "Fat Cat" condition-of-service... it's a fact of science... and a moral and legal responsibility.
Stop being tired... stop taking the risk.
Stop being tired... stop taking the risk.
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Lawyer for the Plaintiff: "You knew you were tired, yet you came in for overtime anyway? Is that correct?"
ATC Defendant: "Yes, but my employer required it."
Lawyer: "Required it? Do you take your responsibilities seriously, or do you just do what any person tells you to do regardless of the consequences?"
ATC: "I take my responsibilities seriously!"
Lawyer: "You sure have a funny way of showing it. My client is seeking damages. You can kiss your assets goodbye."
ATC Defendant: "Yes, but my employer required it."
Lawyer: "Required it? Do you take your responsibilities seriously, or do you just do what any person tells you to do regardless of the consequences?"
ATC: "I take my responsibilities seriously!"
Lawyer: "You sure have a funny way of showing it. My client is seeking damages. You can kiss your assets goodbye."
Lawyer: "So you must be a very sick person if you've used all your leave in less than 6 months, that's three times the benchmark"
ATC: "Well I had a hernia operation and was off work for 12 days in January; I've only had 3 other days leave in 6 months, but I have no sick credits left. Every sick day now costs me a days pay, and you know the mortgage and all, well I had to soldier on, I thought I was ok, honest."
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Think of it this way.......
If overtime becomes compulsory, then technically it's just part of the roster, so does that mean as part of the roster, it's no longer overtime?
I once asked (read challenged) a manager/team leader/ALM (whatever) about our staffing along the lines of.........
"Gee, with all the overtime/AD's we've done in the last financial year, added up, makes up for two fully rated, full time staff!!!!
Why don't we just get two more people out of the next batch from the college? After a couple of weeks/months, our staff problem should be solved!!"
Answer: Extra duty comes out of a different bucket. Our group is next to be downsized. No, 'cause we're taking more airspace, Joe Bloggs is going to APP/TWR/retire and other groups are worse off than us.
Can I just give up and go home? No you have to extend 'cause there is no one left for the doggo!
If overtime becomes compulsory, then technically it's just part of the roster, so does that mean as part of the roster, it's no longer overtime?
I once asked (read challenged) a manager/team leader/ALM (whatever) about our staffing along the lines of........."Gee, with all the overtime/AD's we've done in the last financial year, added up, makes up for two fully rated, full time staff!!!!
Why don't we just get two more people out of the next batch from the college? After a couple of weeks/months, our staff problem should be solved!!"
Answer: Extra duty comes out of a different bucket. Our group is next to be downsized. No, 'cause we're taking more airspace, Joe Bloggs is going to APP/TWR/retire and other groups are worse off than us.
Can I just give up and go home? No you have to extend 'cause there is no one left for the doggo!
The usual shift run (say it starts on a monday)
mon 1500-2300
tues 1130-1930
wed morn 0600-1315
wed night 2330 - 0615 thurs morn.
mon 1500-2300
tues 1130-1930
wed morn 0600-1315
wed night 2330 - 0615 thurs morn.
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I hope you guys win out eventually. As SLF, when I have to travel outside my own patch, I don't appreciate the fact that an organisation that is supposed to be primarily safety-orientated is run like a 'business'.
Maybe the journos will finally appreciate (and this is just my opinion) that this is looking more and more like a 'smoke and mirrors' act regarding the bunch of 'renegades'. My recent contact with an AIPA rep confirmed that they are not 'happy-chappies' when it comes to TIBA. One can only trust that someone will see through the spin.
Having said that, the 7.30 Report was bloody shallow and disappointing.
Maybe the journos will finally appreciate (and this is just my opinion) that this is looking more and more like a 'smoke and mirrors' act regarding the bunch of 'renegades'. My recent contact with an AIPA rep confirmed that they are not 'happy-chappies' when it comes to TIBA. One can only trust that someone will see through the spin.
Having said that, the 7.30 Report was bloody shallow and disappointing.
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What does anyone know about the new recruitment of controllers with prior experience (applications for that post closed last weekend), such as those from overseas with a fair few years of controlling expereince behind them AND have the right to work and live in Oz?
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Ferris, do you think if AsA are trying to negotiate this that they are willing to up the OT rate, I think not.
The difference between the BS that TFN trots out in correspondence and to 'stakeholders' and the lipservice he pays to solving serious and legitimate problems is astounding.
AsA has acknowledged a reliance on OT yet wants to make it compulsory for staff to attend, claiming an additional 10% of hours is reasonable. Not to me it ain't. At the same time he talks about his commitment to staff and making AsA a great place to work.
He continues to blame controllers for not coming in even on fully staffed groups and thinks this strategy will solve the problem.
The stupid thing is there is a legitimate solution. The current CA already includes provisions to roster staff for grey days so that there are no service interruptions when someone goes sick, the only problem. Not enough staff to roster it.
The difference between the BS that TFN trots out in correspondence and to 'stakeholders' and the lipservice he pays to solving serious and legitimate problems is astounding.
AsA has acknowledged a reliance on OT yet wants to make it compulsory for staff to attend, claiming an additional 10% of hours is reasonable. Not to me it ain't. At the same time he talks about his commitment to staff and making AsA a great place to work.
He continues to blame controllers for not coming in even on fully staffed groups and thinks this strategy will solve the problem.
The stupid thing is there is a legitimate solution. The current CA already includes provisions to roster staff for grey days so that there are no service interruptions when someone goes sick, the only problem. Not enough staff to roster it.
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I want to know when I can stop all the...
"Redjet10, divert left of track as required, report clear of the weather and able to take vectors for the ILS, maintain xxx due opposite direction departing traffic also diverting"
"Bluejet20 divert right of track as required, stop the climb at amended yyy (-1000 of xxx above) due opposite direction traffic..."
"Foreignjet30 cancel star, I'm bringing you up in the sequence, fly heading xxx, descend to xxxx, maintain speed xxx knots"
.....and be on the gravy train that I can be photographed half pissed on the front of Azimuth (with a tie on) whilst someone somewhere is getting hassled on the phone for another AD (whilst his wife and kids are glaring at him after promising them a family night in) or a chunk of Australia's airspace is in the throes of going TIBA AND be completely guilt free.
"Redjet10, divert left of track as required, report clear of the weather and able to take vectors for the ILS, maintain xxx due opposite direction departing traffic also diverting"
"Bluejet20 divert right of track as required, stop the climb at amended yyy (-1000 of xxx above) due opposite direction traffic..."
"Foreignjet30 cancel star, I'm bringing you up in the sequence, fly heading xxx, descend to xxxx, maintain speed xxx knots"
.....and be on the gravy train that I can be photographed half pissed on the front of Azimuth (with a tie on) whilst someone somewhere is getting hassled on the phone for another AD (whilst his wife and kids are glaring at him after promising them a family night in) or a chunk of Australia's airspace is in the throes of going TIBA AND be completely guilt free.
Last edited by Bill Woodfull; 13th Aug 2008 at 09:19.
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Quote:
The usual shift run (say it starts on a monday)
mon 1500-2300
tues 1130-1930
wed morn 0600-1315
wed night 2330 - 0615 thurs morn.
CAPN BLOGGS: If I'm being controlled by somebody doing this week in week out, I'm not impressed.
The usual shift run (say it starts on a monday)
mon 1500-2300
tues 1130-1930
wed morn 0600-1315
wed night 2330 - 0615 thurs morn.
CAPN BLOGGS: If I'm being controlled by somebody doing this week in week out, I'm not impressed.
Sun 1300-2100
Mon 0700-1500
Tues morn 0500-1200
Tuesday night 2245 - 0515 Wed morn
nothing like variety, eh?
When I tried to make a roster that was not crammed together, because of our groups requirement for two people on the night shift, it usually meant finishing at 2300 last day, back 0500 1st day, or having single days off - and either option makes overtime even more unpleasant.
of course that would'nt be a problem if we had enough staff.
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Current qualified controller recruitment
What does anyone know about the new recruitment of controllers with prior experience (applications for that post closed last weekend), such as those from overseas with a fair few years of controlling expereince behind them AND have the right to work and live in Oz?
Good bet that most of them are RAAFies.
Good bet that most of them are RAAFies.
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Ferris, do you think if AsA are trying to negotiate this that they are willing to up the OT rate, I think not.
OK, they haven't come out and offered an increase in the hourly rate per se- YET- but isn't that the effect of paying people to be available for OT?
Negotiating is what they are doing.
I really hope people see the power they hold right now to make some changes. HELP the organisation to make some BUSINESS DECISIONS- it is a business after all.