Is this the same software development team that made the PC SIM? What PC SIM? Exactly my point.

Imagine if you will a bad weather exercise, pretty common across sim courses, 'for ident' - reply 'No restrictions' even if there are, because scripting any possible confliction is next to impossible. Zero chance of making an amendment on a run to highlight or concentrate on fixing a weakness.

The concept of high fidelity simulation is just that, what we have no is quite poor do to lack of real aircraft performance, ie a B747 at FL350 turning 90 degrees in 2 paints, or 12 seconds; imagine just how more unreal it could get. They still haven't been able to get a hold at button on the TGO screens, in what, 9 years of TAAATS SIM... It's a joke to imagine that we would be able to do anything that will save one body in the SIM.

I'd have thought that this small pool of staff was not the real issue. Low hanging fruit, should not be consumed to spite the tree...

Maybe they could start with the Telstra Information System:

Please say the name of the person: "Elle McPherson"

You said:"Hot Dog" Is this correct?

"No - Elle McPherson"

"You said No Hot Dog - is this correct?"

arrrgh.

"Cleared for ILS Approach"

"You said Go Around - would you like to play again?"

That just about sums up voice recognition software, ST. :)

I've never had it successfully recognise anything ever, but my own personal favourite was when I was trying to ring a mate in Ambidji group. As soon as I heard the voice recognition kick in I thought, hmm, this will be a total waste of time.

Please say the name.
Ambidji.
long pause...
You said, Melbourne Cricket Ground, is that correct?

I was actually rendered speechless by the utter lack of similarity. Still shake my head over that one. :uhoh:

Does sound a bit like emceegee (MCG) though

After 13 beers it does:cool:

I confess I had never thought of that. :O

ATC ERB
 

Is it true that those few remaining controllers still eligible for ERB no longer are required to give 12 month's notice to ensure payment of Early Retirement Benefits?
If so that will surely put more pressure on to find replacement staff.
:hmm:

These are the same punks that rolled over on us EBA before last. Our number 1 sticking point was 1 agreement for all and these very people voted within themselves to go it alone and shun the Operational/Tech staff. I personally see this as what goes around, comes around. Suck it up. You made your bed.

Pl_azpot,

You've got a good memory... I can't remember the facts too well, but I'll take your word for it. Having said that, I'm sure there would have been two sides to the argument at the time.

However ... no matter what the historical facts are ... the current situation, as I detailed, remains unchanged .. no matter how badly you feel done by, there's still going to be no one to do your chores.

The 'chores' will still be done. The duplication is gone. There are a few notable high profile names amongst them. Imagine if the Clerks were still with the operational guys. They would be covered by the no Redundencies Clause. Oh well. Too bad, so sad.

The arguement 'at the time' demons will come and haunt the Operational staff in years to come as well.

Heard your CEO has taken a particular GM under his wing. Defers to him, has him by his side at meetings, and the GM has the CEOs ear at all times. I've heard that the particular GM isn't a popular individual - I guess you guys know more?

Come now CM, more seeds please... Just some intitials or previous task etc... I'm guessing it would be KM, but I'm only guessing, but if I were GR and I were to pick anyone it would be the one I knew previously...

SA, NO, JH, RD, WE, AB, AH, BP, KM, KO, AC. I'd have thought either RD, BP or KM.

Just decoded a previous post (thanks to research in Jet Blast). Yes, we have had a few, and we now have another. Do we have to buy his house yet?From the same place, this seemed appropriate:

BP.

Also fresh from the rumour mill: heard that one RHS has written to your CEO complaining about the appointment of a certain acting GM of your Airspace and Environment Unit. Something about not being happy with the individual for some reason. Whoever it is, has gone up in my estimation - and I have never met him :)

Complaining could be a good thing. P:mad: off the CEO and he's less likely to have a sympathetic ear.

karrank: thanks for that. I assumed it was something to do with being dumped on, but you've completed the picture :ok:

RHS doesn't have to interfere in ASA - it seems ok at wrecking itself at the moment. There do seem to be some good bits though. The towers are back with the rest of ATC.:)

Bad bit.............

Have just heard that the Centre Manager who was sent from ML to BN 3 years ago is leaving the organisation - he was the best manager we had seen. Perhaps our mates in BN wore him out. He was replaced in ML by some-one whose ego you couldn't jump over - he seems to have moved to CB and gone quiet - not for long I bet. Surely he must be next on the list.

I believe the guy leaving Brisbane is doing so on health grounds and not health issues caused by the job. I only had limited dealings with him and I think he came with a view that we were all going to be hostile to him and was a little hostile in advance. Not hard to be the best centre manager when you look at the others that held the job.

I am sorry that he has had to leave on health grounds. We in Bn were told how good a guy he was only to be dissapointed, just another cog in the management machine.
The current restructure I suspect will just be a new bucket for the same ****, good luck fellas.

ATC New Managment in Centres
 

Why do we need 5 managers in BN and ML center when 2 (albeit apparently not all that great from previous posts) were sufficient before. How does the CEO justify an increase of 150% in centre management when cutting the general staff by 10%??

The ex-manager left tonight. Was given the letter told to hand in his pass and let out the door. Nothing to the troops, nothing in on the web page.

Although I may have had differences with the man I still would have like to wish him the best, especially after all the sh!t he went through in hospital.

Why the secrecy? Name some names, it's hardly defamatory stuff.

Another 3rd level in ML gets the bullet.

Some still survive continuous nights of long knives though - amazing how bad guys can do that and good guys get to walk.

Including those who are implicated as causal ie Empire builders (ASG was always going to fall). Sure, one got the chop, who had been building a protecive barrier to mask incompetence for years, but what of the person/people who should have picked this up! Still up there on the $1/4M pa+.

If they...
 

So if that is the way they treat ex managers, how do you think they will treat us when they start getting rid of controllers. Ask the CPSU members??
Will CivilAir get any better respect? I doubt it...

If you were one of the 3 new "bright youngboy" managers under Ken you would do what was asked.

Can any Melbourne controllers confirm that their previous centre manager (before that, ours!) was less than fully enthusiastic for AUSOTS and now he has been regionalised??

I’ve also heard that a manager in charge of ATC training has been sidelined. Lovely, seemingly competent lady, who had some experience behind her from SYD I believe, apparently replaced with someone with little experience at all.

Speculation is that the CEO or his minder pulling the strings, don’t like female managers.

Boy, you've got a real happy camp developing there, and sooner or later that has to impact on service and safety.

Nasty CA negotiations, restructuring and uncertainity will, at times, result in a reduction in service to Industry, its human nature. Whether it impact safety, time will tell.

I heard that the Head of Legal was dismissed when she (rather crudely) queried the CEO on the status of women. Can't be true, could it??

Lovely: maybe, no direct knowledge there. Competent: Mmmmmmm. Word is that procrastination is what this manager is best at. Look at the college, professional training, and ATCC itself. Poorly managed, beset by cronyism and relentlessly inefficient.
Time for a change.

G'day ER BN,
Pls check yr PM's....:ok:

heard an ugly rumour today about what GR and KM have in store for ATC. Strap in people - theres a storm brewing.

Details? Keep in mind that the boys are no longer afraid to drop a few hours of TIBA on the company. Another 7 hours just this week. I hope the airlines are asking for Nav refunds during this. With these new CASA regs and the provision of service, ASA are **** scared they may not make their minimum service provision.

Storm Brewing
 

Hmmm, so some others are hearing things too... Why would GR not think he could just kick in the facade of controller solidarity??

Wonder whether CIVIL AIR will be any better than Katrina's FEMA??

A collegue in ML Center today says there were lots of happy vacants rubbing shoulders with the AsA Board at a free lunch today when she went to buy her lunch??

Bread and circuses...?? or Let them eat cake...??

Already the leanest outfit going (in terms of controllers) - what more do they want? Carry more shiny bums on our shoulders?

Its about moving traffic, people. While management continue to reinvent themselves (along with the wheel) we keep pushing more with less, for less.

About time some solidarity was displayed - or are we all going to fall over in a quivery spinless mess again, without any direction? Pathetic.

So what is Ken going to do? Rip up our CA 3 months after it was ratified? Like to see a few more details before I start taking your rumours to heart.

ER_BN - what role does your post play? Stooge, scare merchant or purveyor of doom?

So once again the circle turns, yawn. What GR is doing is what any Toe-Cutter will do (and has done in the past) and that is over-do the slashing and burning, where excesses are indicated, whilst impacting upon service and safety through direct and indirect (morale) effects. Of course in about one year he will be disgraced and dishonourably discharged by ‘The Powers That Be” for the havoc he wreaked. The “Yes Men’ will remain in power as 2nd and 3rd level managers under a new leadership of rebuilding (read Empire Building) through self-greed, aggrandisement and cronyism.

The blame should therefore not be directed at GR but at those with snouts in troughs who fattened up, multi-layered and mismanaged their portfolios. Those 2nd and 3rd level managers, some who have gone and some who remain, who should wear the blame for the poor sods who will be arriving home to mum and the kids with a shocked look on their face. But these 2nd and 3rd levels have no morality and will reconcile this situation to themselves easily. As easily as those who acted day one of the new IR reforms by sacking and rehiring under different conditions.

I severely doubt that the quantum of workplace controllers will be affected. Conditions and remuneration will surely get hit. This will result in the normal supply and demand problems with either revised conditions and remuneration or a changing of selection criteria or rating standards (God Forbid).

Nothing new here – same old intellectual decision-making processes at work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then in ten or so years………..

It's obvious S_T
 

S_T,

I thought it was pretty obvious....your third paragraph (if honestly meant), exactly.

I am just wondering whether Civil Air will lead ...or wait until it is too late?

From comments of some of our older collegues (many of whom can leave when they want), it can get a lot worse...when push comes to shove controller shortages don't always..?anytime... elicit sense from levels 1/2/3.

For managment might be handy to have the "blues" rated in TAAATS in centres around the country..especially here in BN and... maybe we are all just too paranoid but our military friends in numbers in TAAATS and the promised miracle of MTCD might just convince certain actions from our junior can do boys...

Safa... Can you give any further details as to who you are referring to (via PM or here). Would we be talking a BN-ML-CB mover? If so, your comment doesn't seem to add up????? :confused:

And I thought this was a rumour site. If you have a rumour please lay it on the line, otherwise your are just teasing.

I can't help the cynicism.

Thought processes for new Airservices CEO...

Facts:
1. I don't understand what air traffic controllers do.
2. I don't understand how the business works.
3. The pollies and the board want me to focus on reduced costs while maintaining safety (whatever that entails).
4. This will be a good job to establish my credentials, fill in the resume and move into a high paying job in private industry and it's a government job, so there's a myriad of people to share the blame if something goes belly up.
5. I'm to pass on all praise to the Minister and keep the nasty things from going any higher.

Sole Strategy - Have Another Restructure!
The reasoning:
1. It looks like I am doing something and it appears I know my job while everyone else suffers the disruptions. My state of confusion won't look out of place and I'll fit in nicely.
2. It's a good strategy to provide an excuse to remove people who might otherwise quickly realize that I don't really know what I'm doing.
3. It allows me to appoint some young blood with ideas that they can change the world and who will suckle on their enthusiasm and gusto for a few years before their rose coloured glasses fall off.
4. In the course of regular progress briefings, I might actually learn a little about what goes on here while I maintain the image that I'm at the helm and considerate of other views. If I keep the ship in the fog, and if I continually remind people I'm steering between unseen rocks on either side using my supreme navigation skills, I'll keep their support even though I could be navigating the ship in circles in calm seas. But I'll be the one with the map.
5. By allocating responsibilities and appointing a couple of not-quite-awake fall-guys around me, I can apportion blame if something goes wrong.
6. I can talk on the focus on reduced costs and safety, but if the reality appears confused, I can use the excuse that we are going through a restructure and everyone has a mental picture of the mess entailed in home remodeling and I'm off the hook and forgiven.
7. By the time people work out that I don't really have a clue how the business works I'll be out of here. Just keep the brown stuff from getting too close to the Minister.

And if I leave a mess under the rug, the next CEO can clean it up!

If there is one thing I am not worried about, it is the threat of RAAF controllers - the small quantity alone lets me be nice and not have to discuss the quality.

The real threat is a strategy of intentional non-management, as opposed to the previous unintentional mis-management. The former is where real resource issues, which were created by the latter, come to fruition but are addressed by denial and shifting the blame to the coalface.

This is the strategy of the FAA.

Less controllers working more and more overtime with more and more traffic having more incidents. The FAA management response? Blame the controller with a 'the beatings will continue until morale improves' approach.

As we have seen from the very top of government in this country right down - there is no accountability at the top. The blame stops stops squarely at the bottom.

So if your airspace goes TIBA - it must be an air traffic controllers fault for not coming to work on their 1st day off in 10 days.

Ah ****su Tonka, why did you have to go and say something like that? Not that it matters to anyone other than myself, however, I had such a high opinion of you. I've read many of your posts over the last couple of months, posts that appear logical, reasoned and insightful. Then you go and make such a gross generalisation and a seemingly ignorant one at that.
Kind of reminds me of that joke:
"Sometimes you will cry
and no one will see your tears
Sometimes you will laugh
and no one will see you smile
Sometimes you will fear
and no one will see you shudder
Sometimes you will lie
and no one will catch you up
Sometimes you will fall
and no one will see you struggle
Sometimes you will be late
and no one will notice
BUT FART JUST ONCE...."
Look forward to working in a centre with you soon. Wonder what I'll be wearing?...:E

Hopefully you have not had the dose of stupid pills that every RAAF controller I talk to day to day takes. No offence chief, it is just how it is.

I've wondered at the source of your bile for a long time, plazbot. You're a young man in a well paid job, you've never struggled, you're not old enough to have truly developed an overwhelming cynicism, but your Angry Young Man persona manifests itself in personal attacks so often that I can't help coming to the conclusion that you are really a rather unpleasant person.

I wish I were a good enough controller to be able to dismiss a whole group because of their employer; or maybe I just wish I were once again young enough and ignorant enough to believe my self-image was how my peers saw me.

Beware of the term schadenfreude, young man, for one day you will f*ck up and it will surround you in large doses. In the meantime, enjoy your perfection. :hmm: