Skies Over Britain. TV programme
 

I hope all Swanwick NATS controllers don't have the same attitude, shown by the two FIS persons. Neither showed much knowledge of the activity they work with.
One said. "You'd never get me up in one of those"
And the lady who implied GA aircraft a bit of a safety worry as they not maintained properly, like Comercial planes. Obviously hasn't heard of mandatory 50/100 hr checks,oil changes etc. etc.
Thought their 21st Century workstation a bit crude too. Pins stuck in a wallchart, and bits of paper. A radar screen nearby appears not to be used??

Pete, they're not radar controllers, they're FISOs and can provide no more than a Basic Service. Something any controller or FISO could provide from their garden shed (as depicted on screen). Fair comment on the GA safety, though.
Plenty of comments on Mil Aircrew and Spotters Balcony regarding factual inaccuracies throughout the series.

Yes, I suppose it all boils down to money and NATS attitude to GA.
Just across the Channel in France, what a difference in attitude. Full Radar FIS countrywide coverage, allowing VFR at +500ft levels in Airways, danger area, low flying, parachuting activity, etc. etc. real time info. Quite often it appears one is working the local low level airways controller, rather than the FISO type, provided in the UK.

I thought it was hilarious watching. Did you see the IOM Cargo Pilot in the Chieftain.

"When its windy you have to plonk it down otherwise you risk ripping the tyres off sideways!"

Overall good effort, but some other cracking bloopers!

Observations from last night's programme:

1)I'd no idea controllers were so highly paid.

2)Did you notice in the 'Cessna 125' she landed with both hands on the yoke (so no hand on the throttle), and apparently not wearing upper body restraint?

3) Hi Viz being worn in the cockpit. Not the best attire in the event of fire (it burns readily and melts).

4)That airline pilot appeared to be over-controlling like billyo on final. There's no way the aeroplane could even begin to respond to such large and rapid control inputs before they're cancelled out by subsequent inputs. I've noticed this before in pilots - some are smooth and progressive, some are real 'porridge stirrers'. Strangely, both types can produce some good landings.


Apart from that and one or two minor points, it's a pretty good series IMO.

I also noticed the over controlling. Some modern pilots do this: it would appear, rather than smoothly correcting to put the aircraft back to where it should be there is a tendency to fly the flight director almost obsessively. Quite odd for a captain though. I appreciate windy conditions but the rapid control inputs would cancel each other out and inertia would take the aircraft generally in the right direction with smooth and timely correction.

That one pilot bloke looked like he was stirring a big pot. Is that how it's done in the big jets?

No!.........

Anyone caught wearing high viz INSIDE an aircraft should have their licence revoked.

I've done it. Purely by accident mind, I completely forgot I was wearing it!

As with NATS controllers, the FISO's in NATS have various backrounds......from extensive flying experience to none at all. Of course in the TV series we do not know exactly what context the remarks were made, TV producers tend to edit as they please for effect.

Although their workstation may seem 'Crude', FISO's are not licensed to use radar. So a chart on the wall is the next best thing to have some sort of situational awareness.

NATS is constantly under pressure from the CAA (who are pressured by airlines) to reduce costs. Between 2015 and 2019, NATS is expected to handle 10% more traffic while maintaining safety and service levels, while at the same time reduce costs to the airlines by 20% in real terms. Providing a radar service outside controlled airspace with radar controllers would cost NATS many times more than the current FIS service costs.