Is UK ATC Creaking at the seams?
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Just a thought what happens when the all singing and dancing kit in the aircraft packs up when there is some kind of problem, you need a priority approach and ATC have no idea what anyone is doing any more?
ENTREPPRUNEUR
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Just a thought what happens when the all singing and dancing kit in the aircraft packs up when there is some kind of problem, you need a priority approach and ATC have no idea what anyone is doing any more?
Automation of the en-route phase should not be bundled with the problems of terminal area control, which is much more subtle as there are real capacity constraints rather than the artificial ones imposed by controlled airspace limits.
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I would like to add a word of caution here.
No matter what we do to test and build ATC systems they will fail. This is a fact of life. To prove it here are 4 failures in the last 4 months in Europe alone
1) Failure of LACC to get out of Night Time Configuration
2) Failure of Maastricht Flight Data System
3) Total Power Outage at ScACC
4) Total Radar Failure at Maastricht
On the aircraft side its just as bad, radios fail, transponders give out bad mode C returns.
By all means let the computers do the work, but always,always be in a position where the controllers and the pilots can keep everyone safe if something breaks.
No matter what we do to test and build ATC systems they will fail. This is a fact of life. To prove it here are 4 failures in the last 4 months in Europe alone
1) Failure of LACC to get out of Night Time Configuration
2) Failure of Maastricht Flight Data System
3) Total Power Outage at ScACC
4) Total Radar Failure at Maastricht
On the aircraft side its just as bad, radios fail, transponders give out bad mode C returns.
By all means let the computers do the work, but always,always be in a position where the controllers and the pilots can keep everyone safe if something breaks.
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Today they have announced the intention to build three or four new runways, and project that passenger figures will more than double over the next twenty years.
So given that UK ATC can't cope with the traffic they currently have, how are they going to do that?
So given that UK ATC can't cope with the traffic they currently have, how are they going to do that?
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An interesting thread in which I have a vested interest. Houston, we have a problem.
Some suggested solutions are far reaching and would involve a long lead time to develop technology and implement. It seems to me that we should look at tackling those areas which can be improved in the short-term. Some of the controllers who have posted talk about low morale and poor management, and the effects of this on goodwill, cancelling leave etc.
The jewel(s) in the crown of NATS are undoubtedly the controllers who push the tin. No doubt their management would not welcome the sort of high media profile and political interest that might raise the stakes and ensure that they get the resources they need to fix the problem.
In the recent media, we hear about the need to increase runway capacity in the SE. We hear about holiday flights being delayed. We hear about the problems at Swanwick. We don't hear that we need to manage our controllers better and raise their morale and put more resources into training and recruiting more of them.
I have flown in many parts of the world and so I could comment on who I think is the best as some posters have here on this thread, but this is not a competition, and I think we should concentrate on a discussion which will be useful in suggesting ways of preventing a horrific accident which would then no doubt bring about changes to stop it ever happening again.
Let's shut the stable door before the horse has bolted.
Some suggested solutions are far reaching and would involve a long lead time to develop technology and implement. It seems to me that we should look at tackling those areas which can be improved in the short-term. Some of the controllers who have posted talk about low morale and poor management, and the effects of this on goodwill, cancelling leave etc.
The jewel(s) in the crown of NATS are undoubtedly the controllers who push the tin. No doubt their management would not welcome the sort of high media profile and political interest that might raise the stakes and ensure that they get the resources they need to fix the problem.
In the recent media, we hear about the need to increase runway capacity in the SE. We hear about holiday flights being delayed. We hear about the problems at Swanwick. We don't hear that we need to manage our controllers better and raise their morale and put more resources into training and recruiting more of them.
I have flown in many parts of the world and so I could comment on who I think is the best as some posters have here on this thread, but this is not a competition, and I think we should concentrate on a discussion which will be useful in suggesting ways of preventing a horrific accident which would then no doubt bring about changes to stop it ever happening again.
Let's shut the stable door before the horse has bolted.
Last edited by Mowgli; 24th Jul 2002 at 10:30.
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Bally Heck -
UK atc would be able to deal with significantly more traffic if the watches were staffed to somewhere near the levels required by working practices agreement. If we always had the bodies to split sectors then most of the delays attributed to staff shortages, sickness etc would be eradicated. Until that happy day we just have to keep on doing our best with extremely limited resources and very talented controllers . Keep it all crossed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UK atc would be able to deal with significantly more traffic if the watches were staffed to somewhere near the levels required by working practices agreement. If we always had the bodies to split sectors then most of the delays attributed to staff shortages, sickness etc would be eradicated. Until that happy day we just have to keep on doing our best with extremely limited resources and very talented controllers . Keep it all crossed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
