Andy Onchan Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 13 minutes ago, newaccount said: Ronaldsway Airport hopes to bring its air traffic controllers up to full strength by September. A Freedom of Information request asked how many ATC staff are needed, how many are currently working and how many are being recruited. The airport says it need 16 operators but currently only has 14 - another four are due to start this year. Of the 14 currently working, only eight are available for operational duty. The figures come after Ronaldsway said the runway closed five times a day for air traffic controller rest periods because of staff shortages. Case ID: 3191625 for the full answer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Non-Believer Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 So ATC is operating on only 50% staffing, eight available out of a normal strength of 16. It's a wonder the CAA haven't been for a look. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swoopy2110 Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 3 minutes ago, Non-Believer said: So ATC is operating on only 50% staffing, eight available out of a normal strength of 16. It's a wonder the CAA haven't been for a look. They tried, but the controllers were on a break when they arrived. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Mexico Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 1 hour ago, Capt_Mainwaring said: Two birdstrikes on the same day, nonetheless! (Albeit one less serious). It is very unlucky. There's only around 1350 confirmed birdstrikes across all UK(ish) airports a year in total. And only around 4% of those report any damage at all. Lots of time-wasting data here: https://www.caa.co.uk/media/hindyrm4/uk-reported-birdstrike-2017-2021.pdf (Yes it is mostly gulls) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Mexico Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 To be fair to them it's an open and comprehensive answer: The below figures are correct as of 19 June 2023. 1. Isle of Man Airport currently employs a total of 14 Air Traffic Controllers. Of these, 10 are fully qualified and 8 are currently available for operational duty. 2. There are currently 4 air traffic controllers undergoing training at various stages. Three of these are experienced controllers who have come from other airports and one is a student air traffic controller. 3. The minimum number of fully qualified ATCOs required to be operational on shift on a typical day in order to avoid intermittent closures during published opening hours is 5. 4. There are many factors other than sickness and leave that determine the overall number of ATCOs needed to be employed. These include the roster pattern in use, supervision levels, overnight air ambulance cover, capacity for continuing professional development (called ABES – short for abnormal and emergency scenarios), on-the-jobtraining, annual assessments and procedural/safety work. In order to provide for an efficient service during currently published hours, Isle of Man Airport requires a minimum of 16 fully qualified air traffic controllers. 5. Currently there are no vacancies being advertised. We have recently concluded recruitment rounds for both Student ATCOs and experienced ATCOs. Three Student ATCOs are scheduled to join before the end of September 2023. One experienced ATCO has already joined in May 2023 and the recruitment of a second is currently subject to the acceptance of a verbal offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banker Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 30 minutes ago, Ringy Rose said: I see Loganair have been dicking around with their schedules again. Manchester’s dropping to one flight a day in about two weeks. Sovmeone mentioned Manchester were having similar ATC issues so maybe told to reduce or loads aren’t high enough, which one is cancelled? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringy Rose Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 1 minute ago, Banker said: Sovmeone mentioned Manchester were having similar ATC issues so maybe told to reduce or loads aren’t high enough, which one is cancelled? It seems to depend on the day, but in general they seem to have one flight about lunchtime now rather than a morning and an afternoon flight. Manchester have restricted the opening hours of their second runway due to ATC, but I wonder if it’s either staffing or low yields. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two-lane Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 10 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said: Of these, 10 are fully qualified and 8 are currently available for operational duty. And the other two are not - how many of those are suspended? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmanxpilot Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 (edited) 45 minutes ago, Andy Onchan said: Case ID: 3191625 for the full answer. There is no way there will be a full compliment of 16 ATCOs actually able to operate in September. Here’s the math: There are currently ten validated controllers on the books. Two of whom are not able to control for undisclosed reasons. So that means we have 8/16 Four other controllers are in various stages of training, one of whom is a student. It may be months, or even years before they are validated. When they do validate, which we do not know when that will be, we will have 12/16 Three student controllers start in September, it takes three years for them to train and validate. So, in three years time we will have 15/16. The FOI request fails to mention the fact that an ATCO (who is a trainer and examiner) is working their notice. So that makes it 14/16 It may well be that the two who are qualified but are not able to control will come back on line, so, in three years time. That would make it 16/16 - a full compliment. In three years! Of course, this does not consider further resignations, loss of medical or suspension. Not does it include any further recruitment. However, to suggest that we will have a full compliment of working controllers in September is quite frankly pie in the sky. Edited June 23, 2023 by madmanxpilot 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmanxpilot Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 15 minutes ago, Banker said: Sovmeone mentioned Manchester were having similar ATC issues so maybe told to reduce or loads aren’t high enough, which one is cancelled? There are no capacity issues at Manchester. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmanxpilot Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 2 hours ago, The Phantom said: I have actually had to do that with a private jet at Ronaldsway! Your own? 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Phantom Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 3 minutes ago, madmanxpilot said: Your own? 😉 Of course.... Nah, it was a client that came over. Pilot parked it too close to something so we had to push it backwards! Wasn't massive, was a Phenom 300. Couple of us on each wing managed to move it surprisingly easily. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringy Rose Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 55 minutes ago, madmanxpilot said: There are no capacity issues at Manchester. Not on our scale, but ATC staffing isn’t what it should be there. There have been a few overnight closures due to no ATC. I imagine it’s a business decision by Loganair though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IOM Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 2 hours ago, Ringy Rose said: I see Loganair have been dicking around with their schedules again. Manchester’s dropping to one flight a day in about two weeks. Sadly most probably due to the impact of EasyJet. More loss of frequency only two flights a day at random times some days . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newaccount Posted June 23, 2023 Share Posted June 23, 2023 (edited) 9 minutes ago, IOM said: Sadly most probably due to the impact of EasyJet. More loss of frequency only two flights a day at random times some days . People won't pay the stupidly high prices that Loganair want Edited June 23, 2023 by newaccount 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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