DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON
UK air traffic controllers say an economic penalty imposed on National Air Traffic Services (NATS) for delays is dangerous. The main reason for delays, says the controllers' union Prospect, is a shortage of controllers.
The penalty, imposed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, is meant "to strengthen the incentives for NATS to reduce air traffic flow management delays", says the CAA.
It applies to delays that exceed an average of 1.2min per flight in a calendar year, and the CAA has tightened the formula for determining the penalty. The maximum imposed reduction in the NATS unit charge has more than doubled from £0.49 to £1 ($1.67), and the penalty is immediate instead of delayed.
Prospect says the CAA's target is "unattainable except in abnormal circumstances", and will put pressure on controllers to "increase the hourly flow of flights through busy sectors".
The union says "economic regulation of NATS should not be considered in isolation from safety regulation", and that this will place further financial pressure on NATS, claiming that it could face up to £10 million in penalties.
The CAA says the rule is meant to put pressure on the company to "achieve the appropriate level of capacity", including providing sufficient controllers.
It is not intended, the CAA says, to "influence the flow control process at a tactical operational level". NATS responds: "The CAA has set a tough target, but they know we would never compromise our safety standards by going all out to achieve it."
It observes, however, that"this target is a crude measure of performance because it does not take into account the changing complexity of the business."
Source: Flight International
