Date : Thursday 20 March 2008

The story in the news for March 20th is concerning, however analysis of the interviews with the retired controller and with NATS and the CAA reveal not one story but several. 

Although at first instance alarming, the story of a series of incidents being recorded, investigated and analysed by NATS and the CAA and of remedial action being taken are what the Guild would expect to hear. They are indicative of the routine of a mature Safety Management System and are reassuring, not sensational.

What is of greater concern is the number, causes and severity of reported errors, at least one of which was described as being reckless in nature though not negligent. Human error is frequently the result of influences and pressures on the person making the mistake. Error, more often than not, is made within a chain of circumstances that are wholly or partly outside the control of the individual who is driven into making the mistake, a victim not a villain. The retired controller was careful to emphasise in his radio interview that external pressures where considered to be very relevant in contributing to the cause of errors of judgement by controllers at Heathrow Air Traffic Control and London Terminal Control. 

Providing air traffic services at these two units has always been very challenging and controllers working there have always regarded themselves as being the best of the best and with some justification. To tactically control the highest intensities of air traffic and optimise airspace and runway capacity hour after hour is tough, and there was never much room for error. Now that pressure is implacable and remorseless and is driven by forces that bear down heavily on air traffic control but which air traffic control can only partly influence.  

That is pressure enough for any controller or air traffic control unit. In addition at Heathrow there have been continuous potentially distracting pressures through the demand of other changes; the new simulator, the new tower, the new electronic flight displays, Terminal 5 with its new aprons, taxiways, routings and procedures.  

Whilst several technical developments are underway within NATS to try to ease the task of Heathrow Air Traffic Control and London Terminal Control it is still work in progress. What the interview reveals is an informed, professional and expert opinion that the demand for additional capacity has reached levels that are difficult to sustain without those new technologies and tools.  

There is now a need for cool heads at Heathrow. The Chief Executive Officers at BAA and NATS must urgently lead a review of the situation, to keep safety at the centre of that review, and to agree a way forward that defuses the apparent risk of promoting error under extreme pressure.

For further information contact GATCO on 01425 673028 , e-mail president@gatco.org