Nightshift

According to the study done 12-5 was the best option especially regarding concentration. The EB is supporting this and promoting to allow 5 consecutive hours during night. However there seem to be further projects running behind our back. We have to find out more about this MUAC night licence and single man operation rumors to be able to react. Again the board is very disappointed that there seem to be such important professional matters discussed without involving EGATS.

EUROSS

We will ask Christiane to write a report about the results, which seem to be very interesting, for our next OUTPUT.

New licence

The board noticed that on our new licence all the issue dates for the ratings, that were issued before 20/08/2004 are incorrect. We will react on this and ask to correct this immediately.

For those who're planning to attend the EGATS Annual General Meeting, please find the draft agenda and the tradional booklet.

RRT

Three instead of only one programmer are working on finishing the tools from now on. All tools will be done in house. The tool managing the fair share and the point system is the most difficult to develop and it will take a while to get it done. For the moment the focus is on a roster tool, that will optimise the roster and make more preferences possible.

Reacting to an industrial action by Irish controllers on 20 Januari 2010, Ryanair issued a statement on their website. Not known for subtlety (see here for an example), the company stated that the Irish controllers are overpaid and underworked.

Update #2: Results are in! First prize was awarded to Yvan Vandenbogaerde (MUAC/ENG). Runners-up were Gerald Friederichs and John Smylie (MUAC/OPS), who shared 2nd place! Conngratulations to the winners and better luck to the others next time.

Update: The board decided to slightly change the rules. Please find the new version of the competition rules here.

You can find a pdf version of the latest OUTPUT magazine here. Subjects in this issue include: IFATCA Regional meeting in Kos, Tiger Meet 2009, an update on the Chico Foundation and the N-FDPS.

General

Ive says he is thinking about stepping down as EGATS president in 2011. Since nobody is ready or willing to take over, a plan would be to redistribute the work to get all board members more involved. In that case he will think about continuing as president. Ive promised to stay on as EGATS president if 50 or more people show up for the AGM.

Infrastructure

First impressions of the new office were good for all members. The location is well liked.

As far as we know the project for a new Recreational Building is still ongoing. It should not be subject to budged or cost cutting since the budget for it was already approved. However there are still some outstanding issues with the architect and the building permits.

A Northwest Airlines flight from San Diego, California, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, flew about 150 miles past their destination  before realising they had to land there... Air traffic controllers were desperately trying to call the aircraft and even after contact was re-established, considered the possibility that the aircraft had been hijacked. The instructed the plane to make a series of unnecessary maneuvers to convince them the pilots were in control of the flight. Fighters were also on standby to intercept. NWA released a statement, saying: "The crew [...] were in a heated discussion over airline policy and they lost situational awareness".

Update: Apparently, the pilots were using their personal laptops while talking about "airline crew flight scheduling procedure."

Both pilots were suspended pending the investigation.

EGATS Internal

To save costs we decided to close an old mailbox, it wasn‘t used anymore and we are reachable with our address at MUAC.

New Roster

There was no RRT meeting since our last board meeting.

Medical checks if staff is AM

There were no checks recently. EGATS is monitoring the situation very closely.

CSS (Central Supervisory Suite)

EGATS was not involved again in the development, we were presented some ideas, which we didn‘t like very much: There is less supervisory staff needed in the future, so it will limit your career prospects. The board doubts a CSS can manage at sector level as efficiently as the sector supervisor now.

You can find a pdf version of the latest OUTPUT magazine here. Subjects in this issue include: IFATCA Annual Conference, Ferry Flight Fun and the Photo competition.