AGM

Preparation for the AGM are running smooth. We will order some caps to give away as presents and make posters to attract more members to attend.

Bylaws

The Bylaws need to be amended to reflect the new logo. This will be added to the agenda for the AGM.

Cross-training

We discussed the exemption that was granted by the regulator to allow ATCOs to give OJT on Holstein after one month only. The board is not very happy about this, as it could and did happen that ATCOs don‘t work a single minute on their own within that month. We will start discussions with OMT to find a better solution.

In all the discussions about FABEC, Single European Sky etc, people tend to forget that these projects aren't really anything new: in the early 1970's, Maastricht UAC was established as the first of several cross-border centres. Fourty years later, it is still the only one. Despite to political indecision, jealousy and procrastination, Maastricht UAC has proven the concept works and works very well - proof can be found in all PRC reports produced over the years, including the last one.

But it's also nice to see colleagues that have long since retired or even passed away. Thanks to Raymonde and Josette for helping out here:

The EGATS Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2011 will be held on

Wednesday 06 APR 2011 at 20:00

in the MUAC Canteen.

There will be vacancies for the board. If you're interested, a nomination form needs to be completed and returned to the EGATS locker or directly to Michael Ott Team H4. The completed form needs to be in by 25 FEB 2011. The form can be obtained from any board-member or can be downloaded here.
 

Another time lapse movie - of the first British Airways B777 being built in Seattle...

For those interested in a bit more background on the situation in Spain, here's a document (PDF) released by IFATCA. It has an overview of what has happened so far - factual, with references and without the big emotions which are constantly present in the (Spanish) media. AENA and the Spanish government have managed to monopolise those media and feed them exactly what they wanted.

If you want to keep up to date with the situation, IFATCA maintains a blog on the situation in Spain:

http://spain.atczone.com

MUAC Promotion video - It's the first and currently still truly cross-border international centre in Europe. Controllers come from more than 25 countries to work the airspace above FL245 over 4 countries (5 counting a small piece of France).

UPDATE: Read the IFATCA press release on the situation: http://goo.gl/mC1je (english)  |  http://goo.gl/kgE1y (spanish)

The media has widely reported that air traffic controllers in Spain are on strike. As is not unusual in these situations, the reality may be different from what is reported. According to infromation we have, the controllers' union (USCA) did not call for a strike: controllers walked off the job or did not show up for work in response to the latest Royal Decree issued on 3 December 2010, which cancelled the previous decree.

Background

Another MUAC video - a lot more recent, but in 'flat' limburgs this time, courtesy of TV Valkenburg (yes, apparently, there IS such a thing...) If anyone has a link to a subtitled version, let us know...

Very, very old video of the early days in MUAC - 1972. The commentary is in Dutch, but don't let that stop you. No building extensions, huge strip bays, suits and beards were fashionable. If you recognise anyone (yourself?) in the video, let us know...

Cool time-lapse video of a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 getting a new coat of paint...

Virgin Atlantic plane livery time-lapse movie from johnson banks on Vimeo.