Union say centralising air services puts jobs at risk

The union for air traffic controllers say a centralised base for air traffic will be a dangerous move.

Five airports, including Inverness and Wick, will be monitored at the one place using a camera system.

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited have confirmed New Century House, near the Kessock Bridge, will oversee traffic management.

Plans to downgrade services at Wick airport are also being revised.

HIAL say there are no planned staff reductions and the proposed technology is already being used all over the world.

However, union Prospect say the proposals offer no service to keep aircraft out of each other’s path, simply offering pilots information about airfields and weather conditions.

David Avery, Prospect negotiator, says the proposals are 'staggering.'

He said: 'They fly against the government’s own recently published island plan which seeks to protect and improve services and employment in island communities.

'Within these small communities the loss of even a few jobs like this is the equivalent of losing several hundred jobs in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

“It is inconceivable that such far-reaching changes can be brought in with the paltry level of consultation and transparency we have seen. For a government-owned company to treat its workers, customers, and local communities in this way is absolutely staggering.

'Prospect will not stand by and allow HIAL to downgrade Scotland’s islands with this threat to their air services and their economy.

'At the same time as Prospect members were voting to accept a pay deal which included a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, the HIAL board have decided to implement these changes which will inevitably lead to redundancies.

'Members will see this as a betrayal by the board.'

Whilst HIAL say a new hub marks a 'significant step.'

Managing director Inglis Lyon, said: 'The strategic programme decisions made by the Board will move us into the implementation phase of the project and allow detailed operational decisions to be made.

'It will allow us to move forward with planning and procurement of the relevant systems to safely deliver a state of the art air traffic control management system and give additional clarity to colleagues and stakeholders as we deliver this complex and challenging programme. '

• hial
• prospect
• air traffic controllers