Former controller alleges safety violations at LHR

[alanh]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7307354.stm

Air traffic controllers are under so much pressure to maximise the number of landings that passengers' safety is at risk, the BBC has been told.

A retired air traffic controller, who asked not to be named, said an "errant culture" at Heathrow focused on service provision, more than safety.

He described one incident over Reading last year as the most risky he had seen in 27 years of air traffic control.

[FlyingPhotog]

I think the 2 major security breaches at LHR in th past few weeks are also a risk to passengers.

[Smilin_Ed]

Vmc? Imc?

No one seems to care whether the reported incident(s) were under VMC or IMC. It doesn't make a difference to lawyers, but practically it makes all the difference in the world. I can't tell you how many times I had to tell a controller to not lose his cool because I was VMC. This whole panicky business has been cooked up by the controllers' unions. What garbage.

[ptbodale]

They come out of the woodwork after they have retired eh.