Prospect welcomes airspace modernisation decision

Prospect, the trade union representing UK air traffic controllers and engineers, has welcomed the government's announcement of a new airspace modernisation programme but called for it to be accompanied by a strategy to address skills pressures in the sector.

Responding to the announcement, Prospect Deputy General Secretary Rachel Curley said:

"The redesign of UK airspace is a critical national project that must be undertaken with the full participation of expert air traffic professionals and accompanied by a government-led plan to ease skills pressures in the sector.

"For too long the UK has not seriously invested in ensuring that we have enough skilled air traffic controllers and engineers to maintain our resilience, and this modernisation programme will only increase the pressures facing the service.

"Prospect welcomes the ambition of this proposal, but we need a realistic conversation about the resourcing available for air traffic control services, simply asking overstretched staff to do more cannot be an option."