§ Lord Mackie of Benshieasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they intend to take after the failure of the National Air Traffic Services to provide control over a large area on the nights of 23 and 24 February 2002. [HL3091]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonA single sector covering the North Sea area had to be closed in the early hours of two weekend nights covering 23 and 24 February due to an exceptional shortage of suitably qualified air traffic services assistants. Only 14 aircraft were re-routed each night around the sector as a result and no delays were incurred.
The Government are assured that National Air Traffic Services Limited is pursuing its training programme for air traffic services assistants at the Swanwick centre to ensure that there is no repetition of the sector closure experienced on 23 and 24 February 2002.