European Union Presidency Spain Downgrades National Air Traffic Control

The Royal Decree has merely confirmed that the Air Traffic Control system in Spain, as is the case within much of Europe, relies upon individual Air Traffic Controllers working overtime to prop up the ATC system. Marc Baumgartner, IFATCA President, stated that the measures imposed by this decree will do nothing to provide a long term solution to this critical shortage of controllers. This decree punishes Air Traffic Controllers for the past economic mismanagement of AENA. Forcing any specialists in a safety critical field to work in such a climate of fear and intimidation that this decree creates is detrimental to the safety of the ATC system. IFATCA calls upon the Spanish Government to ensure that all actions taken under this decree are in full accordance with ICAO and EU standards and requirements. They shall be subject to comprehensive safety assessments and not further stress the already overstretched ATC system. In the interest of SAFETY of the traveling public in Spain, IFATCA, as the global voice of Air Traffic Controllers, calls upon the Spanish government to exercise restraint, caution and due consideration before enacting these extraordinary provisions. AENA must return to responsible and reasonable negotiations with its air traffic controllers, to determine a sustainable way to overcome the critical shortage of ATCOs.