Opinion | Editorials
Incompetence that beggars belief
The three-hour computer breakdown at Britain'a main air traffic control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire, highlights a level of incompetence that beggars belief.
- Gulf News
- Published: 23:32 September 26, 2008
The three-hour computer breakdown at Britain'a main air traffic control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire, highlights a level of incompetence that beggars belief. It is just over seven years since the terrorist attacks in the US, when the world was stunned by the audacity of attacking the twin towers in New York and the Pentagon.
At that time it should have been obvious to anyone concerned with mass transport and communication that every effort must be made to ensure there was no repetition in any form that will disrupt a nation and people from carrying out their daily tasks. It meant security services taking a fresh look at how their work was conducted and how safe are areas presumed to be targets of terrorist attack.
It does not take much imagination to appreciate that a main air traffic control centre covering most of Britain and a good part of Europe, as well as onward bound traffic to the US, would be a prime target for terrorists. If it happened, the cost to the country would be enormous, but a fraction of the cost of having a back-up computer to allow for any eventuality, including a temporary glitch.
Fortunately the glitch on Thursday night was for a short duration and some aircraft were able to land and others depart, courtesy of air traffic controllers working the system manually. But had it been worse, then the consequences would have been greater. As it was, more than 10,000 passengers were stranded when at least 88 flights were cancelled.
The £632 million Swanwick centre has had a history of problems from the very start of its six-year delayed opening in 2002. Recognising this, it is surprising that at the time no thought seems to have been given to providing a back-up. It was, after all, only a year after 9/11.
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