Highlands MSP slams HIAL for ‘wasting’ funds

MSP John Finnie has accused Highlands and Islands Airport Limited (HIAL) of ‘wasting’ more than £18,000 of public money on a study into its controversial proposals to centralise air traffic control services.

A study by HIAL concluded the best location for the planned centralisation was Inverness, where the government-owned agency has its headquarters.

However, Mr Finney has criticised the choice, arguing the move would take skilled jobs away from other locations, including the islands.

The Green Party Highlands and Islands MSP said: ‘HIAL’s proposal to slash jobs throughout remote, rural and island communities by centralising its air traffic control operation is short-sighted and will disadvantage the communities it is supposed to serve by centralising skilled jobs.

‘My latest research has revealed HIAL has spent £18,602 on a study which found Inverness was the prime location for this centralised system.

‘It beggars belief that such a sum was spent stating the obvious.

‘Instead of spending thousands of pounds telling us what we already know, it would serve HIAL better if it listened to the expert air traffic controllers and their trade union Prospect and ensured these important, skilled jobs remain in communities throughout the Highlands and Islands.’

Prospect aviation officer David Avery had pointed to concerns over the move back in January, saying: ‘Any centralised monitoring system will be dependent on a reliable, resilient and secure communications infrastructure between the mainland and the islands which simply does not exist.

‘HIAL is gambling on this and Prospect believes this is gambling with people’s safety.

‘Air traffic control provides high quality, skilled, highly paid employment in the islands with many controllers recruited and trained locally.

‘Centralisation will remove these roles from the islands. We do not believe the report has given sufficient weight to these considerations and HIAL’s roles as an employer in the Highlands and Islands.’

HIAL has previously given assurances no changes would happen without its regulator approving safety and that the total number of jobs would remain the same.