An MP has raised concerns that Inverness Airport is being given “prominence” over others amid plans for a shake-up of air traffic control.
Western Isles representative Angus MacNeil spoke out after meeting bosses from Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (Hial) this week.
Talks over plans to axe air traffic control towers across the north
The talks were held amid anger at proposals to scrap air traffic controllers from local airports and run them all from one base, potentially Inverness.
Hial runs 11 airports at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Dundee, Islay, Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick.
It employs about 55 air traffic controllers plus additional support staff across the network, and trade unions have warned that dozens of jobs could be lost if the change goes ahead.
Mr MacNeil said that Inverness Airport is the only one of the 11 airports mentioned in a scoping study by Hial.
The SNP MP said: “We all value the work of the highly skilled air traffic control staff and obviously the retention of these jobs in the islands is important and Hial have an essential role to play in sustaining airports within rural communities.
“Whilst the proposals offer some very interesting improvements in enhanced safety of the airspace in the Highlands and islands, there are concerns about the practicality of not having on the spot aircraft information and guidance due to lack of robust communications, a point I am glad to say Hial readily conceded.
“Communication resiliency seems to be a huge barrier to doing anything remotely in the Highlands and islands.
“I am also concerned that the scoping study which Hial compiled for ‘options for consideration’ mentions Inverness Airport twice and doesn’t mention any other airport in the area.
“This would seem to be a clear signpost to anyone involved and a leading indicator of the direction of travel in the Hial mind-set, although Hial have stressed that anything is indeed possible, however it does raise the question why one airport is given prominence over the other regional airports.”
Hial has appointed consultants to carry out a review, which will be considered later this year.
Managing director Inglis Lyon said this week: “Our overriding priority is and will always be, to deliver safe and secure air navigation services now and into the future.”
