Chamber and committees

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited submission of 26 May 2021

PE1804/LL - Halt Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd's Air Traffic Management Strategy

During our evidence session, we undertook to provide further information. We had provided the information requested in separate submissions, however have now provided this in a consolidated submission, as advised by the Clerk to the Committee.

Staff turnover figures

The Committee requested information relating to the turnover of ATCOs, by airport, for the last 5 years. In line with GDPR, HIAL does not provide information that constitutes personal data. The actual staff numbers are low enough that individuals may be able to be identified. Therefore, to provide the information requested by the Committee, we have provided the aggregated turnover percentages for each year and also the five-year aggregated percentage for each airport.

Year	Average turnover across HIAL airports/year
2016/17	3.3%
2017/18	15.0%
2018/19	1.8%
2019/20	3.5%
2020/21	5.2%

 

Airport	Average ATCO Turnover over 5-year period, from 2016/17 to 2020/21
Benbecula	2.9%
Dundee	4.4%
Inverness	6.0%
Kirkwall	7.5%
Stornoway	7.9%
Sumburgh	5.0%
Wick	4.0%

Note: Percentages do not include—

• Student ATCOs who failed college course

• ATCOs who transferred internally

However, percentages do include—

• Trainee ATCOs who failed to validate and left the company

• ATCOs who have retired from the company

Air Traffic costs (pre ATMS)

The cost of delivering air traffic control is combined with the running cost of each airport and is therefore not accounted for as a separate cost centre, accordingly we cannot provide the detail the Committee is asking for at this time. However, the Helios Report makes it clear that regardless of where the approach service is provided from, it will substantially increase costs.

We felt it would be helpful to confirm and further clarify the issue of budget on the ATMS programme.

In terms of the overall budget for the programme, this was agreed with Transport Scotland’s Investment Decision Board on the 9 December 2019. The total anticipated capital expenditure was agreed at £34.7m – which includes contingency – the figure Inglis Lyon gave to the Committee on 17 February. For completeness, there is the associated anticipated revenue budget to support the delivery of the project which Transport Scotland agreed at £13.7m. This gives a total budget for the programme of £48.4m.

This is the only budget that has been set for the programme and these figures have not changed since approval for the programme was given at the meeting on 9 December 2019.

Island Community Impact Assessment

Reference Economic Consultants (REC), the independent consultant commissioned to undertake the impact assessment has produced the final report. This report was presented by REC to the HIAL Board on 25 February and shared with colleagues and local stakeholders.

The report, and final appendices, have been published on the ATMS pages of the HIAL website.

Independent review and ‘health check’ from the Scottish Government’s Internal Audit and Assurance Directorate

As HIAL moves forward with ATMS, adopting best practice and monitoring project progress within its internal governance framework is crucial.

We welcome independent governance to provide appropriate challenge and support for key decision and progress points, as well as providing assurance on the delivery of the programme.

HIAL identified areas where independent oversight could assist the ATMS project team with programme delivery and specific technical aspects within the programme.

The ATMS programme is required to observe the Technology Assurance Framework, administered by the Scottish Government’s Digital Assurance Office (DAO), which includes assurance of major projects during their lifetime. Therefore, an independent review team undertook a Health Check Review on the ATMS Programme on behalf of the DAO.

The review team, which is independent of the ATMS programme and accredited by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, made recommendations relating to programme management, governance, resourcing, procurement and strategic oversight and assurance. HIAL welcomed and agreed with the recommendations and immediately actioned them.

Ten of the 12 recommendations identified in the Technology Assurance Review have been actioned with good progress on the outstanding recommendations. The DAO has discussed the action plan and supporting evidence and the effectiveness of the actions will be considered by the independent review team at the next Health Check.

The DAO owns the report and following the request from the Petitions Committee, HIAL asked that the DAO share it with the Committee. HIAL also sought permission from the DAO to share the report with its colleagues and publish it on the HIAL website.

HIAL will continue to work with the DAO for the duration of the ATMS project, and the date for the next Technology Assurance Review is currently being scheduled. HIAL is focused on applying learning and embracing best practice and external governance and oversight will be a feature of the ATMS programme as it progresses.