Air traffic controllers threaten to strike by next week

The Christian trade union ACV Transcom has issued a warning of possible strike action by employees of Belgocontrol, Belgian’s air traffic control authority, on or after 25 June. If the threat becomes reality, it could lead to chaos at Brussels Airport at the start of the summer holidays.

The reason, says the union, is “various dossiers that are important to the functioning and the future of Belgocontrol and its workers,” a list of issues that includes staff schedules, training and the maintenance of systems. The union is also angry at what it calls “the unrealistic savings that the European Commission and the Belgian government wish to impose.” The authority has seen cuts of 3.5% a year since 2012, with a level of 3.2% expected for the coming years.

“This blind cost-cutting will entail a reduction in the quality of service and in safety,” a union representative said. “Recruitment and investment have already been frozen, with negative consequences for working conditions. ACV Transcom will not stand by and allow the safety of air traffic and passengers to be put at risk in exchange for a good report card from Europe.”

In related news, it was revealed that eight Boeing 777-Aerologic aircraft were given permission five months ago to fly over Brussels at night, contrary to European law and to Belgian regulations on aircraft noise.

The aircraft are a joint venture between DHL and Lufthansa Cargo and do not have the necessary noise certificates. An exception was made because two DHL flights, which already have permission, were replaced by one of the 777s, a spokesperson of the federal mobility ministry said. And since the 777 is not fully laden, it is considered to be within the noise limits.

The ministry admitted that this was a free interpretation of the law but that secretary of state Melchior Wathelet was informed of the new arrangement from the beginning.

Another group, meanwhile, has become fed up with the noise of aircraft taking off and landing over Brussels: TV and film directors are finding it increasingly difficult to shoot outdoors without the hindrance of aircraft noise. According to Le Soir newspaper, sound engineers are now using apps that show the take-off and landing of aircraft at Brussels Airport to time shots to escape the noise.