Tweede Kamer expresses concern over air traffic control issues
The Tweede Kamer, the lower House of the Dutch parliament, is voicing concerns about ongoing problems with the country’s air traffic control system, which have led to dangerous situations in the aviation sector. A shortage of military air traffic controllers and the reportedly failed merger of the military and civilian air traffic services have contributed to these challenges, according to reports from Het Parool.
The issues have raised alarm among lawmakers, with some calling for immediate action to address the safety risks involved. Wytske Postma, a member of the National Security Coalition (NSC), is set to question Minister of Aviation Barry Madlener during a planned debate on Tuesday. "What is he going to do to resolve this?" she asked, emphasizing that aviation safety must always be the top priority. "We must take the concerns raised in the article very seriously," Postma stated.
Members of the coalition party BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) also share these concerns. Marieke Wijen-Nass, a BBB lawmaker, confirmed that her party would be closely monitoring developments in the coming months.
Since 2017, military air traffic controllers have been working alongside their civilian counterparts at the national air traffic control center at Schiphol Airport. However, significant differences in working conditions have emerged. Civilian air traffic controllers earn higher wages and receive more rest during their intensive shifts, which has created tension between the two groups.
According to Wijen-Nass, this disparity is difficult to justify. "Equal work, equal pay," she argued, adding that civilian air traffic controllers should also be tasked with handling military airfields when necessary. "Together, we are stronger," she said.
Sarah Dobbe of the Socialist Party (SP) described the situation as "unacceptable," stating that unsafe conditions should not arise due to failure to listen to staff concerns, which have been raised for years. "It is also absolutely unacceptable that people are paid thousands of euros less per month for doing the exact same job. It is no surprise that people are leaving." Dobbe is calling for immediate action to ensure equal pay for equal work.
Hanneke van der Werf of the Democrats 66 (D66) party also stressed the need for better working conditions. "Both Minister Madlener and State Secretary Gijs Tuinman (Defence, BBB) must take action to ensure fair compensation," she said. "Only in this way will we attract enough personnel to work in our airspace. The Ministry of Defence has enough funds to resolve this issue, so money cannot be the problem."
The issues facing air traffic control underscore broader personnel challenges within the Dutch Ministry of Defence. Derk Boswijk, a member of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), agreed that the current personnel policies need significant reform. "It is no longer attractive for people to join the military," Boswijk said. "It’s not only a challenge to recruit new people, but it’s even harder to retain skilled personnel."
The military air traffic controllers themselves have also reported negative consequences from delays in the integration of civilian and military air traffic control systems. A spokesperson for the Royal Netherlands Air Force confirmed that the delays have had "detrimental effects," though they did not specify the nature of these issues.
Despite these concerns, the Air Force maintains that aviation safety has not been compromised. "Defence does not recognize the claim that safety is at risk," the spokesperson stated. "We understand the frustration and impatience of some colleagues," they added, acknowledging that the transition to a unified national air traffic control system is not progressing as planned. "In the meantime, we are ensuring flight safety and taking appropriate measures when necessary."
