Ronaldsway remains well short of the government’s long‑term air traffic control staffing target, despite years of recruitment and training efforts.
A Freedom of Information response confirmed the airport currently has 12 controllers able to undertake operational duties.
That figure falls significantly below the 18 fully qualified controllers the Council of Ministers said were needed to provide resilience when it set out its strategic plan in July 2023.
Falling Short
At that time, the Airport had 14 controllers in total, including nine fully qualified and one part‑qualified.
Ministers acknowledged the shortage was causing disruption, with Ronaldsway forced to introduce multiple short aerodrome closures each day to accommodate mandatory rest breaks.
A detailed written answer published in September 2024 showed mixed progress.
Recruitment brought in experienced and student controllers, but departures, including one resignation and a retirement, slowed momentum.
Training timelines remain lengthy with experienced controllers typically taking 6 to 18 months to validate, while student controllers require three to four years.
The latest FOI figure underscores that, nearly three years after ministers set the target, the island remains some distance from achieving the level of resilience promised for Ronaldsway’s air traffic control service.
