Questions raised about airport's safety and workplace culture

Government defends facility amid claims of cultural and operational issues

The Department of Infrastructure has come forward in defence of Ronaldsway Airport after questions were raised about the facility's safety and management procedures.

It follows questions raised in Tynwald and the House of Keys in recent weeks concerning political oversight of employment matters and whether a plan was in place to get the facility back out from under a 'special attention' status.

Manx Radio understands the airport is potentially one serious incident away from a myriad of consequences - from the limiting of its activities to legal prosecution or even seeing its certificate to operate suspended or revoked - essentially cutting a lifeline service and limiting our travel links with the UK and beyond.

'Special Attention'

In 2019 the airport was first placed under the regulatory enforcement status of 'special attention' by the Isle of Man Civil Aviation Administration.

In 2022 matters escalated, when Ronaldsway was put "on notice".

Matters improved in May of last year when it was taken back to the less severe 'special attention' status following actions taken by the management team, and that's where it remains.

Infrastructure Minister Michelle Haywood updated Tynwald members last month on efforts to get the airport back out from under that status.

Dr Haywood said an action plan had been submitted to the Isle of Man CAA, but couldn't give a timeline for when the resolutions would take effect:

Air Traffic Services & 'Level 1 Finding'

Separately, Air Traffic Control was placed under 'special attention' status in August of this year, following an audit the month before.

Minister Haywood told Tynwald at the time that this was due to "ongoing and well-documented staffing issues".

Manx Radio has been told that it's a Level 1 finding - a critical finding that requires 'immediate and appropriate action' and means a 'major non-compliance' was identified during that audit, 'potentially endangering the public'.

Audits of the Air Traffic Services Unit in the Isle of Man are conducted by the UK Civil Aviation Authority on behalf of the Isle of Man Civil Aviation Administration.

The finding impacts the Island as it has been issued by the governing body which is in charge of whether our airport is allowed to remain open.

The UK's CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) is a separate and superior entity to the Isle of Man Civil Aviation Administration, which acts as the aviation security regulator in the Isle of Man.

Aviation security regulatory activities in the Isle of Man are undertaken in accordance with a memorandum of understanding between the UK Department for Transport and the Isle of Man Civil Aviation Administration.

Routine aviation security assessments in the Isle of Man are conducted by the UK Civil Aviation Authority on behalf of the Isle of Man Civil Aviation Administration.

Political oversight and calls for reconciliation

Flash forward to this week's House of Keys sitting and other matters airport-related have come to the fore, specifically around political oversight of employment matters.

A number of backbenchers cited concerns over communication sent to Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) by the interim airport director Geoff Pugh who has been in the role since Gary Cobb's departure a year ago.

But Dr Haywood gave the senior management team her full support:

"If you're frightened of flying, don't worry about flying from Ronaldsway. The airport is safe and resilient." - Chris Thomas, MHK

Former infrastructure minister and Douglas Central MHK Chris Thomas described the response as 'evasive' and is pleading to parties at Ronaldsway Airport to sit down for consolidatory talks:

Claims of cultural issues, safety concerns and the DOI's response

In the background to all of this come allegations published online and shared with Manx Radio of a toxic culture and claims that legitimate safety concerns were being rebuffed. 

Manx Radio approached the Department of Infrastructure, which told us this:

'Day-to-day operations at the Isle of Man Airport are undertaken safely by teams of qualified, experienced and dedicated staff whose sole focus is ensuring safe operations in partnership with our airlines, operators and third parties.

'The airport’s performance in responding to safety concerns is monitored by the independent safety regulator, the Isle of Man Civil Aviation Administration.

'Staff members are able and encouraged to report safety concerns using established procedures contained in the airport’s Safety Management System. Any concerns are investigated and followed up internally.

'Staff members are also able to report concerns directly and, if necessary, confidentially to the Isle of Man CAA.

'In addition to the airport’s established safety reporting procedures, the Isle of Man Government’s Whistleblowing procedures are also available to airport staff as government employees.  There are clear mechanisms in place to address protected disclosures, which are independent of the airport.'