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Harfwit's Deputy Dog blames ATCOs for staff shortages?? 

Courtesy Ironsider, via the Oz:

Chief blames airspace limits on staff ‘sickies’

EXCLUSIVE
By ROBYN IRONSIDE
AVIATION WRITER
@ironsider
7:25PM JANUARY 26, 2023


Air traffic controllers at work at Brisbane Airport. Picture: Tara Croser

Air traffic controllers have been told that critical staff shortages leading to airspace restrictions in some areas are essentially their own doing, due to an “alarming level of unplanned leave” or sickies.

In a bluntly worded message from Airservices Australia head of airspace services Rod Sciortino, air traffic controllers are told their employer protected them during the Covid downturn so they could protect the flying public when traffic returned.

“We avoided lay-offs and stand downs; we avoided reduced hours and reduced pay,” wrote Mr Sciortino.

“In fact many of you worked significantly less hours on the same pay, while many people in the industry around us were not so lucky.”

He went on to say that now traffic had returned, all efforts were being made to train new recruits “to fill the breach of those that retired”.

“However regardless of the replenishment program, a concerning component of this post-pandemic environment is the alarming level of unplanned leave,” said Mr Sciortino.

“This is adding an enormous amount of pressure to daily rosters in several groups and in turn our collective obligation to deliver a service.”

The air traffic controllers’ union Civil Air responded angrily to the email, telling members not to feel pressured to work if they were not fit to do so.

“All members are advised to keep conversations brief when you have advised that you are unavailable,” said the advisory.

“If management persists, advise your manager that you require union representation before continuing.”

Civil Air raised concerns during the pandemic that the large number of experienced air traffic controllers encouraged to take up an early retirement incentive scheme would lead to shortages.

The union said it was not uncommon in situations of staff shortages for more people to fall ill and suffer fatigue resulting in even fewer staff.

“The longer the staffing levels remain critical, the more unplanned leave will be taken,” said Civil Air.

“It is not safe otherwise. Resolve the staffing levels and increased unplanned leave issue will also resolve.”

Due to the high intensity of their roles, air traffic controllers are permitted unlimited sick leave entitlements under their work agreement.

Qantas pilots recently voiced their concerns about regional airspace being left “uncontrolled” due to staffing shortages in air traffic control.

Australian and International Pilots Association president Tony Lucas called for more resilience to be built into the ATC system, to ensure such events were not happening on a regular basis.

“It increases our operational complexity and workload because we are now trying to separate ourselves from other aircraft, potentially impacting safety,” Captain Lucas said.

“These sorts of events should not be happening frequently and certainly not due to resourcing issues.”

Airservices Australia denied there was a staff shortage among air traffic controllers, with more than 900 on staff, and only 800 required to fully staff the air traffic management system.

“There are a further 65 air traffic controllers in training,” said a spokeswoman.

She said the increase in unplanned leave had seen more than 20,000 “sick days” taken in 2022, compared to 12,000 in 2021 and 13,000 in 2019.

“In 2022 Australia experienced the worst flu season in years and ongoing Covid-19 infections,” the spokeswoman said.

“Despite the significant jump in unplanned leave, only 2277 hours out of 1.1 million total service hours were impacted last year.”

MTF...P2