[Peetwo]

Harfwit covers up an "Australian ATC Emergency"?? - 

First via the AFAP: https://www.afap.org.au/news1/ArtMID/160...deficient-

AUSTRALIA’S AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT CRITICALLY DEFICIENT
Posted: Tuesday, 4 July 2023 Category: General News, Lobbying

The AFAP has recently surveyed its pilot members, consulted with pilot representatives, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) union, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and requested freedom of information (FOI) material from the regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). For the reasons outlined in the material below we have reached the following concerning conclusions:
 

1. Airservices Australia (ASA) is struggling with severe staffing shortages of air traffic controllers, leading to overreliance on contingency measures that introduce safety risks. These shortages were set up well before the pandemic and are not primarily caused by short notice sick leave.
   
2. The frequent and unplanned use of procedures like “Traffic Information Broadcast by Aircraft” ((TIBA), TIBA is a contingency measure used in controlled airspace when infrastructure or resourcing has failed) is unsustainable, less safe and indicates a lack of robust air traffic management systems and resources.
   
3. Incidents in Australia and internationally point to the critical importance of effective airspace management for aviation safety. These lessons were built into the ATC system and removal of staffing resilience opens the risk of catastrophic outcomes.
   
4. ASA faces challenges with procurement practices, budget overruns, and toxicity within the organization's culture.
   
5. There are questions about the adequacy of oversight, planning and funding by ASA's executive team and board to properly manage Australia's airspace.
   

Recommended actions:

1. The government should intervene to address dysfunction within ASA and bring the organisation back under proper public control.
   
2. An urgent recruitment drive and investment in training is needed to address staffing shortages of air traffic controllers and build resilience back into the organisation.
   
3. ASA must improve air traffic management systems and procedures to minimize reliance on unsafe contingency measures like TIBA.
   
4. Stronger oversight and governance should be implemented to hold ASA's executive team and board properly accountable for airspace management outcomes.
   
5. An independent review of ASA's staffing levels, culture, procurement practices and budgeting should be conducted to identify and implement necessary reforms.
   

 
The overarching goal should be to restore the safety and effectiveness of Australia's airspace management system. Funding and leadership must prioritise initiatives that enhance aviation safety and efficiency, with clear consequences for non-compliance. Action is needed to return ASA to a position where it can properly manage one of Australia's critical transport assets. The safety of Australia's skies depends on it.

And via Linkedin:

Australian ATC Emergency



Dean C.

July 4, 2023

“I have grave concerns as to the safety of Air Traffic Control operations" (in Australia) – said one person recently via the Australian Transport Safety Bureau Aviation Confidential Reporting Scheme.

Another said:

“This is the worst position the company has been in since I have started” and another, “It's overwhelming the way management is mitigating away safety standards and training requirements for staff”.

The funny thing is that at every aviation conference I seem to have attended recently, Airservices Australia leadership are out as the major sponsors, funding scholarships and presenting in large middle management numbers a story of how great they are doing.

But here is the Problem

There is an underreported aviation safety risk in Australia at the moment that is finally getting some attention. A shortage of Air Traffic Controllers is leaving large chunks of airspace uncontrolled, at short notice.

In an unusually lengthy REPCON response, the ATSB noted systemic shortages in the Sydney Terminal Control Unit. 



At one major Australian airline, I have seen several, Traffic Information Broadcast by Aircraft (TIBA), Chief Pilot approvals, for Darwin and Mackay – meaning the airline has approved operations, with out ATC, into those destinations. Just last week, airspace in Northern NSW was left uncontrolled for several hours, causing delays and forcing Sydne-Brisbane traffic to fly a longer alternative route, due to “short-term, unplanned-leave absences”. Cairns approach control has also reverted to uncontrolled airspace close to 30 times in a year, according to a local B787 pilot.


Large chunks of airspace were left uncontrolled, at the last minute, several times earlier this month


Earlier this year, the ATSB noted a separation event, late one night in Darwin, due to a lack of Air Traffic Control.

How did we end up here?

Civil Air said that in July 2021, Airservices offered a Retirement Incentive Scheme (RIS) to its air traffic services staff, with 138 employees taking up the offer, at least 124 of whom were operational ATCs. In a statement, the union estimated this removed 13.7 per cent of Australia’s ATCs from rosters. Civil Air, however, said that “unplanned leave” was not the problem and that Airservices was shifting blame away from its own “lack of workforce planning and resource allocation”.

Safety Risk

The ATC system provides vital risk mitigation. When large commercial jets are flying through large chunks of uncontrolled airspace, it increases the risk to the travelling public. When local ATC are reporting ‘grave safety concerns’ – we should all be paying more than the usual attention.

Have you had a similar experience flying in Australian airspace recently? Please share and comment.

 

MTF...P2 

PS: Passing strange coincidence but our (completely disconnected with all reality) miniscule put out this tweep on her visit this week at the YMML ATCO HQ...

Catherine King MP

I spent some time at the Airservices Australia operation in Melbourne. It was definitely a time to look and learn, rather than be hands-on!  I left the landings and takeoffs to the experts.