[Peetwo]

Finally the MSM is onto it?

P666 - This is not a pretty incident whatsoever, you're dealing with some very serious shit.

  
I thought so to?  However yet again another serious incident in and around the YMML CTA traffic zone; & related to AirServices ATC procedures gets added to the growing list - UFB!

P666 - Every day that these bureaucratic fools refuse to change is a day closer to that giant smoking hole we have been talking about for some time.

  
Well at least the MSM have finally taken note of this 'serious incident' that the ATSB has attempted to paper over & minimalise.
By Mitchell Bingemann courtesy the Oz:

Helicopter strays into jets’ airspace in Melbourne

• Mitchell Bingemann
  
• The Australian
  
• January 29, 2016 12:00AM
  

Reporter
Sydney



Australia’s national transport safety investigator and the air services regulator have opened investigations into a potential breach that occurred on Australia Day when a road traffic report helicopter ventured into the airspace of two passenger jets operated by Qantas and Virgin.

The ATSB opened an investigation into the incident, which occurred at 7.01 on the morning of Australia Day 5km west of Essendon Airport. Airservices Australia has also opened an internal investigation into the matter.

According to a notification issued by ATSB, the three aircraft — Qantas and Virgin Boeing 737s and a Robinson 44 helicopter — were involved in a “loss of separation” and a “breakdown of co-ordination” near the airport.

A loss of separation occurs when an aircraft breaches the minimum distance that aircraft are required to keep from each other to reduce the risk of collisions and wake turbulence.

In Australia and when in controlled en route airspace, the horizontal separation standard between aircraft flying at the same altitude is 5 nm (9260m).

In terminal area airspace, the minimum separation is 3 nm (5500m). Within the confines of an airport control zone, the separation can be as close as practicable as long as the aircraft remain separated.

The ATSB said that on the day of the incident, flight operations at Melbourne airport changed from using runway 16 for arriving aircraft and runway 27 for departures, to all flights on runway 16.

The Australian understands the incident occurred as a Virgin jet was taking off from Melbourne airport and that “the loss of separation” was triggered by a breakdown in communication between Essendon air traffic control and Melbourne airport traffic control, which allowed the helicopter into restricted airspace.

The Robinson R44 helicopter’s registration number — VH-WYR — shows that it belongs to the Australia Traffic Network. The network provides road traffic reports for radio, television and online platforms.

The investigation is expected to conclude in September.

  
Hmm...this bit..
"...was triggered by a breakdown in communication between Essendon air traffic control and Melbourne airport traffic control, which allowed the helicopter into restricted airspace..."

...sounds very familiar??

Reference from 06:30 here:

    Can someone start joining the dots here, it's not rocket science - FFS!

Update:  For some strange reason late on Friday the ATSB updated their summary etc. for this incident..

Summary

On 26 January 2016, flight operations at Melbourne Airport, Victoria, changed from utilising runway 16 for arriving aircraft and runway 27 for departures, to all operations on runway 16. Coordination of this change with Essendon Airport air traffic control, as was required due to the proximity of the two airports, did not occur.

At the time of the Melbourne Airport runway changes, a Robinson R44 helicopter, registered VH-WYR, was operating overhead Essendon Airport not above 1,500 ft. Shortly after 0700 Eastern Daylight-saving Time, two Boeing 737 aircraft, registered VH-YFN and VH-VZV, departed Melbourne and, while in cloud, came within 3 NM (5.6 km) of the helicopter.

The investigation is continuing.
 
General details
Date:
26 Jan 2016
 
Investigation status:
Active
 
Time:
07:01 ESuT
 
Investigation type:
Occurrence Investigation
 
Location   (show map):
Essendon Airport west 5 km
 
Occurrence type:
Breakdown of co-ordination
 
State:
VIC
 
Occurrence class:
Airspace
 


 
Occurrence category:
Incident
 
Report status:
Pending
 
Highest injury level:
None
 
Expected completion:
Sep 2016
 


 
 
Aircraft 1 details
Aircraft manufacturer:
Robinson Helicopter Co
 
Aircraft model:
R44 II
 
Aircraft registration:
VH-WYR
 
Serial number:
10085
 
Type of operation:
Aerial Work
 
Sector:
Helicopter
 
Damage to aircraft:
Nil
 
Departure point:
Essendon, Vic.
Aircraft 2 details
Aircraft manufacturer:
The Boeing Company
 
Aircraft model:
737-8FE
 
Aircraft registration:
VH-YFN
 
Serial number:
41009
 
Operator:
Virgin Australia
 
Type of operation:
Air Transport High Capacity
 
Sector:
Jet
 
Damage to aircraft:
Nil
 
Departure point:
Melbourne, Vic.
Aircraft 3 details
Aircraft manufacturer:
The Boeing Company
 
Aircraft model:
737-838
 
Aircraft registration:
VH-VZV
 
Serial number:
34189
 
Operator:
Qantas Airways
 
Type of operation:
Air Transport High Capacity
 
Sector:
Jet
 
Damage to aircraft:
Nil
 
Departure point:
Melbourne, Vic
 
 
 


Last update 29 January 2016

 
Given the part in red I'm not exactly sure why the ATSB are yet to classify this as a 'serious incident'


MTF...P2