Source : Perth Now news
Dick Smith has renewed his warning that parts of Australia’s aviation system are leaving pilots “flying blind”, after 7NEWS Spotlight raised fresh concerns about uncontrolled airspace, overworked air traffic controllers and a string of near-misses.
In the program, the veteran aviator praised local controllers, describing them as “the best” he has encountered anywhere in the world, but argued the bigger problem lies in a system that still leaves too many aircraft outside controlled airspace.
“Australia is pretty well unique in the world that has airline aircraft flying in cloud in uncontrolled airspace,” Mr Smith said, warning that in some parts of the country pilots are still relying on procedures he described as “a 1930s system”.
The investigation also highlighted growing pressure inside the control network itself.
Scott Nugent, an air traffic controller in Sydney and president of the Civil Air union, pointed to staffing shortages as a central problem.
“Something needs to change now to actually give our traffic controllers what they need to do their job properly,” Mr Nugent said.
He also warned fatigue was becoming a real issue, with some controllers working punishing rosters and heavy overtime.
“There is no world where any worker should be expected to work 800 hours of overtime per year,” he said.
“Some individuals are, yes, and that’s not right and it’s not safe.”
Those concerns have gained urgency after several serious incidents at Sydney Airport and elsewhere.
Spotlight revisited the near-miss involving Jetstar flight JQ402, when the aircraft was taxiing for takeoff and came within metres of a Qatar Airways jet under tow, forcing a sudden stop that injured a crew member and rattled passengers.
Passenger Elena Delon recalled looking out and seeing the other aircraft “very close from us”, before realising “something is going wrong, seriously”.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating that incident along with other recent events.
Mr Smith’s concerns centred on what happens away from the biggest capital city airports, where much of the focus often falls.
According to the program, 70 per cent of Australia’s airspace below a certain altitude is uncontrolled, including at a number of regional airports used by airline passengers.
Mr Smith argued that reform has been discussed for decades but never fully delivered, and pointed to the fatal 2020 Mangalore mid-air collision as a warning of what can happen when aircraft are left to separate themselves.
Mr Smith argued pilots in uncontrolled airspace should not be expected to match the work of trained controllers, warning, “pilots will never be as good as an air traffic controller”.
He pointed to Ballina as proof change is possible, after years of safety concerns and dozens of incidents helped push the airport into controlled airspace.
