Australian Airspace to be compromised by reforms

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/...083130766.html

New flight rules like 'a bike in a formula one race'

September 26, 2003

The safety of thousands of flights across Australia could be severely
compromised when new air space reforms are introduced, air traffic
controllers warned yesterday.

The new National Airspace System (NAS) will allow light aircraft to use
commercial air space without having to have their flight plans approved
by air traffic control.

The reforms, based on a US model, have pilots and air traffic
controllers worried that flying would become a hit-and-miss affair.

Despite these concerns, Airservices Australia said it would press ahead
with the changes, which were planned to take effect in November.

Civil Air, which represents the nation's air traffic controllers, said
the plan was fraught with danger.

"The plan is akin to me riding a bicycle without warning across the
path of a formula one race and expecting the drivers to miss me," Civil
Air's president, Ted Lang, said.

"Flying in Australia will literally become a hit-or-miss affair,
putting passenger and crew safety at a very low point.

"We will have a private pilot, who happens to be taking a joy flight,
ducking and weaving without anyone knowing through a maze of
approaching domestic and international flights.

"It is an unacceptable risk that defies logic."

The NAS chief, Mike Smith, said the reforms would mainly affect
regional carriers, with Qantas and Virgin Blue spared any major
changes.

Civil Air met with two pilots' unions yesterday; Mr Smith said he would
meet the unions and Civil Air next Tuesday to allay any concerns.

"We have a safe system today; the system we're introducing is even
safer," he said.

Airservices Australia's chief executive, Bernie Smith, assured pilots
and air traffic controllers that any changes would be safely
implemented.

"Airservices Australia has looked at the US model and noting the much
higher traffic density in the US, worse weather and good safety record,
we are satisfied it is a good one," he said.

Mr Lang, however, disputes that conclusion. He said that while the US
had radar coverage across 85 per cent of America , radar in Australia
covers only 15 per cent.

Air traffic controllers would not support change for the sake of
cost-cutting, he said. "People rightly expect air traffic controllers
to ensure their safety but we will not have a fighting chance under
these changes."

AAP

BL.
- --
Brad Littlejohn | Email:
Unix Systems Administrator, |
Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead! | http://www.sbcglobal.net/~tyketto
PGP: 1024D/E319F0BF 6980 AAD6 7329 E9E6 D569 F620 C819 199A E319 F0BF

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.2.3 (GNU/Linux)

iD8DBQE/c8RbyBkZmuMZ8L8RAsoYAKDx7jxxwuGkhLtPaa0NX+JmzaVh9Q Cgx9/Y
utzwwgjXqh86L2p3rOAay44=
=r11A
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

so let's see - with a higher traffic density,the US has minimal
commercial-private aircraft conflicts. The Aussie equivalent ofthe FAA
thinks the model of "go off and fly -IF you need to fly in a congested area,
you will probably need ground control" will work - the CONTROLLERS don't
(gee, what a surprise). IF they use a TCA concept, they will avoid the
potential conflicts in "urban" areas (and uncontrolled flight in "rural"
areas doesn't NEED control assistance - as has been shown for the past, oh,
60 years in the US) "See and avoid" has been around for VFR since the
beginning of flight.

Another controller ricebowl issue
"A Guy Called Tyketto" wrote in message
m...
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/...083130766.html

New flight rules like 'a bike in a formula one race'

September 26, 2003

The safety of thousands of flights across Australia could be severely
compromised when new air space reforms are introduced, air traffic
controllers warned yesterday.

The new National Airspace System (NAS) will allow light aircraft to use
commercial air space without having to have their flight plans approved
by air traffic control.

The reforms, based on a US model, have pilots and air traffic
controllers worried that flying would become a hit-and-miss affair.

Despite these concerns, Airservices Australia said it would press ahead
with the changes, which were planned to take effect in November.

Civil Air, which represents the nation's air traffic controllers, said
the plan was fraught with danger.

"The plan is akin to me riding a bicycle without warning across the
path of a formula one race and expecting the drivers to miss me," Civil
Air's president, Ted Lang, said.

"Flying in Australia will literally become a hit-or-miss affair,
putting passenger and crew safety at a very low point.

"We will have a private pilot, who happens to be taking a joy flight,
ducking and weaving without anyone knowing through a maze of
approaching domestic and international flights.

"It is an unacceptable risk that defies logic."

The NAS chief, Mike Smith, said the reforms would mainly affect
regional carriers, with Qantas and Virgin Blue spared any major
changes.

Civil Air met with two pilots' unions yesterday; Mr Smith said he would
meet the unions and Civil Air next Tuesday to allay any concerns.

"We have a safe system today; the system we're introducing is even
safer," he said.

Airservices Australia's chief executive, Bernie Smith, assured pilots
and air traffic controllers that any changes would be safely
implemented.

"Airservices Australia has looked at the US model and noting the much
higher traffic density in the US, worse weather and good safety record,
we are satisfied it is a good one," he said.

Mr Lang, however, disputes that conclusion. He said that while the US
had radar coverage across 85 per cent of America , radar in Australia
covers only 15 per cent.

Air traffic controllers would not support change for the sake of
cost-cutting, he said. "People rightly expect air traffic controllers
to ensure their safety but we will not have a fighting chance under
these changes."

AAP

BL.
- --
Brad Littlejohn | Email:
Unix Systems Administrator, |
Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead! | http://www.sbcglobal.net/~tyketto
PGP: 1024D/E319F0BF 6980 AAD6 7329 E9E6 D569 F620 C819 199A E319 F0BF

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.2.3 (GNU/Linux)

iD8DBQE/c8RbyBkZmuMZ8L8RAsoYAKDx7jxxwuGkhLtPaa0NX+JmzaVh9Q Cgx9/Y
utzwwgjXqh86L2p3rOAay44=
=r11A
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----