Planes off the radar as air traffic controllers take sickies

[NickN]

Planes off the radar as air traffic controllers take sickies

Exclusive by Justin Vallejo, Urban Affairs Reporter

June 30, 2008 12:00am

A MASS sickie by air traffic controllers has left thousands of airline passengers flying blind through uncontrolled air space.

Flights through northern NSW and parts of Queensland went unmonitored after five controllers called in sick on short notice over the weekend.

The blackout affected almost every major airline on Friday and Saturday, although it is understood Qantas chose not to fly through the affected areas.

It comes as air traffic controllers are one of the sickest workforces in the country, with 15,700 sick days between 900 controllers last year - up to four times the national average.

By law, controllers are not able to work if they even have a head cold or anything that could affect performance.

"This has been happening with more and more frequency," said Robert Mason, president of the controllers union Civil Air, yesterday.

"We've been short staffed for a long time and it's very difficult to get people into the job. The problem is not so much people calling in sick it's the availability of people to come in and cover them."

On Friday three controllers covering the Tops East airspace in Queensland called in sick, leaving the sectors unmonitored between 3pm and 9pm.

Fourteen air traffic controllers on rostered days off were contacted but none could cover the holes.

On Saturday, another two staff covering two east coast sectors, stretching north from Newcastle to Coffs Harbour and west from the Hunter to Armidale and the state's western border, called in sick.

When the areas cannot be monitored due to staff shortages or technical failures, Airservices Australia issues a Traffic Information Broadcast by Aircraft (TIBA) notice.

It is up to individual airlines to decide whether it is safe to fly though the sectors, relying on their own broadcasts and instruments to avoid collisions.

That basically consists of pilots broadcasting their position and direction and leaving it up to pilots not to crash into each other.

Airlines with flights affected included Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Blue, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Cathay Pacific. It is understood RAAF Williamtown, north of Newcastle, was also affected.

Australian and International Pilots Association president Ian Woods said the TIBA system was totally unfit for the safety of pilots and passengers.

"Did the airlines that operated through these blind spots do a risk analysis on a mid-air collision? I bet they didn't," Mr Woods said.

"This can't go on, we either stand up for safety or we don't."

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority said the situation is managed in the safest way by Airservices Australia.

Airservices is in pay negotiations with Civil Air, which wants increases of between 40 and 60 per cent.