Another Day, this time the press is good

15 . ATC emerges as a threat to air safety. Something should be done

Ben Sandilands writes:

It is time for a management clean-out at AirServices Australia as well as Qantas.

AirServices Australia is now emerging as a serious threat not just to public safety, but to Australia’s international reputation.

At last someone is displaying that they get it, well done Ben and Crikey!

It is unprecedented for the managements of Qantas and Virgin Blue, and CASA more recently, and ICAO -- the International Civil Aviation Organisation -- to raise concerns about lack of air traffic control over high density areas of our airspace because of staff shortages.

Airservices runs at the behest of their AOC, this includes a requirement to have enough staff to provide the required services according to the relevant PART under the CASRs; is it time for CASA to really examine if Airservices is capable of running according to the rules that it is required to comply with?

The last time ICAO broke its usually diplomatic reserve in such cases was almost 50 years ago, when the department of civil aviation and the airlines of those days and some senior pilots resisted the installation of black box flight recorders and the costs of weather radar.

Australian aviation has been very, very change resistant for a very long time.

The chief executive officer of AirServices Australia, Gregg Russell, is blaming everything from "renegade" controllers to head-hunting by overseas countries and union demands for his inability to keep the radar consoles manned.

Don't forget he started out blaming previous management for poor planning; yet under his stewardship we cut training and recruitment even further; introduced a business model which required about 10% more controllers and moved 11% of operational staff into management roles, to increase communication.

Yet before Russell took it over, AirServices Australia it had a functioning air traffic control system, albeit one that was imperfect, but one that delivered developed world standards of aircraft separation.

Amen, we blame the FPT, otherwise known as TFN too.

The aviation sector is bewildered by the Minister for Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, saying nothing about this so far except to repeat Mr Russell’s excuses about unionists wanting more money.

Yes, what is the agenda, is this a union that can be taken on to prove Labor can be tuff on unions too.  After all this is the union that puts those noisy aircraft over your house.

Well, of course they want more money. But CEOs earn their money by improving an enterprise, not leaving gaping gaps in the service and dropping the owners, in this case the government, in boiling water.

This CEO has made massive bonuses for himself and inner sanctum but cutting operational budgets beyond all recognition; removing waste, previously known as the core business.  One of Labor's election promises was to remove public service 'bonuses'; he's not a public servant he's a CEO...  hmmmm!

Russell should review whatever advice he is being given, ask himself who has been misleading the Minister, and insist that the radar consoles be manned, 24/7. If he can't deliver that, he should resign.

Resign, nope, don't give him the honour of resigning, BIG TONY Sack him before he gets you into more trouble.  Talk to the controllers before you swallow the spin that this corporation has become a master at.