Air traffic controllers at Sydney airport have raised 'grave concerns' with federal safety regulators about collision risk after last month's airspace redesign linked to the new Western Sydney International airport, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Controllers at Sydney airport warned of 'grave concerns' about collision risk after airspace rule changes introduced last month.
- The changes are related to the new Western Sydney International airport.
- A confidential complaint was considered by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), and the federal government was notified on Thursday.
- A controller warned in June that changes had been rushed with 'inadequate training for controllers, of all experience levels'.
- Controllers likened the situation to the months preceding a Washington DC crash in which 67 people died.
Air traffic controllers at Sydney airport have warned federal safety regulators that they hold ‘grave concerns’ about changes to airspace rules introduced last month, according to an exclusive report by Guardian Australia.
The controllers likened the current situation to the months leading up to a crash in Washington DC in which 67 people died, the Guardian reported.
Guardian Australia revealed that the federal government was notified on Thursday of a confidential complaint being considered by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). In the complaint, an experienced air traffic controller warned in June that changes related to the new Western Sydney International airport had been rushed.
The controller said the rollout had involved ‘inadequate training for controllers, of all experience levels’, according to the report.
The whistleblower said controllers have ‘minimal confidence in their ability to handle’ the rule changes tied to the second airport, the Guardian reported.
The airspace redesign is connected to the opening of Western Sydney International airport, which is intended to serve as a second major airport for the city.
Why it matters
Concerns raised by front-line air traffic controllers about a rushed airspace redesign go to the heart of aviation safety for one of Australia's busiest airports. With controllers reportedly comparing the situation to a fatal crash overseas, the complaint raises questions about training and preparation as a new airport comes online.
Frequently asked questions
What are the air traffic controllers concerned about?
According to the Guardian, controllers hold 'grave concerns' about collision risk following changes to airspace rules introduced last month, related to the new Western Sydney International airport. A controller warned the changes were rushed with inadequate training for controllers of all experience levels.
Who has been notified about the complaint?
The Guardian reports that the federal government was notified on Thursday of a confidential complaint being considered by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
What is the airspace change connected to?
The changes are related to the new Western Sydney International airport, intended to serve as a second airport for the city, according to the Guardian.