Wed "The Australian"
Airspace worries to be put to Anderson
From AAP
October 01, 2003
Australian airspace reforms will make the skies less safe, pilots and air traffic controllers have told the group charged with implementing the reforms.
The Australian International Pilot's Association (AIPA) and Civil Air, who represent air traffic controllers, met with the National Airspace System (NAS) implementation group in Sydney today to discuss concerns over the new system.
Under the new rules, light aircraft will be allowed to operate below 10,000 feet (3,050 metres) without radio or radar contact, or notifying air traffic controllers.
AIPA and Civil Air believe it is a dangerous system that will force pilots to keep a lookout for other planes by making it their responsibility to do so.
Civil Air president Ted Lang said the NAS implementation group would put their concerns to Transport Minister John Anderson and a response was expected within days.
"The position of Civil Air has not changed in light of today's meeting," he said.
"Air traffic controllers maintain serious concerns about the safety of the proposed airspace rules."
Mike Smith, of the NAS implementation group, confirmed he would take the concerns to the minister and defended the system.
"There will always be a difference of opinions but it is important that everyone knows their opinions are valued," he said.
"There is no intention to undermine the safety of the industry, in fact quite the opposite."
AIPA safety officer Richard Woodward said he believed the minister would be responsive to concerns about the changes.
"The majority of professional users of the airspace, the AIPA and Civil Air are unhappy with the model as it stands and we hope the minister will take that on board," he said.
Concerns over the safety of the reforms were dismissed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), which represents around 4,000 pilots and owners around Australia.
"We fully support the NAS proposal as it stands," AOPA vice president Ron Lawford told AAP.
"The public are becoming concerned but the safety authorities are bound to ensure the new airspace will be as safe as possible and we are confident in their ability to do so."
It was extremely improbable that any pilot would fly in Australia without a transponder or radio, Mr Lawford added.
"I think what's happening is the present system requires a disproportionate use of the number of air traffic controllers to the number of aircraft in the sky," he said.
"I think they're opposing it because they're worried about their jobs."
The Department of Transport today reaffirmed its commitment to the NAS, the first stage of which comes into effect on November 27.
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