AAP
Virgin plane in air near-miss
December 3, 2003
A VIRGIN Blue flight activated its collision avoidance system today as it went within 20 seconds of crashing into a light plane north-west of Melbourne.
The air traffic controllers union, Civil Air, blamed the near miss involving the Virgin 737 and a twin-engine Cessna on the new National Airspace System.
The new airspace rules, which came into effect last Thursday, allow light planes into areas used by commercial airliners.
Civil Air president Ted Lang called on federal Transport Minister John Anderson to immediately suspend the new airspace system pending a full review.
Airservices Australia confirmed that Virgin flight DJ980 from the Gold Coast to Melbourne and the Cessna were 55 nautical miles from Melbourne when the 737's collision warning system was automatically activated 20 seconds before impact about 10am (AEDT).
The warning system tells the pilot to maintain his flight level to avoid impact.
Mr Lang said he understood the planes nearly collided when the 737 was given clearance to descend into the newly downgraded airspace.
The Cessna requested an alternative operating instruction - which is not required under the new rules - while "sandwiched" between the 737 and an air ambulance.
"This result is a direct result of the new airspace regime," Mr Lang said.
"Controllers and pilots are under immense pressure and unreasonable pressure.
"In this case not even the "see-and-avoid" collision procedures were effective."
Airservices Australia, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Virgin Blue are independently investigating the incident.
Airservices Australia spokesman Richard Dudley said it was the ninth incident since last Thursday under investigation that may by attributed to the new rules.
Mr Lang said the real figure was closer to 20.
"The safety of the public should not be determined by bureaucratic definitions of infringements or incidents, especially the same bureaucracy responsible for this debacle," he said.
AAP
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