On checking the charts, its worth noting that nearly every airline will pass through this horrible "E" airspace on descent to every airport in Australia. To make matters worse, the airspace boundary changes at different airports (just to confuse everybody). It varies from 30 dme Cooly & Canberra, 36 dme at Adelaide, 40 dme at Brissy & Melbourne to 45 dme at Sydney. So for example, a B737 from the north, making a straight in approach to Rwy 16 in Melbourne, is probably down to 11,000ft at 40 dme, so is in class"e" airspace and has been for a few minutes - so the chances of a miss or hit ARE real, plus throw in that VFR are not even supposed to talk on the radio anymore!!
While this system may work if there is just one or two aircraft in the air at one time, throw in another dozen or so and with a couple of VFR unknowns and I doubt if the best controllers could guarantee us safe separation. This new system lowers the safety levels, just so a few "dopey ducks" can fly around VFR more.
Lets not forget that there will be occasions where jets will be cruising below FL245 in "E', during short sectors and on those days when turbulence and strong headwind necessitate being down lower than normal. So the risk is there and any one who believes that transponders, TCAS and Mark "1" eyeball will save the day in all situations, has rocks in their heads.
So its time "dopey duck" and supporters of NAS take it back from where it came and stay there.
