Originally Posted by
missy
The most likely scenario with three controllers means that one controller is performing ADC, one controller is performing SMC, and the other controller is performing Clearance Delivery, Coordinator and Supervisor or using AsA jargon, Operational Command Authority.
Another likely scenario is that one controller was operating three different ATC positions at once, 3 frequencies (124.7, 133.8 and 127.6), 3 different consoles, and 3 different responsibilities - ADC, Clearance Delivery and Coordinator.
The weather on that evening was brutal and in those circumstances of rapidly changing weather, multiple sources of weather including via facsimile (yes, a fax), unexpected and unauthorised drone activity it then falls to the Coordinator to update things quickly and efficiently. Often it changes between creating and broadcasting on ATIS. Difficult to do if you are also responding to aircraft calls on other frequencies and potentially at other consoles. Überlingen anyone?
It would interesting to see the staff allocation sheet from that evening to see which positions a single controller was operating concurrently. Not as a criticism of the individual controller but rather how dangerous it really is. Human factors anyone?
CASA / ATSB, where are you? Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, where are you? Minister for Communications - where are you? Minister for Creative Writing (Arts), where are you?