All,
I have consulted some people in the know and their comments follow:
“flight information and alerts to pilots is not closing, but simply shifting to new radio frequencies”
Currently, Flightwatch is provided on
Discrete VHF,
ATC FIA Frequencies and
HF.
After the changes, Flightwatch will be provided on
ATC FIA Frequences and
HF.
The discrete VHF as described in ERSA will be, in the main, turned off.
There are no new frequencies being introduced for the provision of Flightwatch.
“The transfer of Flightwatch to air traffic control frequencies”
There is no “transfer” of Flightwatch to ATC. ATC have always been providers of the flightwatch function on ATC FIA frequencies but have had the option of referring a call to the specialist Flightwatch officer with ALL the tools at their disposal to respond to the call on a frequency separate from the PRIMARY control function of separation.
The provision of Flightwatch on discrete VHF networks will be abandon.
“Flightwatch delivers an on-request service to pilots of current weather and operational information, primarily for Visual Flight Rules pilots which include many General Aviation pilots.”
Many IFR and Heavy Jet RPT pilots utilise the Flightwatch system and significantly so in times of inclement weather when controller workload is increased. Demanding that Controllers provide separation services, weather avoidance and in-flight information in these circumstances is a recipe for disaster. Something will not be provided…the VH-PYN Condobolin incident pointed to the abject failure to provide information in a proper manner and was the impetus for an overhaul of the In-flight information service as provided by ATC.
“Following a review of Flightwatch in 2006”
Please supply the review documentation and not that rubbish “AusFIC Review” completed in early 2005.
“Other than the change of frequencies, the procedures for pilots requesting and receiving Flightwatch information remains unchanged"
There is no change of frequencies only a removal of the standalone ones.
The procedures have changed. Pilots no longer are able to call “flightwatch” on any frequency for in-flight information. When on an ATC FIA frequency, they need to prefix their call with “XXX Center”.
Requests on ATC FIA frequencies will be afforded 0 priority.
"Airservices will ensure the transition runs smoothly, including continued consultation with general aviation pilots and other industry groups, and that a backup service will continue to 'ghost' the new Flightwatch as an additional safety measure throughout the implementation phase," Mr Russell said.
This ghosting phase ends before Christmas and the Flightwatch frequencies will be turned off and the service solely provided on ATC FIA frequencies and HF – regardless of outcome – because of Ausfic staff shortages.
Flightwatch VHF are still receiving significant numbers of requests for information from all over the country, even though stage II of the implementation is in effect.
“In deciding to introduce the change, Airservices considered historical data which showed that calls from pilots for flight information and alerting services across all 29 dedicated Flightwatch frequencies around Australia averaged in total only 50 calls per day across all frequencies.”
There are 27 Frequencies and 29 Sites where those frequencies are used. Only one of those sites is not co-located with an ATC frequency and it will go over to ATC for their use - eventually. Maybe some other Flightwatch VHF will transition but that will only be one or two others in Queensland and is certainly not going to be the norm.
Prior to the transition process started in October 2007, the dedicated Flightwatch VHF console operating Monday to Friday, took well in excess of 250 messages per day and that was with the morning hiatus between 8am and 11am – this solely due to an Airservcies created STAFF SHORTAGE; 19 people out of a staff of 103 were made redundant since Dec 2006 AND the provision of Maritime HF services only exacerbate the situation!
IF there were the staff available to operate it all day, then the figure would easily top 300+ calls per day EVERY week day.
No numbers are able to be produced for weekends for the VHF workload as it is incorporated onto the 3 HF consoles for these periods.
On the staff front, it only takes two (2) (II) staff to operate the position – a morning and an afternoon shift - 5 days a week. Given that those staff need rec leave etc, then the requirement is about 2.5 staff in total.
“Responses usually took less than 10 seconds.”
Responses are vastly different between “ABC Go Ahead” and the delivery of an amended ARFOR or the workload associated with a SARTIME nomination and they in no way begin to describe the workload that is involved in dealing with a series of calls for a flight plan amendment or In-flight emergency.
“These stations will be used for normal air traffic control.”
Control/separation services cannot be provided on any of the Flightwatch VHF because none of them have the required secondary or tertiary backup equipment installed.
“He said that the change would also lead to enhanced collision hazard information to pilots, through the improved situational awareness available to air traffic controllers.”
Aircraft normally operate on the control frequencies and only go to the Flightwatch VHF for a request or when directed by ATC to receive ATC-Initiated FIS. Then they are supposed to (and DO) return to Control Frequencies. WHAT increased situational awareness is there for ATCs if the Flightwatch VHF network is not present?
Oh, I get it, more aircraft on frequency requesting more information forcing the ATC to focus on a broader area of responsibility.