http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-23349,00.html
TRANSPORT Minister Mark Vaile yesterday ordered Airservices Australia not to proceed with plans to shut down 27 Flightwatch transmitters after former aviation watchdog Dick Smith warned the move could threaten public safety.
Mr Vaile called for Labor transport spokesman Martin Ferguson to support his caretaker decision to ask the Department of Transport and Regional Services to put a hold on the decision until after a new review of the transmitters.
The transmitters provide weather and safety information to pilots, and Mr Smith - a former Civil Aviation Safety Authority chairman, who is threatening to sue over the matter - says their closure would pose "an intolerable risk to public safety and (be) a clear contravention of government policy".
The air navigation authority has estimated that closing the transmitters would save $500,000 a year - a decision that Mr Smith said had been taken secretly and without consultation or detailed study of cost and safety benefits. Airservices plans to transfer the Flightwatch service to air traffic control.
Mr Smith has given Airservices chief executive Gregg Russell until 10am tomorrow to wind back the decision or face a Federal Court injunction. He has said the decision is a substantial danger because pilots using air traffic control frequencies to seek Flightwatch-type updates could be blocked by others requiring instructions for landing and separation.
He also says it is at odds with the Government's National Airspace System policy, which would eventually require a separate Flightwatch system so air traffic controllers could provide separation in presently uncontrolled "Class E" airspace.
Mr Vaile said he was aware of Mr Smith's concerns but had been assured the decision to shut down the transmitters was "necessary and wasn't going to jeopardise safety".
He said: "Because we're in caretaker mode, I'm calling on Martin Ferguson to agree with this move, just for the duration of the election, so we can guarantee the safety in the aviation industry (and) so we can get further advice from Airservices Australia about their decision."