Well, well, well,.....
An
unsolicited memo from an 'interested person or persons'........
Re: the Integration of FW to ATC.
CEO Direct - Flightwatch
You may have been aware of some discussion about our Flightwatch service in the media last week. The decision to change the method of delivery of Flightwatch was the result of an overall review of AusFIC which reported in March 2005.
Airservices decided on the change following a safety assessment as part of this review. The implementation of this change was, as at last week, more than 85% complete. However, following a request from the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, we will defer the remaining changes pending the outcome of the external review that the Minister has requested.
This decision only affects the four remaining separate Flightwatch frequencies that were due to transfer [two each on 23 November and 20 December]. We will issue a NOTAM and an AIP SUP to this effect.
Pilots should continue to use the relevant ATC frequency to access the Flightwatch service, except in the four sectors [Tindal, Darwin, Thursday Island and Argyle 118.4] in which the transfer is yet to occur, where the original Flightwatch frequency will be retained until the review outcome is known.
Further, as an added safety measure during transition, Airservices had previously decided to retain a backup service to 'ghost' those frequencies already transferred to the new Flightwatch arrangements. We will now retain this ghosting service until the review outcome is known.
Decisions on the timing, terms of reference, and the individual or organisation to conduct the review will be agreed by the Board of Airservices in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Transport and Regional Services.
Greg Russell
CEO
4 Freqs....SHESH!!!....Methinks the Barn Door is open...the horse has GORN,
and, sorry to say, I think you may have been 'snowed' Dick.
'Tis indeed a great pity that the opinions of the 'So many', who have a vast experience, have been listened to by 'so few'.....
And, further, the industry is now so 'fractured', that 'they' in ASA can now do whatever 'they' want to....
To all colleagues, past and present...
