Thanks for the response Dick,
I thoroughly agree with you on a couple of points -
- Maximising the use of our $350M Radar System....Imagine the FULL MAXIMUM use that could have been made if.....the lowly FSO had access to it at the lower levels where it was sorely needed - as you are well aware.
- Am I suggesting 'we hand it back to FS to operate without Radar?'
NO! What I am suggesting is a 'common sense' approach making full use of all available resources - thats staff and equipment - to provide the best possible outcome, for ALL areas where it can be utilised.
Radar Coverage.... in WA....Ah Yes!
Depending on altitude, it could be anywhere from 60nm to the east of Perth for the bugsmashers, to 200nm YPPH for the Jet set.
Darwin, probably ditto.
Between YPPH & DN ? NUTHIN'. WA is a RADAR Vacuum. We do have a couple of elevated sites from where it could be effectively utilised.
- 'There would be a complete VHF FW system across OZ'....
Maybe that is the reason we were left with just 3 VHF's to cover ALL of WA!
- Kalamunda
- Pt Hedland
- Argyle
And, those, only because they were surplus to ATC reqs.
You asked for other opinions.
Mine is to utilise ALL available resources - both staff and facilities - to achieve the best possible outcome.
I'm not really interested in the 'nitpicking' - I remember well your 'Docco'
"Search, But No Rescue".
Well, what has changed?
EVERYTHING - we have gone backwards.
'They' failed to use common sense and all available resources then.
And, it is happening again now...
Regards to all