JH is in my personal dealings with him a pretty good bloke and as has been mentioned, has been effectively been handed the keys to the titanic (yes I know the titanic probably didn't have keys but you know what I mean). Watching CANTY sector at 4 in the morning was more interesting than watching him bat, but I won't hold that against him
What I will say though is that he had his chance on the big stage to show that he was going to (as an old instructor of mine called Steve Stevens used to say) "grab the problem by the balls and not let go till it was fixed". Instead he came out with the usual company speak. If only the interview had gone like this...
SEVERE shortages of air traffic controllers are causing major headaches for Airservices Australia.
A Senate estimates committee today heard details of air traffic control towers left understaffed and at times unstaffed because of sickness and a lack of controllers.
"We do have a
severe shortage of air traffic controllers," the general manager of air traffic control for Airservices Australia Jason Harfield told the hearing.
"One of the factors that exacerbates our problem is that it takes at least two years from somebody off the street to be qualified as an air traffic controller
and so we are going to expedite this process by sending job offers to the substantial number of ex-employees controlling overseas to entice them home, while substantially increasing the current package to ensure we keep all the controllers we have.
"We have had a
largenumber of service interruptions, particularly over the last six to 12 months
and I apologise on behalf of Airservices as it is completely unacceptable."
Labor senator Kerry O'Brien detailed a series of events during the past week where the number of air traffic controllers had been fewer than required, and asked whether the "stories that are out and about" were true.
For example, he said, last Friday between 2.30pm (AEDT) and 6pm, and from 9pm until midnight, there was only one air traffic controller on duty for Sydney arrivals from Melbourne, when normally there were three people available.
Mr Harfield said that was not quite accurate but services had been delayed because of
past poor planning resulting in staffing being too thin.
"The situation was managed so that the service could be provided
but it was still an unacceptable situation and I will do all in my power to make sure it never happens again," he said.
"There were restrictions placed on how traffic would flow through the airspace to ensure that the system wasn't overloaded and provision was made to provide breaks to the controller
and I personally would like to thank that controller for saving our bacon yet again."
Senator O'Brien continued his line of questioning, asking about closures at the Launceston air traffic control centre last weekend.
"Launceston tower closed early Sunday night," he said.
Mr Harfield admitted he was unaware of the closure at Launceston
but admitted there are huge staffing problems there and he would make sure those problems are resolved.
"It did open late on Sunday, that was a result of the morning shift at Launceston tower going sick
and the tower being inadequately staffed meaning there was a lack of staff availableand we were unable to get a replacement staff member.
"At the moment staff members at Launceston, the normal establishment is six
which is not enough and we will increase it as soon as is practicable."
Mr Harfield said one person working at Launceston was on long-term sick leave.
"We've just gone through a selection process to find
a number ofreplacement
s."
I know I'm dreamin