from
www.civilair.asn.au
Press Release
August 26, 2008
Can't retain, can't recruit ... and now can't train
Today's confirmation that Airservices Australia doesn't have enough instructors to train new air traffic controllers means airspace closures are set to continue - despite Airservices' promise that it would fix Australia's chronic shortage of air traffic controllers by September 1.
Today's
Sydney Morning Herald reports that Airservices has recruits filling time on pilot simulators despite its promise the Senate Estimates Committee to train 80 to 100 recruits per year for the next five years.
Recruits are training themselves on simulators, without supervision from instructors, because of staff shortages at the Melbourne training academy.
Peter McGuane, executive secretary of Civil Air, says today's revelations are another major embarrassment for Australia's aviation safety provider which will struggle to train 60 new recruits a year.
"Thanks to Airservices cutbacks, poor planning, and a reorganisation that turned 100 air traffic controllers into managers, Australia is short by more than 100 air traffic controllers.
"An overseas recruiting effort attracted only 25 of the target of 40-80 overseas air traffic controllers.
"Meanwhile Australian air traffic controllers are heading overseas for the better wages and conditions offered in the global marketplace or reaching retirement age.
"The result of this has been increasing sectors of unsupervised air space, where pilots have to monitor each others' position.
"Airservices CEO Greg Russell has promised that by September 1 Airservices would have adequate trained staff and there would be no more air space closures.
"Air traffic controllers are doing their best - rostered to work around the clock, covering reasonable overtime for roster shortfalls or ill colleagues - but the system is near collapse and that's the employer's responsibility.
"The shortage of air traffic controllers flows into a shortage of instructors at the training academy, and the training for each new recruit takes up to two years.
Airservices claims a national shortage of only 17 air traffic controllers. Their union, Civil Air, believes the real figure is more than 100.
Media enquiries should be directed to:
Peter McGuane, Executive Secretary 0412 538 336
Andrew Taylor 0411 156 797
very interested to see how TFN fixes the staffing problem by end end of august - in 5 days time.