1991..almost twenty years!
The end game is controlled airspace for Broome and Karratha. ICAO D towers work and have been working since BEFORE they became ICAO D towers. All our D towers are surrounded by class C airspace to protect RPT.
Why are Broome and Karratha receiving a tower service? To regulate the tourist GA VFR industry or the growing RPT industry? Why install a service that is hamstrung wrt VFR yet must provide total separation for RPT. If Broome and Karratha are surrounded by class E or even E with a broadcast zone...ATC cannot provide a separation service for RPT. ATC do not have control over where VFR go in E...if they have no control they cannot separate...it is that simple. ATC do not provide information to pilots to enhance their situation awareness...ATC SEPARATE PILOTS to maintain a standard...Flight Services provided pilots with information that enhanced situational awareness and they did a bloody good job! Stop confusing the situation. Air Traffic Control control!!!! they do not advise!!!!
If the top guys in the CASA and AirServices cannot explain this change to the system?...you have to ask yourself....why change it in the first place?