Dick not giving up........
Here is a link that works
Safety ace's dogfight vow Tasmania News - The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania
Hobart's air traffic tower is staffed from 6am to 10.30pm and Launceston's from 6am to 10pm.
These are the times for SCHEDULED RPT OPS.
And this is the story nobody talks about, except Zoe
From The Examiner;
Controllers work late for plane
BY ZOE EDWARDS
31 Jul, 2010 12:00 AM
THE late-night plane carrying the Canberra press gallery following the Prime Minister into Launceston last week was guided in by the airport's air traffic controllers.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard landed in Launceston at 9.25 on Sunday night, within the air traffic control tower's normal operating hours.
However, the press flight was delayed and was due to arrive in Launceston after 10pm - the tower's regular closing time.
Because of foggy conditions, Airservices Australia gave the pilot of the late flight the option to pay to extend the tower's operating hours in order to bring the flight.
The pilot took up the offer.
It is move rarely undertaken by commercial carriers.
Since a mid-air incident at Launceston Airport in 2008, Launceston flight controllers have offered to stay back and guide 29 late night flights but have been knocked back 27 times by airlines.
Instead, flights landing after 10pm rely on plane-to-plane communication to maintain separation.
The practice compelled high-profile businessman and aviator Dick Smith to last week label the Launceston Airport's air safety as second rate.
Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has since pledged that Launceston Airport will be under 24-hour air traffic control within six months.
Under the new protocol, Launceston's airspace will be controlled by Melbourne Airport's air traffic control between 10pm and 6am.
Well..........what a surprise, the system works
