BOM Senate Estimates 18/11/13
Senator XENOPHON: I have some specific questions for the bureau in relation to the incident that occurred on 18 June this year when a Qantas 737 and a Virgin 737 en route to Adelaide were diverted to Mildura due to fog. The Virgin 737 was required to make an emergency landing because it was about to run out of fuel after one missed approach due to further fog at Mildura. The ATSB issued a preliminary report into the incident on 18 July. The report raised a number of issues in regard to the incident, among which was the provision of weather information. The report states that 'the crew of the Virgin plane were not made aware of the conditions at Adelaide until just prior to the top of their descent, when air traffic control drew it to their attention. As such, when they departed Sydney'—I think it was Brisbane—'they had no indication of the weather in Adelaide and nothing to indicate that they needed to carry fuel for an alternate'. Why was information about the conditions at Adelaide not provided to the crew of the Virgin plane? I understand that the crew of the Qantas plane were aware of deteriorating conditions in Adelaide. Was this based on information from the bureau, or from another source?
Dr Vertessy : I will pass that to Dr Canterford.
Dr Canterford : I am the division head in charge of hazards, warnings and forecasts. The bureau has cooperated with the ATSB report. I understand that it is still being considered at this stage. We have provided all information on forecasts and warnings. Our responsibility is to provide these forecasts and warnings to aviation. The capability of airlines to receive that information et cetera is a matter for their undertaking. We provide the information through the standard Airservices Australia mechanisms.
Senator XENOPHON: It appears from the preliminary report of the ATSB that the Virgin crew did not have access to the information the Qantas crew did. That has nothing to do with the bureau?
Dr Canterford : I think that is still to be considered by the ATSB, but my understanding at the moment is that that would be a matter for the airline to get that information through their normal channels.
Senator XENOPHON: Excuse my ignorance in relation to this but is it a case that the bureau provides information to air traffic control, or do you actually provide information directly to the airlines?
Dr Canterford : Thank you for that clarification. We do not provide directly to each individual airline; we provide it through the standard air traffic mechanisms through Airservices Australia.
Senator XENOPHON: So it is up to air traffic control, presumably, to provide that information to the airlines?
Dr Canterford : Air traffic control but also through the standard networks of information that Airservices provide to the airlines. They have access to that information.
Senator XENOPHON: So, presumably, Qantas would have the same information that Virgin would have in terms of weather forecasts?
Dr Canterford : That would be my understanding.
Senator XENOPHON: Finally, the ATSB's interim report states that 'as the Virgin crew were descending through to about 10,000 feet in visual conditions it became obvious to the crew that the weather conditions were not as reported and that there appeared to be fog at Mildura and low cloud in the area. An indication of the actual weather at Mildura was not possible from the Automated Weather Information Service as it was unavailable'. Why was a more accurate forecast not provided, and whose responsibility was it to ensure that the AWIS was functioning?
Dr Canterford : I think that is still the considerations of the ATSB.
Senator XENOPHON: All right, but the AWISs are your responsibility; is that right?
Dr Canterford : We provide the information to the AWIS, and my understanding is that the broadcasting of information is a mechanism of the normal navigation processes at an airport.
Senator XENOPHON: You are not responsible for looking after the AWISs? That would be air traffic control or Airservices Australia?
Dr Canterford : Correct.
Senator XENOPHON: Okay, that clarifies that. So you have no idea if an AWIS is not operating somewhere. That is not really your responsibility; it is only information that goes to the AWIS?
Dr Canterford : I think we are going into some details that I would have to clarify. I am happy to take that on notice.
Senator XENOPHON: But it is a pretty basic thing, though. If your agency is not the agency responsible for the maintenance of an AWIS—is that the case? I do not want to be needlessly asking the bureau questions when in fact it might be Airservices Australia that is responsible for the maintenance and the upkeep of an AWIS.
Dr Canterford : The bureau has responsibility for the automatic weather station which provides information to the AWIS and also through a telephone or broadcasting system by phone. Those details I would have to clarify myself.
Senator XENOPHON: Hang on; it is pretty basic though. Either you are responsible for an automated weather information service or you are not. Is the Bureau of Meteorology responsible for an automated weather information service?
Dr Canterford : My understanding is that we are not.
Senator XENOPHON: Okay. So who is responsible for it?
Dr Canterford : That is normally the responsibility—and I would have to check this, but the various airports do install that, and it is undertaken through the requirements, I believe, of either the aerodrome operators or Airservices.
Senator XENOPHON: Just finally on this, and I am very grateful to the chair for the time: if an AWIS has broken down or is not operating, is that something that you are told or is it primarily the responsibility of Airservices Australia to ensure that it is operating and its upkeep?
Dr Canterford : I prefer not to go into those details.
Senator XENOPHON: Why not?
Dr Canterford : Because while there is still the report of the ATSB—
Senator XENOPHON: No, sorry, Doctor; you cannot get out of it that easily. I do not think that is a fair answer, for this reason: I am not asking you about this particular incident; I am asking now, in general principles, about who is responsible for maintaining an automated weather information service. If it is not the bureau, fair enough, but I am just trying to understand who is responsible for these automated weather information services.
Dr Canterford : I can talk about the responsibilities of the bureau, but it goes beyond. I would have to check. I do not know the answer to that question.
Senator XENOPHON: Could you take that on notice—
Dr Canterford : I will take that on notice.
Senator XENOPHON: and also take on notice: how long had the AWIS at Mildura been unavailable? When was it repaired? Can the bureau give an indication of how often AWISs are unavailable, on average? But of course, if it is not your responsibility, that would circumvent all this as well. Thank you very much.
Dr Canterford : Thank you, Senator.