To all, thanks for the interesting replies.
To answer a few things as best I can:
- Yes, the service is provided by Approach controllers who are also endorsed as Enroute controllers for the most part (although 2 who do it more often are dedicated approach controllers only). They never do Approach and Enroute at the same time though.
-Is it worth an approach service with the movements experienced? Well that is a question for industry? What I would personally suggest is that parameters need to be determined if it is to exist or be removed. At times there have been Super heavy/heavy and multiple RPT jet movements using the service simultaneously but more often you could fire the proverbial 'canon' and not hit anything.
- The 'do you need a service' question is also IMHO, also one to ask more broadly. There are lots of Enroute sectors with low traffic levels and the chances of two coming together are much less than the same number coming together in the proximity of terminal airspace.
- Yep, there are alternatives, although Airservices is trying to bring in SIDS/STARS to segregate traffic at Mackay/Rocky so they can get rid of the Approach service by saying it is safer - jury out on that given designs will actually see potential increases in separation issues and doesn't really segregate once you get to 4500' and it becomes G. It's been suggested that if the Approach service goes it would be better to make it G to 8500' giving pilots more time to assess traffic etc.
Personally, I think if you have trained people to provide radar approach they should be used more during the daytime than the overnight service provided when the tower closes.
- No disrespect Dick, often disagree with your statements or positions, but one thing that does ring true is that in 2017, where we have surveillance to the ground it should be utiilised more than just as a "we'll give you traffic" as workload permits.
- don't want to wait until another accident before we got radar in 1991 to be used at Cairns & Cooly.
-Airservices/CASA in a prickly position now, can you imagine what happens if 2 come together at Mackay or Rocky after the approach service is removed?