Wirraway
19th Feb 2004, 22:28
Fri "The Australian"
Pilots win review of airspace rules
By Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
February 20, 2004
PILOTS claimed a victory last night after Airservices Australia moved closer to rolling back its contentious airspace reforms.
Airservices chief executive Bernie Smith told staff in a memo the agency's board had agreed to two options being tested over the next three months "which could further improve the management of Class E airspace".
One involved reclassifying Class E airspace, where the onus is on pilots to look out for other planes, to Class C airspace, which is controlled.
A second option would expand the change by reclassifying all Class E airspace above 12,500 feet.
An Airservices spokesman confirmed a hazard identification meeting had been called next Wednesday to allow the industry to assess the options.
"These are the only two board-approved options at this stage, but we're not counting out the fact there may be others that emerge over the next three months," he said.
Pilots and air traffic controllers have campaigned against the changes to airspace rules introduced in November. And last night the Australian and International Pilots Association claimed success.
"It appears almost all the recommendations made during the recent consultation process with representatives of the professional aviation industry have been adopted," spokesman Richard Woodward said.
Air traffic control union Civil Air said both proposals vindicated its campaign and proved the downgraded airspace rules had deficiencies.
But a spokesman for Transport Minister John Anderson urged caution, saying no final decision had been taken.
Mr Anderson was yesterday due to receive recommendations from Airservices and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on changes they intend to make in response to a near collision between a Virgin Blue jet and a light aircraft near Launceston in December.
Recommendations already flagged include more pilot education, the use of portable radar at regional airports and putting radio frequency changes on charts.
Airservices' admission that it is pushing ahead with longer-term options clouds the situation and could delay a round of reforms due this year.
Yesterday's memo says the air traffic control corporation will start work on specifying a model of the airspace as it would finally end up.
The model will take into account government policy to match US airspace "to the maximum extent possible within statutory obligations".
"This model would then be subjected to a full design safety case and cost benefit analysis" taking 12 months.
The Airservices decision came as Qantas and Virgin Blue said they believed the changes were safe and only needed "fine-tuning".
But Qantas chief Geoff Dixon admitted the airline had concerns about Airservices decisions. The airline was watching the process closely.
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Fri "Sydney Morning Herald"
Air control tower at risk, but not the minister
By Robert Wainwright
February 20, 2004
An early-morning dash from Coffs Harbour to Adelaide has landed the federal Transport Minister, John Anderson, in an embarrassing position as he struggles to find a solution to air space management.
Mr Anderson's office, which was considering new changes in the system last night, has confirmed that his rush to attend an immigration policy launch in Adelaide resulted in the air traffic control tower at Coffs Harbour being opened at 7am - an hour early - for his Boeing 737.
The then acting prime minister had cut short a family holiday near Grafton to make the launch.
Coffs Harbour residents and aviation unions have jumped on the January 12 incident to highlight what they say is the Government's hypocrisy on air management.
The control tower has been under almost constant threat of closure by Airservices Australia for the past nine years.
Less than a week after the flight, Mr Anderson was on ABC Radio refusing to guarantee the tower's future, saying he was awaiting further advice.
The Coffs Harbour Advocate declared: "If it is not safe enough for the acting prime minster to take off from Coffs Harbour without guidance and security of the air traffic control tower, then why should it be safe for everybody else?"
The area is among those seriously affected by changes late last year that replaced some class-C airspace - where air traffic controllers separate commercial aircraft from light aircraft - with class-E air- space, where the onus is on pilots to look out for other planes.
Aviation unions say the changes increase the risk of a mid-air collision. Airservices Australia denies the claim but agreed to consider the extent of the changes. Its recommendations were handed to Mr Anderson late yesterday and are expected to be released today.
Ted Lang, president of Civil Air, which represents air traffic controllers, said tower staff were annoyed by the Anderson incident.
"It is a bit rich for this sort of preferential treatment at a time when there is so much controversy about air space management. To ask for someone to provide the very service that has been the subject of seven inquiries in nine years smacks of hypocrisy."
A spokesman for Mr Anderson denied preferential treatment.
"To suggest this has something to do with the NAS [National Airspace System] is ridiculous because John would not have even been aware of the details.
"The view of RAAF was that because there was other traffic around the area then the tower should be open. It wouldn't normally land there without air traffic control."
On the future of Coffs Harbour, the spokesman said: "The minister has given it a stay of execution before, and I am sure that the views of the local community will be an important aspect of any future decision".
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Pilots win review of airspace rules
By Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
February 20, 2004
PILOTS claimed a victory last night after Airservices Australia moved closer to rolling back its contentious airspace reforms.
Airservices chief executive Bernie Smith told staff in a memo the agency's board had agreed to two options being tested over the next three months "which could further improve the management of Class E airspace".
One involved reclassifying Class E airspace, where the onus is on pilots to look out for other planes, to Class C airspace, which is controlled.
A second option would expand the change by reclassifying all Class E airspace above 12,500 feet.
An Airservices spokesman confirmed a hazard identification meeting had been called next Wednesday to allow the industry to assess the options.
"These are the only two board-approved options at this stage, but we're not counting out the fact there may be others that emerge over the next three months," he said.
Pilots and air traffic controllers have campaigned against the changes to airspace rules introduced in November. And last night the Australian and International Pilots Association claimed success.
"It appears almost all the recommendations made during the recent consultation process with representatives of the professional aviation industry have been adopted," spokesman Richard Woodward said.
Air traffic control union Civil Air said both proposals vindicated its campaign and proved the downgraded airspace rules had deficiencies.
But a spokesman for Transport Minister John Anderson urged caution, saying no final decision had been taken.
Mr Anderson was yesterday due to receive recommendations from Airservices and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on changes they intend to make in response to a near collision between a Virgin Blue jet and a light aircraft near Launceston in December.
Recommendations already flagged include more pilot education, the use of portable radar at regional airports and putting radio frequency changes on charts.
Airservices' admission that it is pushing ahead with longer-term options clouds the situation and could delay a round of reforms due this year.
Yesterday's memo says the air traffic control corporation will start work on specifying a model of the airspace as it would finally end up.
The model will take into account government policy to match US airspace "to the maximum extent possible within statutory obligations".
"This model would then be subjected to a full design safety case and cost benefit analysis" taking 12 months.
The Airservices decision came as Qantas and Virgin Blue said they believed the changes were safe and only needed "fine-tuning".
But Qantas chief Geoff Dixon admitted the airline had concerns about Airservices decisions. The airline was watching the process closely.
===========================================
Fri "Sydney Morning Herald"
Air control tower at risk, but not the minister
By Robert Wainwright
February 20, 2004
An early-morning dash from Coffs Harbour to Adelaide has landed the federal Transport Minister, John Anderson, in an embarrassing position as he struggles to find a solution to air space management.
Mr Anderson's office, which was considering new changes in the system last night, has confirmed that his rush to attend an immigration policy launch in Adelaide resulted in the air traffic control tower at Coffs Harbour being opened at 7am - an hour early - for his Boeing 737.
The then acting prime minister had cut short a family holiday near Grafton to make the launch.
Coffs Harbour residents and aviation unions have jumped on the January 12 incident to highlight what they say is the Government's hypocrisy on air management.
The control tower has been under almost constant threat of closure by Airservices Australia for the past nine years.
Less than a week after the flight, Mr Anderson was on ABC Radio refusing to guarantee the tower's future, saying he was awaiting further advice.
The Coffs Harbour Advocate declared: "If it is not safe enough for the acting prime minster to take off from Coffs Harbour without guidance and security of the air traffic control tower, then why should it be safe for everybody else?"
The area is among those seriously affected by changes late last year that replaced some class-C airspace - where air traffic controllers separate commercial aircraft from light aircraft - with class-E air- space, where the onus is on pilots to look out for other planes.
Aviation unions say the changes increase the risk of a mid-air collision. Airservices Australia denies the claim but agreed to consider the extent of the changes. Its recommendations were handed to Mr Anderson late yesterday and are expected to be released today.
Ted Lang, president of Civil Air, which represents air traffic controllers, said tower staff were annoyed by the Anderson incident.
"It is a bit rich for this sort of preferential treatment at a time when there is so much controversy about air space management. To ask for someone to provide the very service that has been the subject of seven inquiries in nine years smacks of hypocrisy."
A spokesman for Mr Anderson denied preferential treatment.
"To suggest this has something to do with the NAS [National Airspace System] is ridiculous because John would not have even been aware of the details.
"The view of RAAF was that because there was other traffic around the area then the tower should be open. It wouldn't normally land there without air traffic control."
On the future of Coffs Harbour, the spokesman said: "The minister has given it a stay of execution before, and I am sure that the views of the local community will be an important aspect of any future decision".
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