I suspect that it's bed-time in Plazbot's neck of the woods, so I'll have a crack.

Tops looks after the airspace North of Australia which covers all the air routes heading into and out of Asia.
Because it's outside of radar coverage, it relies on procedural techniques to keep aircraft separated - very tricky.
It's at it's busiest around 0300 EST when Internationals are doing their thing.

Check out this link, you'll probably see it at your induction, but none the less, it's pretty cool.

YouTube - airtraffic volume for 24 hour period

Hey Enemymig

How is the story with the bottom half of the country and the jets coming from nz/USA etc is that also procedural like tops or radar?

The Aus FIR (Flight Information Region) extends a bit over halfway to NZ. This is well out of radar and VHF range, as most of Australia itself is.
ATC in non-radar airspace is maintained through position reporting via HF (radio), CPDLC (texting) and ADS-B (GPS).
An aircraft may still be in Aus airspace, but due to unfavourable communication conditions, be controlled via relay through NZ ATC, and vice versa.
Aus ATC is part of a network of units in surrounding FIRs, Primary Guard being given to that unit which may maintain the most effective comms with the aircraft. As in the above example, this means that an aircraft in South African airspace may still be controlled via relay through Aus ATC if conditions merit it.

The radar coverage in Aus is quite limited, the coverage is mostly limited to what we call the j-curve which basically gives radar coverage in an area from Adelaide around to Brisbane covering most of tassie at high levels. There is also some coverage about 250nm around Perth.

So basically traffic that stays on the east coast usually stays within radar coverage depending on level.

The rest of the country is mostly procedural, with more and more ADS-b appearing as aircraft become equipped and the last of the sites are being turned on. Eventually ADS-b will give the ability to provide radar like separation across most of the country.

For those of you who are unaware what ADS-b is take a look at this link.
Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) - Airservices Australia

The relaying of comms generally does not involve the ATCO's, in Aus all HF comms for international aircraft are handled by Flightwatch International based in Brisbane. An aircraft in australia's airspace may be talking to a South African HF operator or vice-versa. The control of the aircraft is the sole responsibility of the ATCO that is responsible for the airspace the aircraft is in.

That's a better explanation (at least someone knows what they're doing!):ok:

Thanks guys

Hey guys first of all thanks for all your contributions to this thread - I have taken in alot of information from it!

I was just wondering if you know anyone young who has gone through the course as I am 18 and have just applied for ATC. Cheers

Hi Jimh91

There's a guy in our course who is only 19, God help him...

(apologies for the Redgum reference :suspect:)

Back in the olden days you had to be 21 to hold an ATC licence.
I don't know what the regs are these days.

Radar coverage at useful levels maxes out at around 160 nm.
It is limited by line of sight and the curvature of the earth.
It's a bit hard to have radar heads floating in the ocean so no coverage out in the indian, pacific, southern oceans or the coral sea.

Radar coverage actually extends well north of Brisbane. High level aircraft are covered to about 200nm north of Cairns.

Yeah right.. :rolleyes:
I've never heard of a trainee quit on day one of final field training because of their allocated sectors.

There were 3 (tree) on Tops alone last year who left while still well and truly bonded.

Hi all, just in the process of organising my Class 3 medical. It seems some places (or I should say, receptionists) don't even know what I'm asking them and the prices differ quite significantly... Anyone who has done their Class 3 in Brisbane, can you recommend your DAME?

The DAME will know, just not the receptionist. Tell them its similar to a Class 1 (if they know what that is).

I can still hear that tumbleweed moving about the receptionists head...

If in doubt, ask to be put through direct to the GP in question!

I was over the westside of brisbane, went to Dr G NORMAN, 07 3376 2855, sinnamon park.

Receptionist knew what they were talking about... they did all but the DAO stuff + blood test. He recommended a DAO that came out to sherwood, and i got the blood test bulk billed in indooroopilly from his referral

Costs were $261 DAME, $187 DAO, $75 CASA fee.

Hope that helps.

7th June start
 

Hey people. Just discovered this forum.

From brisvegas, got offered a start on the 7th of june.

Noticed there is a couple (maybe a few) people from bris with the same offer. Thinking about accomodation and other issues, would be interested in others thoughts.

Plenty in brisbane here's a few, they are on the CASA website
Dr J CAMERON (male)

Watkins Medical Centre
225 Wickham Terrace
BRISBANE QLD 4000
Ph: 07 3831 6081
Fax: 07 3832 7175

Dr M MCADAM (female)

289 Queen Street

BRISBANE QLD 4000
Ph: 07 3221 3366
Fax: 07 3221 3082

Dr R MCCARTNEY (male)

6/18 Dennis Rd
Springwood
BRISBANE QLD 4127
Ph: 07 3299 3211
Fax: 07 3208 5076

Dr J L YATES (male)

Anzac Square Medical Centre
280 Ann Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000
Ph: 07 3229 1344
Fax: 07 3221 2694


bris_rob at the moment its you, me, AU_Viper and AlphaFoxtrot Romeo from brissy heading down for the june course , definitely should all get together soon

Pre Course
 

How long before you start do you get the pre course study material?

We got the pre-course stuff about 5 weeks before starting, but were sent a heads-up email about a week before receiving everything.

You'll also get a "welcome to Melb" tourist guide to explain tricky things like hook turns and shopping centres (everyone gets it, even those of us lucky enough to be locals:confused:)

I'm down the bottom waiting with you, Blippy! :bored: