ATC Staff Shortage set to bite

[Baileys]

The numbers must say otherwise. Has anyone actually seen the figures and formula used to do the staffing calculation?

I can suggest a number of ways to say 'no thanks'. Firstly just say 'no'. If you are busy - you are busy and that's it. Let the greedy ones take the money. When they get sick of it - let it go TIBA. That's why there are contingency plans. Who cares if you are the last one left to come in. I wouldn't think coercion would be endorsed. You are entitled to have a life - that is why you go to work.

If the figures say the staffing is OK and the airspace never closes it is easy to justify that everything is OK - maybe it is. There is not much EVIDENCE to say otherwise. Blame the complaining on the complaining ATC's - industry will believe it - next thing they will want a huge payrise.

The Department of Transport and major airlines would not tolerate systematic airspace closures.

If the system is as broken as people are indicating then let it show - stop holding it together at the expense of your life. Sometimes complete inaction is all it takes.

If you try inaction and everything still rolls on - good, it mustn't be that bad after all and at least you will enjoy your life.

[Frank_Sources]

Observed in the NOTAMS today:

C1791/05
ATS IN NORTH WESTERN QUEENSLAND ARE SUBJECT TO CONTINGENCY
DUE STAFF SHORTAGE
THIS SHALL AFFECT THE FLW FREQ:
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 125.4 BIRDSVILLE
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 122.1 LONGREACH
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 118.8 JACKSON
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 124.8 CHARLEVILLE
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 122.3 EMERALD
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 126.0 ROMA
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 135.3 MT ALMA
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 118.95 ST GEORGE
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 123.9 MT MOWBULLAN
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 125.7 MORNINGTON ISLAND
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 118.6 NORMANTON
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 122.4 MOUNT ISA
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 123.95 KYNUNA
FIA BRISBANE CENTRE 119.8 CHEVIOT HILLS
ATC SER ARE NOT AVBL IN CLASS E AIRSPACE
DIRECTED TRAFFIC SER IS NOT AVBL IN CLASS G AIRSPACE
DIRECTED TRAFFIC ADVISORY INFO SER IS NOT AVBL IN CLASS E AND G
AIRSPACE
FLW PROC ADVISE:
TRAFFIC INFO BCST PROC (TIBA) AS DETAILED IN AIP GEN 3.3 AND ICAO
ANNEX 11 SHALL BE USED.
TCAS AND TRANSPONDER EQPT MUST BE SELECTED AT ALL TIMES.
IN-FLIGHT INFO, SARTIME AND EMERG ALERTING SER AVBL ON REQ FROM
FLIGHTWATCH.
PILOTS CONSIDERING OPR IN THIS AIRSPACE SHOULD CTC THE BRISBANE OPR
MANAGER BY TEL ON [phone] FOR FURTHER INFO.
AIRSPACE:
YBBB/YMMM/COOPER
S26 13.3 E138 23.4 / S23 10.0 E137 00.8 / S23 10.0 E140 46.0 /
S22 08.4 E142 57.9 / S21 43.7 E143 53.7 / S21 43.5 E145 25.9 /
S22 01.3 E145 47.8 / S22 58.0 E145 52.5 / S25 50.7 E147 30.0 /
S29 08.1 E147 42.9 / S29 20.4 E146 46.7 / S29 00.0 E146 32.0 /
S29 00.0 E143 30.0 / S26 13.5 E138 23.4
VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC-FL245

YBBB/DAWSON A
S22 23.7 E147 26.3 / S22 47.5 E147 32.2 / S23 20.0 E148 00.0 /
S23 14.7 E148 51.3 / S23 36.6 E148 43.1 / S26 41.3 E151 01.9 /
S26 01.9 E151 28.4 / S25 57.1 E151 22.0 / S24 38.2 E150 20.5 /
S22 48.7 E149 09.4 / S22 52.8 E148 17.7 / S22 33.0 E147 44.8 /
S22 23.7 E147 26.3
VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC-FL180

YBBB/DAWSON B
S21 51.2 E145 35.4 / S21 26.9 E145 46.5 / S21 43.5 E146 06.9 /
S22 23.7 E147 26.3 / S22 47.5 E147 32.2 / S23 20.0 E148 00.0 /
S23 14.7 E148 51.3 / S23 36.6 E148 43.0 / S26 41.8 E151 01.9
THEN ALONG THE MINOR ARC OF A CIRCLE OF 120NM RADIUS CENTRED ON
S27 21.9 E153 08.3(BRISBANE/DME) TO S28 29.9 E151 16.5 /
S29 00.0 E149 00.0 / S29 08.1 E147 42.9 / S25 50.7 E147 30.0 /
S22 58.0 E145 52.5 / S22 01.3 E145 47.8 / S21 51.2 E145 35.4
VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC-FL245

YBBB/YMMM/BARKLY
S19 05.0 E142 50.0 / S18 17.8 E143 50.5 / S18 34.6 E144 46.1 /
THEN ALONG THE MINOR ARC OF A CIRCLE OF 120NM RAD CENTRED ON
S19 14.7 E146 45.5 (TOWNSVILLE/DME) TO S20 11.9 E144 53.6 /
S21 26.9 E145 46.5 / S21 51.2 E145 35.4 / S21 43.5 E145 25.9 /
S21 43.7 E143 53.7 / S22 08.4 E142 57.9 / S23 10.0 E140 46.3 /
S23 10.0 E137 00.8 / S22 17.8 E136 38.1 / S21 51.5 E136 22.4 /
S20 43.9 E136 14.0
VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC-FL245

YBBB/YMMM/PRAWN
S15 42.2 E137 12.9 / S15 08.6 E138 20.7 / S14 56.5 E138 52.6 /
S15 00.0 E140 00.0 / S15 30.4 E141 43.5 / S16 03.1 E143 16.7
THEN ALONG THE MINOR ARC OF A CIRCLE OF 150NM RAD CENTRED ON
S16 51.0 E145 44.6 (CAIRNS/DME) TO S16 57.9 E143 08.4 /
S18 17.8 E143 50.5 / S19 05.0 E142 50.0 / S20 01.9 E141 07.7 THEN
ALONG THE MINOR ARC OF A CIRCLE OF 100NM RAD CENTRED ON
S20 39.8 E139 29.1(MT ISA/DME) TO S19 22.5 E140 36.9 /
S19 05.4 E140 05.2 / S19 01.2 E137 40.3 / S17 20.3 E137 09.3 /
S15 42.2 E137 12.9
VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC-FL245.
SFC TO FL245
FROM 08 280600 TO 08 280830

[Frank_Sources]

Another one from today:

ATS C1792/05
ATS IN N NEW SOUTH WALES SUBJECT TO CONTINGENCY DUE STAFF SHORTAGE
AIRSPACE APRX BOUNDED BY THE POSITIONS 10E MOUNT MCQUOID,
BRISBANE/MELBOURNE FIR BOUNDARY, DONIC, 30E WILLIAMTOWN, 30E COFFS
HARBOUR, 20SW POINT LOOKOUT, 20E MOUNT SANDON, 7E SINGLETON, 10E
MOUNT MCQUOID.
BRISBANE CENTRE 132.35 BERRICO
BRISBANE CENTRE 130.1 BERRICO
BRISBANE CENTRE 125.7 MOUNT HEATON
BRISBANE CENTRE 120.55 BERRICO.
ATC SER NOT AVBL IN CLASS A, C AND E AIRSPACE.
DIRECTED TRAFFIC ADVISORY INFO SER NOT AVBL IN CLASS E AND G
AIRSPACE.
DIRECTED TRAFFIC SER NOT AVBL IN CLASS G AIRSPACE.
ADS/CPDLC LOGON YBBB SER NOT AVBL IN THIS AIRSPACE.
THE FLW PROCEDURES APPLY:
TRAFFIC INFO BCST PROCEDURES (TIBA) AS DETAILED IN AERONAUTICAL
INFORMATION PUBLICATION GEN 3.3 AND ICAO ANNEX 11 SHALL BE USED.
TCAS AND TRANSPONDER EQPT MUST BE SELECTED AT ALL TIMES.
IN-FLIGHT INFO, SARTIME AND EMERG ALERTING SERS ARE AVBL ON REQ FM
FLIGHTWATCH.
PILOTS CONSIDERING OPR IN THIS AIRSPACE SHOULD CTC THE BRISBANE OPS
MANAGER BY TELEPHONE ON [phone] FOR FURTHER INFO.
LATERAL LIMITS:
S30 41.9 E152 02.3 S30 09.9 E153 38.5 S30 40.3 E153 31.8 S32 53.0
E152 26.5 S33 30.0 E151 54.5 THEN ALONG THE MINOR ARC OF A CIRCLE OF
45.0NM RADIUS CENTRED ON S33 56.6 E151 10.8 (SYDNEY/DME) TO S33 12.0
E151 19.3 S32 47.3 E151 24.2 S32 36.0 E151 23.8 S30 41.9 E152 02.3.
VERTICAL LIMITS:
FL245 - FL600.
LATERAL LIMITS:
S30 41.9 E152 02.3 S30 09.9 E153 38.5 S30 40.3 E153 31.8 S32 53.0
E152 26.5 S33 30.0 E151 54.5 THEN ALONG THE MINOR ARC OF A CIRCLE OF

45.0NM RADIUS CENTRED ON S33 56.6 E151 10.8 (SYDNEY/DME) TO S33 12.0
E151 19.3 S32 47.3 E151 24.2 S32 36.0 E151 23.8 S32 27.5 E151 06.0
S31 26.8 E151 33 .1 S30 41.9 E152 02.3.
VERTICAL LIMITS:
FL125 - F245.
LATERAL LIMITS:
S30 41.9 E152 02.3 S30 49.1 E152 20.5 S30 46.1 E152 25.2 THEN ALONG
THE MINOR ARC OF A CIRCLE OF 45.0NM RADIUS CENTRED ON S30 19.2 E153
07.0 (COFFS HARBOUR/DME) TO S31 04.2 E153 05.9 S31 09.3 E153 05.8 S31
08.1 E153 18.4 S32 53.0 E152 26.5 S32 50.1 E152 04.0 S32 40.8 E151
34.2 S32 36.0 E151 23.8 S32 27.5 E151 06.0 S31 26.8 E151 33.0 S30
41.9 E152 02.3.
VERTICAL LIMITS:
A085 - FL125.
LATERAL LIMITS:
S33 30.1 E151 54.5 THEN ALONG THE MINOR ARC OF A CIRCLE OF 45.0NM
RADIUS CENTRED ON S33 56.6 E151 10.8 (SYDNEY/DME) TO S33 14.3 E150
52.1E S32 27.5 E151 06.0 S31 26.8 E151 33.1 S30 41.9 E152 02.3 S30 49
.1 E152 20 .5 S30 40.8 E152 33.6 THEN ALONG THE MINOR ARC OF A CIRCLE
OF 36.0NM RADIUS CENTRED ON S30 19.2 E153 007.0 (COFFS HARBOUR/DME)
TO S30 55.2 E153 06.1 S31 09.3 E153 05.8 S31 08.1 E153 18.4 S32 53.0
E152 26 .5.
VERTICAL LIMITS:
SFC TO A085.

FROM 08 281300 TO 08 281830

GRAPHICAL DEPICTION OF THE AIRSPACE AVAILABLE AT
[url]HTTP://WWW.AIRSERVICESAUSTRALIA.COM/NOTAMMAPS/NDMAPA3A.PDF

[tobzalp]

Interestingly I am actually available for 4 of those frequencies and have not been called. Seems someone has dropped the ball. Too late though as I have had a wine.

[Uncommon Sense]

TIBA Watch

[gaunty]

Crikey.com today ;

7. Unsubstantiated tips & rumours


The air traffic control system in Australia has started closing down bit by bit each day and night due to lack of qualified Air Traffic Controllers. Tonight (Sunday) airspace between Darwin, Brisbane and Mount Isa is uncontrolled, and also between Sydney and Tamworth and Coffs Harbour. Government controlled executives will not hire more controllers because their personal remuneration packages (bonuses) depend upon reducing overheads (staff). The few new controllers that have been employed are too few, too late. The crisis we all expected and warned of has started this weekend

[Frank_Sources]

From AirServices AIS/MET today:

ATS C2330/05
DIRECTED TRAFFIC INFORMATION, RADAR ADVISORY AND SAR ALERTING
SERVICES WITHIN THE FOLLOWING CLASS G AIRSPACE MAY BE RESTRICTED
KEY POINTS AERODROMES AFFECTED: BALLIDU, BARROW IS, CARNARVON,
GERALDTON, KARRATHA, KALGOORLIE, LEONORA, LEARMONTH, LEINSTER,
LAVERTON, MEEKATHARRA, MOUNT KEITH, MOUNT MAGNET, NEWMAN, ONSLOW,
PARABURDOO, PORT HEDLAND, TELFER, WILUNA
DUE STAFF SHORTAGE

YMMM/MENZIES
YMMM/NEWMAN
YMMM/YALGOO
LATERAL LIMITS:
S26 50.5 E112 14.1, S27 45.0 E112 22.5, S30 00.0 E112 43.9, S29 59.4
E115 33.8,S30 38.8 E115 35.5, THEN ALONG THE MINOR ARC OF A CIRCLE OF
80.0 NM RADIUS CENTRED ON S31 56.7 E115 57.6 (PH/DME) TO S31 08.2
E117 12.1,S29 38.8 E119 23.6, S30 09.8 E120 00.0, S31 43.1 E120 00.0,
S31 27.2 E121 23.9,S31 16.0 E123 32.0, S28 03.8 E124 13.9, S26 35.3
E121 59.1, S26 00.0 E122 25.1,
S26 00.0 E122 25.1, S24 50.0 E123 15.9, S23 26.5 E124 14.9, S20 15.6
E121 13.5,S18 58.0 E120 03.0, S17 52.8 E118 21.6, THEN ALONG THE
MINOR ARC OF A CIRCLE OF 150.0 NM RADIUS CENTRED ON S20 22.6 E118
37.2 (PD/DME) TO S19 34.4 E116 06.4, S19 30.6 E113 31.4, S21 50.0
E111 30.0, S23 32.3 E111 44.6,
S26 27.9 E112 10.6, S26 50.5 E112 14.1

VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC - BASE OF CTA.

FREQUENCIES: 118.4, 118.6, 118.95, 121.2, 122.1, 122.4, 122.6, 123.4,
124.8, 125.7, 125.9.

CLASS G PROCEDURES APPLY, BROADCASTS ARE TO BE MADE ON AREA VHF, MBZ
AND CTAF FREQUENCIES, AS APPLICABLE AND PUBLISHED IN ERC/ERSA.
ACFT SUBJECT TO EMERG CONDITIONS SHOULD BROADCAST ON THE PUBLISHED
AREA FREQUENCY AND IF NO RESPONSE FROM CENTRE ON THE APPLICABLE AREA
FREQUENCY ATTEMPT TO CONTACT CENTRE ON CONTROL FREQUENCIES OR
FLIGHTWATCH ON FLIGHTWATCH FREQUENCIES (HF 3461, 6565, 8822, VHF
124.15 PD AREA).
FLIGHTWATCH, SARTIME NOMINATION/CANCELLATION IS AVAILABLE ON
PUBLISHED FLIGHTWATCH FREQUENCIES.
PICTORIAL AVAILABLE AVFAX CODE 81523

FROM 08 290800 TO 08 291100

[Dehavillanddriver]

The funny thing is that my wife who was a radar and procedural FPC with OJTI can't even get a look in.

She took redundancy a few years ago and wouldn't mind going back now she has had our babies and they are not even remotely interested.

She had 11 years on the job and was never suspended - go figure!

[DirtyPierre]

DHC Driver, the problem with your missus, and I mean this in the nicest possible way, is that in the past 5 years the equipment, procedures and documents have all changed significantly, and she is out of date.

The training sectrion of AsA advise that to train even an experienced controller like your wife, who has been out of the job for 5 years or more, will take about the same time as training an ab-initio controller. That is, 12 - 18 months.

The training for the new equipment alone (TAAATS) would take about a month. Any new rating takes 6 - 12 weeks. This is on top of any revision she'd have to do for being out of the job for so long.

However, it is most iritating that AsA doesn't have an "experienced controller" program. Controllers like your wife, who have been out of the job for a period, and want to come back in, must be better than any newbie simply because they have a track record. They have already proved they can do the job. There is far less of a gamble that they will not re-rate as a controller.

I would suggest your wife contact the centre managers in each centre if she really wants to do ATC again. Greg Hood in ML is crying out for staff.

[Binoculars]

....wouldn't mind going back now she has had our babies and they are not even remotely interested.

Oh, how sharper than a serpent's tooth is an ungrateful child....

(Sorry, DHC, couldn't resist!)

[Super Cecil]

The Ronnie Raygun cure.

There is always the option to leave, I'm sure a highly skilled talented bunch of blokes could walk into employment anywhere else immediately.

What was the outcome a couple of years ago in the states? Ronnie Raygun got rid of the whingers.

tobzalp and uncommon, on another thread you blokes were having a go at people questioning the status quo, you should take your own advice.

[Uncommon Sense]

If I in anyway comprehended your point I would respond.

Therefore:



.

[Capn Bloggs]

Bloody kids. Calling the shots and they haven't even started kindy. Outrageous!

[En-Rooter]

Our favourite SUPER MORON is back with absolutely no point but plenty of bitter and twisted moaning. Replaced those spars in that fictitional aircraft of yours yet? I'll dob you in you bastard if you haven't.

[king oath]

If someone higher up the food chain told the so called "managers" to do some shifts at the coal face, they might determine that the "overstaffing" was not working out too well.

I wonder whether their priority would be the bonus, or doing doggos while the workers were at home.

[No Further Requirements]

Ah, management bonuses. What happens when the system is running well and as efficiently as possible? We get to start sacking the managers?

Cheers,

NFR.

[Super Cecil]

Mature and thoughtful replies as usual boys.

If disaster ensuses from the "Understaffing" who is going to be responsible?

The bosses for sending overworked (your spin) people to work?

The workers for going to work tired and fatigued?

Duty of care being the all consuming thing it is nowdays, who is going to wear the blame?

Surely if you know your fatigued and stressed aren't you breaching your duty of care if you go to work?

In all seriousness if something does happen the boys at the bottom are the only ones who will take the blame.

The choices are straightforward, if your tired don't go to work
if the stress and overworking persist, change careers.

What good is earning big bucks if your not around to spend them.

[tobzalp]

Seriously people, just add Super Cecil to your ignore list. He/she is just the most recent of the AOPA sacrificial lambs on this site. The others all post non stop about how they do not read it on another. If there was ever a group of people that should stick to other things it is them.


I have been off from work for 36 hours and no calls. This pleases me.

[Super Cecil]

"If you don't like the way CASA and DOTARS etc run aviation, GET OUT OF IT."

Owen Stanley or En-Rooter or Uncommon Sense or whoever your calling yourself at the moment, If you don't like your job, get out, nobodys holding a gun to your head.

Take your own advice, stop whinging.

[tobzalp]

See what I mean? Thanks for the help Super Cecil.