Merged: ASA Staff Shortage
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
(with thanks/apologies to STARWARS)
Happening at this time in an airspace not so far away:
YouTube - Crawl
Happening at this time in an airspace not so far away:
YouTube - Crawl
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Vic
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Spare a thought in all this for collegues in other arms of the service, particularly TAS.
Due to a familiar tale of ignorance, greed and unwillingness to face facts, these people are more and more under the gun. There are now a number of projects competing for fewer and fewer resources. TFN has made promises to industry that have made each of these endeavors believe that they have priority and so we have a situation where this thin blue line of technical staff is being counted on by competing projects. There is also the all too familiar story of experience walking out the door without so much as a backward glance. It is scary how many single points of failure there are in the organisation because of lack of planning for succession.
Returning to an earlier analogy, it is looking more and more like the Russion Front in this place - troops being counted a number of times, leaders flying in and out exhorting the troops to greater effort, the organisation in full retreat (overseas projects, ASDB equipage etc).
One wonders what will be its Stalingrad - the CA maybe??
Due to a familiar tale of ignorance, greed and unwillingness to face facts, these people are more and more under the gun. There are now a number of projects competing for fewer and fewer resources. TFN has made promises to industry that have made each of these endeavors believe that they have priority and so we have a situation where this thin blue line of technical staff is being counted on by competing projects. There is also the all too familiar story of experience walking out the door without so much as a backward glance. It is scary how many single points of failure there are in the organisation because of lack of planning for succession.
Returning to an earlier analogy, it is looking more and more like the Russion Front in this place - troops being counted a number of times, leaders flying in and out exhorting the troops to greater effort, the organisation in full retreat (overseas projects, ASDB equipage etc).
One wonders what will be its Stalingrad - the CA maybe??
Join Date: May 2002
Location: australia
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ASA only have a succession 'plan' for management.
They continue to create layers of them, all tied to TFN. They are given large payrises (golden handcuffs) to toe the TFN line.
No-one is willing to point out the deficiencies in the SDE debacle that has led us to where we are.
They continue to create layers of them, all tied to TFN. They are given large payrises (golden handcuffs) to toe the TFN line.
No-one is willing to point out the deficiencies in the SDE debacle that has led us to where we are.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: possibly in transit
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What seems perfectly apparent to me (and others) is that the situation will arise where there simply aren't enough bodies to fill the seats (particularly after the mass exodus from Aisle 3 in ML occurs). How do you solve this?
You staff for certain (busy) times of the day. No service at other times (a variation on the stop "G" service mentioned earlier).
Of course, it won't be politically palatable - but I bet the bigwigs at QFA & VOZ etc would prefer it to what they're currently being offered...
That's the reality of the mess that TFN has engineered, watched by all those gutless people under him.
You staff for certain (busy) times of the day. No service at other times (a variation on the stop "G" service mentioned earlier).
Of course, it won't be politically palatable - but I bet the bigwigs at QFA & VOZ etc would prefer it to what they're currently being offered...
That's the reality of the mess that TFN has engineered, watched by all those gutless people under him.
CASA has told the operators of Newcastle airport that Air Traffic Control is not required over the Christmas period.
Our military controllers even manned the tower at Baghdad over the Christmas period so it is obvious they are happy to work when they are told lives can be saved.
All of this is to save about 40 cents per passenger to the Airlines.
Avalon with about 1.5 million PAX per year still hasn't got any local ATC.
CASA has developed a unique safety metric based on guesswork rather than historical data and they refuse to have the results validated.
In effect they will be encouraging even less ATC and more airspace relying "calling in the blind " announcements.
Why? You may ask. Remember the wheat board fiasco - bureaucrats went down a dishonest path when there was no real reason for doing so.
I bet there will be a lot more TIBA under the current management of the Office Of Airspace Regulation.
Our military controllers even manned the tower at Baghdad over the Christmas period so it is obvious they are happy to work when they are told lives can be saved.
All of this is to save about 40 cents per passenger to the Airlines.
Avalon with about 1.5 million PAX per year still hasn't got any local ATC.
CASA has developed a unique safety metric based on guesswork rather than historical data and they refuse to have the results validated.
In effect they will be encouraging even less ATC and more airspace relying "calling in the blind " announcements.
Why? You may ask. Remember the wheat board fiasco - bureaucrats went down a dishonest path when there was no real reason for doing so.
I bet there will be a lot more TIBA under the current management of the Office Of Airspace Regulation.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Columbia
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ML Pornstar,
Hope you have the MO to go with that user name.
When do the ailse 3 guys go, where are they going, Ireland or Germany, how many are refusing to go down with the ship? SHIRKERS!
Is this why up to 60 shifts cannot be covered on one group alone before the end of January?
Apparently ML TMA have 6 holes in the roster tomorrow, and its not due to anything other than short staffing!!!!!!!!!
There are probably only 12 TMA guys rostered each day, what a fiasco!
Dick,
Was told by a guy the other day Avalon CTR had 6 acft all within 5nm of the RWY this included two jets one of which was a 737 training flight, frightening stuff!
BEGONE TFN
Hope you have the MO to go with that user name.
When do the ailse 3 guys go, where are they going, Ireland or Germany, how many are refusing to go down with the ship? SHIRKERS!
Is this why up to 60 shifts cannot be covered on one group alone before the end of January?
Apparently ML TMA have 6 holes in the roster tomorrow, and its not due to anything other than short staffing!!!!!!!!!
There are probably only 12 TMA guys rostered each day, what a fiasco!
Dick,
Was told by a guy the other day Avalon CTR had 6 acft all within 5nm of the RWY this included two jets one of which was a 737 training flight, frightening stuff!
BEGONE TFN
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne, Vic
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CASA knows (or should know) perfectly well what goes on with TIBA.
Only a matter of a couple of months ago, two of their procedures people, both ex-ATC, spent a week in ML observing what happens during TIBA procedures.This occurred a couple of times, particularly when CB APP was understaffed.
Word was they were appalled at what went on.
Not a dicky bird since though.
Only a matter of a couple of months ago, two of their procedures people, both ex-ATC, spent a week in ML observing what happens during TIBA procedures.This occurred a couple of times, particularly when CB APP was understaffed.
Word was they were appalled at what went on.
Not a dicky bird since though.
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Recently Departed
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
At least if CASA have had representatives see TIBA in action there is no denying joint culpability if the time comes to stand before a coroner's court.
(Let's hope it never happens!)
(Let's hope it never happens!)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: possibly in transit
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BGTFN,
Hope you have the MO to go with that user name.
Perhaps!
When do the ailse 3 guys go, where are they going, Ireland or Germany, how many are refusing to go down with the ship?
1 already to Ireland, 4 Will be gone by April to DFS, 1 retirement, 2 resignations (leaving ATC), 1 compassionate transfer/resignation if not granted, 1 transfer to ML TMA. The West R roster has 54 blank shifts on the next roster - this is simply due to not enough bums on seats.
I know for a fact that ML TMA has dropped leave lines to cover their staffing shortage.
The place is an absolute shambles.
Hope you have the MO to go with that user name.
Perhaps!
When do the ailse 3 guys go, where are they going, Ireland or Germany, how many are refusing to go down with the ship?
1 already to Ireland, 4 Will be gone by April to DFS, 1 retirement, 2 resignations (leaving ATC), 1 compassionate transfer/resignation if not granted, 1 transfer to ML TMA. The West R roster has 54 blank shifts on the next roster - this is simply due to not enough bums on seats.
I know for a fact that ML TMA has dropped leave lines to cover their staffing shortage.
The place is an absolute shambles.
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Here today, gone tommorrow
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dear Mr CASA, are you going to stand there with your head so far up your own @rse, that you f@rt out of your armpits.
When the inevitable serious incident or worse accident occurs, because of ASAs inability to provide sufficient rated controllers to provide a Safe, Orderly and Expeditious flow of traffic, what will CASAs answer be, we didn't know, or we can't be everywhere. (Familiar Ring about that)
You have been told, you know where to look, CASA will be just as culbable as Air Services. Where in your Charter does it say that AirServices is exempt from your surveillence, or sanctions.
The do nothing attitude is
A) incompetence,
B) laziness,
C) criminally liable
D) Other
E) All of the above
Oh dear, a new CEO, New Name, and CASA will ride out of it again
When the inevitable serious incident or worse accident occurs, because of ASAs inability to provide sufficient rated controllers to provide a Safe, Orderly and Expeditious flow of traffic, what will CASAs answer be, we didn't know, or we can't be everywhere. (Familiar Ring about that)
You have been told, you know where to look, CASA will be just as culbable as Air Services. Where in your Charter does it say that AirServices is exempt from your surveillence, or sanctions.
The do nothing attitude is
A) incompetence,
B) laziness,
C) criminally liable
D) Other
E) All of the above
Oh dear, a new CEO, New Name, and CASA will ride out of it again
Guest
Posts: n/a
Rather than addressing the problem, CASA seems to be content curing the symptoms
Flights at Newcastle airport over the holiday season will operate safely.
An effective and appropriate set of procedures has been developed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to provide safe operations while normal weekday air traffic control facilities are not available.
More information is available on the CASA website: Media release - Newcastle airport operates safely
An effective and appropriate set of procedures has been developed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to provide safe operations while normal weekday air traffic control facilities are not available.
More information is available on the CASA website: Media release - Newcastle airport operates safely
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In Brisbane, the number leaving/giving notice in the next 3 months is more than the number of trainees starting - none of whom can be counted as any fraction of a full time equivalent ATC until they pass the training.... 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Recently Departed
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
About 12 months for initial course. Assuming there are enough instructors to train the students. Someone just out of the college can probably advise you on more of the detail ie. accurate times for course and pay structure not forgetting the training bond!
Field placement till first rating approx 2-3 months. 4-6 months till usable on a journeyman rosterline.
Approx 9mths to 2 years to fulfill all endorsements for unit.
At least 2 years to begin to feel comfortable doing the job.
Field placement till first rating approx 2-3 months. 4-6 months till usable on a journeyman rosterline.
Approx 9mths to 2 years to fulfill all endorsements for unit.
At least 2 years to begin to feel comfortable doing the job.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Airbumps: When is the next training course? Are there people in training at present? How long does the course take?
Yes there are people training at present - length depends on whether your'e experienced (eg. RAAF/ Overseas ATC = short course 3 months or so) or off the street (anywhere from 9 to 12 months)
The stated aim is to train 100 people a year - BUT the attrition/pass rate is historically between 30 to 50% - so best case, we get 50 field trainees during 2009. But then there's a bottleneck in the field - you can only train 1 or maybe 2 trainees on a specific airspace sector at a time (they can't both be giving instructions/talking to planes simultaneously) [and that's IF you can spare the staff to train the person].
Also, the pass rate for final field training is still only about 50-75%, so maybe we might have 38 journeyman controllers by the end of next year (best case).
Who then have to consolidate for 6 months on that rating before they can start to train on another adjacent airspace sector - but how can they do that when we are still trying to get future new trainees (ie. 2010) their first rating?
And all the while our ATC workforce with a median age of 52 is getting older and closer to retirement (and a significant percentage of which are eligible for early retirement at 55)
To say nothing of people moving overseas to better terms/and or conditions.
And yet AsA today, after 6 months and 16 "negotiation" meetings finally admitted that they think their offer of 4% (in exchange for substantial losses of terms and conditons) is 'fair & reasonable' which they will not try to improve.
Because they are the only employer in Australia they seem to think retention is not an issue.
, wish I had thought of that user! 
off TFN