Christchurch earthquake - ATC exposure..
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Christchurch earthquake - ATC exposure..
Airways Corp of NZ were strongly advised NOT to adopt the single centre NZ approach for this very reason, but then CEO Craig Sinclair was hell-bent on dividing and conquering the troublesome controllers at Auckland by moving them to Christchurch in the full knowledge that the most senior controllers would refuse to move and probably take redundancy. This has been a disaster ever since with low staff numbers and controllers struggling to obtain ratings in the demanding Auckland Terminal sector.
I'd be interested to learn how well the Christchurch Centre withstood the earthquake -were there losses of service? What plans are there for a total outage of the single Christchurch center given there are no other controllers in NZ qualified to work these sectors?
I'd be interested to learn how well the Christchurch Centre withstood the earthquake -were there losses of service? What plans are there for a total outage of the single Christchurch center given there are no other controllers in NZ qualified to work these sectors?
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There was no disruption to the services..........
However with the constant aftershocks that the controllers were dealing with there were constant notifications (at least across OH & WN sectors) to be ready to revert to TIBA.
At one point whist enroute one controller said "all a/c please have TIBA pages out we have some strong after shocks and may have to evacuate the centre"
My thanks go out to you all who more or less did not skip a beat other than the old cleared 11,000 ..... ooo there goes another one...... QNH 1000. So well done and I hope your bosses appreciate the conditions you were operating under.
Yep eggs in one basket with the radar center being the only one available in the event of an evacuation. TIBA looks fairly basic and I was happy today the wx conditions were blue sky if TIBA were to be put into place.
However with the constant aftershocks that the controllers were dealing with there were constant notifications (at least across OH & WN sectors) to be ready to revert to TIBA.
At one point whist enroute one controller said "all a/c please have TIBA pages out we have some strong after shocks and may have to evacuate the centre"
My thanks go out to you all who more or less did not skip a beat other than the old cleared 11,000 ..... ooo there goes another one...... QNH 1000. So well done and I hope your bosses appreciate the conditions you were operating under.
Yep eggs in one basket with the radar center being the only one available in the event of an evacuation. TIBA looks fairly basic and I was happy today the wx conditions were blue sky if TIBA were to be put into place.
They did that in Derby '601'.......with the VHF links.....
and I guess you know the rest of that story......
'Twas a 'lowly FSO' who put them straight...eventually..!!
Cheers
and I guess you know the rest of that story......
'Twas a 'lowly FSO' who put them straight...eventually..!!
Cheers
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Poor ol' duty ATCO in CH Twr sh!t himself when the earthquake hit...thought that new tower was going to collapse it was rocking so hard.
Craka...how can you say there was no disruption in services?? Centre was evacuated, radar services terminated, contingency procedures envoked, and CH Airport airport was closed for most of the day. Doesn't sound like a continuous service to me?!
Craka...how can you say there was no disruption in services?? Centre was evacuated, radar services terminated, contingency procedures envoked, and CH Airport airport was closed for most of the day. Doesn't sound like a continuous service to me?!
G'Day slackie,
Does youse guys have the ability to switch the Centres to operate the S. Island VHF's from the North, and vicky verka..??
Just curious is all.....
In the 'old days' of F.S. still being operative, we were able to switch acft in the affected area to other units via HF - happened once or twice with 'fire warnings' at Perth.
From memory, if ATC also had to evacuate, I think the call was to contact the other FS units via HF as well.....can't quite remember exactly wot they did now - its been a while....the only times I recall an occurrence we had a separate ATC unit located away 'up on the hill', and they were in a position to assist.
Hope no real damage for you, and you're still smiling.....
Does youse guys have the ability to switch the Centres to operate the S. Island VHF's from the North, and vicky verka..??
Just curious is all.....
In the 'old days' of F.S. still being operative, we were able to switch acft in the affected area to other units via HF - happened once or twice with 'fire warnings' at Perth.
From memory, if ATC also had to evacuate, I think the call was to contact the other FS units via HF as well.....can't quite remember exactly wot they did now - its been a while....the only times I recall an occurrence we had a separate ATC unit located away 'up on the hill', and they were in a position to assist.
Hope no real damage for you, and you're still smiling.....
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Ex...
In short, no.
In long, yes, but not "on the fly" - it would take technicians to modify settings in the voice switch hardware/software. If the CH Centre is wiped from the face of the earth (including the contingency centre in the adjacent building), then we invoke emergency procedures (basically TIBA) and each tower "attempts" to retrieve local flights. Obviously this relies on pilots a) recognising that the centre is no longer transmitting (hopefully a warning broadcast would be made by the centre before going off air, but no guarantee) and b) knowing what frequency to select to receive the EMG service. It's all described in the AIP EMG sections...but how many are familiar with these without referring to them. I'd guess a few more are following the weekend's events!
There is another "contingency centre" setup in a portacom behind the TWR/OCA building, but no one local in Auckland (with relevent current validations) to staff it.
In short, no.
In long, yes, but not "on the fly" - it would take technicians to modify settings in the voice switch hardware/software. If the CH Centre is wiped from the face of the earth (including the contingency centre in the adjacent building), then we invoke emergency procedures (basically TIBA) and each tower "attempts" to retrieve local flights. Obviously this relies on pilots a) recognising that the centre is no longer transmitting (hopefully a warning broadcast would be made by the centre before going off air, but no guarantee) and b) knowing what frequency to select to receive the EMG service. It's all described in the AIP EMG sections...but how many are familiar with these without referring to them. I'd guess a few more are following the weekend's events!
There is another "contingency centre" setup in a portacom behind the TWR/OCA building, but no one local in Auckland (with relevent current validations) to staff it.
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Obviously this relies on pilots a) recognising that the centre is no longer transmitting (hopefully a warning broadcast would be made by the centre before going off air, but no guarantee) and b) knowing what frequency to select to receive the EMG service. It's all described in the AIP EMG sections...but how many are familiar with these without referring to them.
Airways Corp of NZ were strongly advised NOT to adopt the single centre NZ approach for this very reason
CEO Craig Sinclair
... most senior controllers would refuse to move and probably take redundancy.
This has been a disaster ever since with low staff numbers and controllers struggling to obtain ratings in the demanding Auckland Terminal sector
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Dick....ahhhh yes! I understand TIBA in "normal ops" in the eyes of ASA
27..."Fast" Eddie worked on BAY not AA TMA and retired a few years back...he didn't take redundancy...pretty much agree with the rest.
As with the Christchurch residents, we were extremely lucky that this didn't occur even 2-3 hours later. 4:30am is probably the quietest time traffic-wise. Would've been interesting had it occurred when all the AM departures had left around the country...say 7:30am.
27..."Fast" Eddie worked on BAY not AA TMA and retired a few years back...he didn't take redundancy...pretty much agree with the rest.
As with the Christchurch residents, we were extremely lucky that this didn't occur even 2-3 hours later. 4:30am is probably the quietest time traffic-wise. Would've been interesting had it occurred when all the AM departures had left around the country...say 7:30am.
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Slackie wrote
Why don't you bring your wealth of experience down here and improve the aforementioned service!
Person mentioned above - still works for Airways as a SIM pilot.
I may have read your post in the the wrong context but
comes across as making a bit of a joke about it. The correct description I would have used is 'traumatised' as are a number of people down here.
what's this we crap, you are far removed from what has and is happening down here living in Hamilton and the only thing that possibly is disturbing your sleep is the sound of your snoring, a luxury that we down here have not had for days. As someone who started work a couple of hours after the initial earthquake, I was greeted with a building in total dissaray. I worked most of both days and like all the others that were there, endured and continue to endure working with constant aftershocks. All staff are sleep deprived, stressed, nervous, anxious - whatever you like to call it. Some have families that are scared witless at the moment, homes damaged etc and are still brave enough to front up to work at the moment. I wouldn't make light of the situation.
If I have interpreted your post in the wrong way then I apologise, but I, like everyone else down here, have not slept well for 3 nights because of the constant aftershocks.
.pretty much agree with the rest.
Person mentioned above - still works for Airways as a SIM pilot.
I may have read your post in the the wrong context but
Poor ol' duty ATCO in CH Twr sh!t himself when the earthquake hit
we were extremely lucky
If I have interpreted your post in the wrong way then I apologise, but I, like everyone else down here, have not slept well for 3 nights because of the constant aftershocks.
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post quake
I can just imagine how stressful it must be for all staff in CH, especially when they'd probably rather be at home repairing damage or keeping an eye on things....
I was always surprised that Airways insurance carrier allowed the single centre concept to actually happen - hmmm, I suspect they will be reappraising in the near future. Not much point in a contingency centre in a portaloo in Auckland with nobody with the skills to operate it...
I was always surprised that Airways insurance carrier allowed the single centre concept to actually happen - hmmm, I suspect they will be reappraising in the near future. Not much point in a contingency centre in a portaloo in Auckland with nobody with the skills to operate it...
Conflict Alert
I didn't see those comments as making light of the situation.
Sorry to hear of the plight of the staff in CH, I think you are doing a great job under extreme circumstances.
If some are as sleep deprived, stressed, nervous, and anxious as you suggest then perhaps these chaps and chapettes should be calling in sick.
I didn't see those comments as making light of the situation.
Sorry to hear of the plight of the staff in CH, I think you are doing a great job under extreme circumstances.
If some are as sleep deprived, stressed, nervous, and anxious as you suggest then perhaps these chaps and chapettes should be calling in sick.
Last edited by 27/09; 7th Sep 2010 at 08:48.
I think if they did call in sick, then you would all be operating under TIBA permanently as I don't think anybody in CHCH is sleeping at night!
My hat goes off to all those working in CHCH, not just in ATC, but all service industries who are out there toughing it out so that everyone else can enjoy normalcy without thinking twice about the chaos and devistation!
My hat goes off to all those working in CHCH, not just in ATC, but all service industries who are out there toughing it out so that everyone else can enjoy normalcy without thinking twice about the chaos and devistation!
Last edited by empacher48; 7th Sep 2010 at 07:56. Reason: Grammer
I've been wondering, given the situation, what ability the controllers in Ohakea have to take over from Christchurch if the worst were to happen. I accept that it may take some time but could it be done?
P.S my thanks to those that have manned the screens despite what must be difficult circumstances!
P.S my thanks to those that have manned the screens despite what must be difficult circumstances!