Near Miss during Stopwork
 

Is there anything in the rumour I heard about two QANTAS aircraft getting very (too) close while the controllers were at their stopwork meeting?. . . . <small>[ 13 March 2002, 05:37: Message edited by: Speed Reduction Approved ]</small>

Perhaps that was the "significant development" that was general broadcast around 1500 EDST?

More info being talked about with a WW24 and a 737, leaving the restricted airspace only 8 miles apart both unaware of each other going into Adelaide, with the faster following. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

And didnt I hear a request at about 23:55 utc for a clearance back to perth due to one engine shut down, only for the pilot to be told he would have to request a clearance on another frequency because the stop work meeting was about to start.. .BUUUUUGGA. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" /> . .. .(edited so I can have a bash at spelling more gooda). . . . <small>[ 13 March 2002, 13:49: Message edited by: the wizard of auz ]</small>

The "Contingency Plan" was a crock. It allowed for main line RPT QF and DJ jet movements only. It failed to allow (in Perth anyway) for Airlink flights, or non QF internationals. Airlink pilots donned their old GA caps and went OCTA climbing under CTA steps from 6000 to FL 190. This led to much panic in the Canberra "CRISIS" Centre(.com), (manned by the Head ATC, Manager Towers and a number of other non rated ATCs and other sycophants). An Airlink 146 departure from Perth for the Rock caused much panic in said Centre when they thought it had left without a slot time for Sydney. (Shows how well our managers are versed in range/ops etc of various Oz airliners).. .Meanwhile Thai Inter was almost forced to turn back after departing PH at 2340 and just making it into OCA (notamed Cl.G airspace after 0000). Captain basically said FU, next stop Bangkok).. .Royal Brunei PH/WBSB was one of many internationals subject to non-consideration for a slot time by the CRISIS Centre. Despite seeking a 0130 departure slot from this hotbed of top level decision makers, he like anyone but QF/DJ, had to wait til 0430 before he could depart (Even though QF77 was able to depart an hour before on the same route RBA planned). Airservices can expect a hefty claim from the Sultan. . .DJ were able to change their routing to YPAD at the drop of a hat from the agreed route,HALIT allocated, couldn't do that, (liferaft considerations), needed to go via NRB/CAG/MTP. Mr Crisis said no problem.. .Times on the slot sheets were a total mess, using local, UTC and someone's interpretation of destination ETA/Slot time which bore no resemblance to either UTC or local. (I understand that management being well prepared, it was all done over a few reds the night before,thinking the staff would all back down and accept cuts to leave, loss of licence insurance, rostering principles, sick leave benefits etc all for a dollar rise less than the CPI).. .I hope they have it sorted before Brisbane have their meeting. Think - that means BN Centre, the BO, NOF, Com Centre all out for four hours <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . ML was only a minor disruption compared to that.. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

Mistapproach,. .. .I have sympathy with COCO and know very well how the AsA industrial "negotiating' system works BUT I feel compelled to make a couple of points.. .. .DID anyone hit anyone else?. .. .DID anyone come close - or as close as they do when controllers vector?. .. .Did you consider that the DJ routing to AD was Ok cause THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC?. .. .You guys/gals forget thet we sort ourselves out in G as it is now - the fact that we are talking about 767's and 737's is irrelevant - we have TCAS, 2 Pilots, 2 radios - things that most GA types operating in G all the time don't have.. .. .That all being said - I reckon that Airservices deserve to have their corporate arses kicked because of the beligerant stand they are taking - the mighty dollar is ruling everything once again!!!!

Wizard,. .. .You must have been hearing things. . .If there was an emergency (and I have from a very reliable source that there wasn't)the ATC's would have professionally resolved it before attending the stopwork, even if that meant staying after the cessation of service.. .. .The Ladies and Gents of ATC in Oz are regretfully aware of the affect that thier activities are having on the industry, but have been driven to it by the lack of negotiation from ASA.(The ASA negotiators couldn't even be "bothered" to turn up to the negotiations scheduled after the Melbourne stop work, so my source informs me, so what else are they supposed to do?). .. .I just hope and pray that nothing serious happens on Thursday and that common sense finally makes an appearance and this all can be resolved.

Perth control, I wasnt hearing stories, I heard the guys talking myself on the radio. I wasnt an emergency, just an airways clearance request to return to Perth with the added "because we had to shut down an engine" on the end of the request.. .not putting sh it on you guys just telling you all what I heard. and like I would have said if it was me BUUUUGGGA.

I smell a rodent.... .. .Sorry Wiz, there is not an ATC in the world that would have walked away from an acft with one shut down and returning. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" /> . .. .Hey PC...you industrial thug, how's it going?

LoLevel,. .. .Where do you get off, ScabJets, get a life? AIPA has not instructed us to conduct any industrial action and the ATC boys and girls have not asked for help. What do you suggest under the current industrial laws, OH I know perhaps we should all resign.. .. .They don't need their current issues turned into another launching board for a hard luck story. As a pilot group I think we all offer our support. Fantasy stories and news paper type reporting of aircraft being in near miss situations, no TCAS alert, are not going to help the cause. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />

Hey Diving Duck,. .. .All is forgiven M - come back. Trust me. I work for AsA.. .. .Seriously though - NO ATC would walk away from a call like that - stop work or no stop work!!. .. ."I smell a puddy tat".. .. .Maybe see you in the desert sooner than I thought.. . . . <small>[ 21 March 2002, 11:39: Message edited by: cimsagro ]</small>

Hey diving duck, well if you smell a rodent, the bugga must be living in my radio, because I heard it with my own big ears.. .I might have to have a word with the maintanance guys about that last RAD43 I just had done. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

JAN,. .. .i believe the industry representation consists of an ex-atc representing qantas and a virgin captain. no one else exists in the mind of ASA and virgin only got in because ASA management just found out that AN aren't here any more.. .. .now who was asking about equity for all operators?

Hey Diving Duck,. .. .How is life out in the gulf M?. .. .Are the prawns out there as tasty as those you used to bring in to the doggo's from the Swan River?. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Keep Well.

Hey PC...yes those were the good old days!!!. .. .These days have to make do <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> with spiny lobster (painted crayfish to us). split and covered with garlic and butter and tossed onto a bbq plate. mmmmm...lobster.. .. .Tough life but you get used to it after a while.. .. .anyway...this near mis thingy? You guys should see what the Yanks get up to over here going to and fro from afghanistan <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> . .. .we'd be delighted with only on or two near misses a shift. .. .Good luck to all the guys/gals in this dispute.