Sydney Airport’s Safety Troubles Mount With Third Runway Incident
Synopsis
A Virgin Australia flight aborted take-off after a Qantas plane began crossing the runway, prompting another safety investigation at Sydney Airport
Key Highlights
- Virgin Australia plane in an abort take-off after a Qantas aircraft reportedly crossed the runway.
- The distance between the two 737s closed within more than a kilometer.
- The incidents come as fears grow over air traffic controller shortages at Sydney Airport.
The latest safety scare involving two planes at Sydney Airport is being probed by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) about just a week after another incident on August 9.
The incident involved Virgin Australia flight VA555 from Sydney to Perth, and a Sydney to Ayers Rock Qantas flight QF728. Both aircraft were Boeing 737s.
Virgin Flight Aborts Take-Off
According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau ( ATSC) Qantas had been cleared by air traffic controllers to cross a runway.
The crew of the Virgin plane noticed the Qantas aircraft crossing its path on the runway and throttled back before landing their aircraft to a halt. Airservices Australia said the 2002 and 400 were never closer than 1km apart.
Identical Jetstar flight narrowly avoided crash with Qatar Airways plane on tarmac, as concerns grow over air traffic control at Sydney Airport Hundreds of passengers were inconvenienced and delayed after the incident. On July 27, another Qantas flight was given clearance to cross a runway in front of a recently landed Qantas plane.
Air Traffic Controller Shortage
Airservices Australia said it was working with the ATSB across all three incidents and that safety remained its highest priority. Airservices have also blamed a shortage of air traffic controllers for delays flying into Sydney Airport.
Though it comes amid a broader shortage of workers, the lack is tied in part to a program that drew experienced staff from the profession with less historian bucks direct guber 2021. Airservices subsequently began a recruitment campaign, however recruiting has not kept pace with demand. Comprehensive training follows, including an aptitude test and 18 months in Melbourne for new recruits.
Pressure on Airservices Australia
Airservices has also pointed to pressures from the new Sydney West Airport and its recent management of airspace at Ballina airport in northern New South Wales. The group representing air traffic controllers says they are short-staffed and overworked.
Recently in very successful meetings with Federal Transport Minister Catherine King, Airservices chief executive Rob Sharp has admitted the operational disruptions were “unacceptable”.
King said she still had confidence that Airservices was continuing to act on the matter, including changes in rostering practices. An extra 95 people were predicted to receive endorsements as air traffic controllers by the conclusion of this year, she said.
Source: Guardiana
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