Sydney Airport is safe despite investigations into air traffic control rostering and fatigue concerns, which might have contributed to near misses between aircraft, a federal minister says.
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minister → contribute → aircraft
Between July and August, Sydney Airport narrowly avoided four collisions on runways, including one in which a jet was damaged and was then unable to turn around.
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jet → avoid → which
Ground staff and pilots had to act on each occasion to avoid a major collision.
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staff → have → collision
Transport Minister Catherine King said on Wednesday afternoon that Sydney Airport was co-operating with all investigations and the airport remained safe for travellers.
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airport → say → travellers
The country's transport watchdog also spoke on Wednesday to say that staffing at Sydney Airport was an area of concern.
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staffing → speak → concern
'Based on information detailed in our preliminary reports, staff resourcing within Sydney Tower at the time of many of the occurrences has emerged as a recurring area of enquiry,' Australia Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
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Mitchell → base → Wednesday
'We recognise that air traffic control systems are under strain globally and I acknowledge the professionalism, training and commitment of air traffic controllers.'
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I → recognise → controllers
A new independent assurance panel has been launched to help Sydney implement changes to its air traffic control.
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Retired Air Vice Marshal Ken Robinson has been appointed as chair of the panel.
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Robinson → appoint → panel
Other members will join for an initial six-month period.
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Transport Minister Catherine King (pictured) said Sydney Airport is safe despite investigations into air traffic control rostering and fatigue concerns
In one incident, a flight attendant fractured a wrist after being knocked off their feet as the plane stopped suddenly on a runway where a larger aircraft was being towed.
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aircraft → picture → runway
The risk was transitory, but two planes stopped with 30 metres between them.
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planes → stop → them
In another near miss, an air traffic controller was sent for a break and had completed handover just seven seconds before a plane was wrongly cleared to cross the runway and came within 120 metres of a landing aircraft.
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plane → send → aircraft
The airport regularly uses overtime shifts to fill gaps in rosters and there were predictions of elevated fatigue risks for tower staff at the time of incidents.
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airport → use → incidents
There were also concerns about air traffic controllers carrying out multiple responsibilities at the same time and conducting live training while being expected to keep on top of usual duties.
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controllers → be → duties
Fatigue risk did not necessarily mean staff felt that way, Mr Mitchell said.
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Rather, a mathematical equation based on staffing levels and rosters meant there was reasonable belief that they could be.
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they → base → levels
Air traffic controllers at Sydney Airport took an average of 17 days of sick leave last financial year, documents revealed, which was higher than at other major Australian airports.
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which → take → airports
The controllers cannot turn up to work unwell or tired - not as a matter of decorum but as a legal requirement - so are entitled to as much sick leave as they want as a result, contributing to short staffing.
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they → turn → staffing
The incidents at Sydney Airport are being examined to help understand how to fix issues across the country.
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incidents → examine → country
Sydney had a 20 per cent higher incident rate than other major Australian airports.
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Sydney → have → airports
'The air traffic control challenges facing Sydney Airport are widely recognised, and I am encouraged by the work under way to address them,' Mr Mitchell said.
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Mitchell → face → them
The Department of Infrastructure and Civil Aviation Safety Authority are working to improve aviation safety, particularly as new air traffic controllers are trained.
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controllers → work → safety
The final reports on the incidents are set to be released in coming months.
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reports → set → months
The Aporia
