As the wife of an Air Traffic Controller, I’m angry, disheartened, and in complete shock as to what is happening in our aviation industry at present and cannot sit back and just watch this all go by.
Air Traffic Controllers are crying out for help and clarification. At the moment Air Traffic Controllers who are not trained on and hold no rating for certain positions are sitting at consoles looking at a radar screen whilst their fellow Air Traffic Controllers get a short toilet break to get them through their eight hour shift.
Air Traffic Controllers on numerous occasions have contacted CASA and Airservices Australia to clarify their position as to the legal implications of these circumstances. So far, no official response has been forthcoming. Air Services Australia have their heads so deeply stuck in the sand about the huge staffing crisis they don’t seem to think this is a problem. The fact that they are only receiving one such break during a shift is again another issue in itself.
Airservices Australia chief executive Greg Russell stood up in the Senate Estimates Committee and said with a straight face everything is going well; just a little too much reliance on overtime at the moment. There are Air Traffic Controllers working 10 shifts on and with one day off and starting this cycle again. Air Traffic Controllers are being called not once, not twice but up to five times on their day off to come in and are being made to feel pressured to attend work to prop up the system. Controllers are being called on whilst on annual leave.
The direction to the air traffic control line managers is to not let the airspace close (TIBA) at all costs. Currently Air Services Australia are having air space closures on an almost daily basis and this is ever increasing. Air Traffic Controllers for the past 10 years have been trying to provide ideas and suggestions to assist with a long term vision to deal with staffing issues.
Whilst airports are seeing huge increases in air traffic, passengers and tourism in the next few years they will not have any Controllers to actually see these aircraft come in safely. They are sick to death of being treated like second class citizens on one hand, and then on the other being asked to help prop up the system for the love of the job.
I have had enough, and I am just a Controller’s wife, who is very upset and sick to death of the way Airservices Australia run their business. Imagine how the Air Traffic Controllers are feeling when they face it every day and are banging their heads against a brick wall on every issue they raise.
When an organization fails to appreciate your value when you are there, then it is time to demonstrate your value by not being there. Airplanes will stop, money will be lost, answers will be found.
Balanced,
In response to your thinly veiled swipe at people in our profession (do you work in the AWB, perchance? And that’s not the Australian Wheat Board I’m referring to), I suggest you consider these points:
– “the loadings” are already included in our salary, and have been for close to fifteen years
– my colleague sitting nearby as I type this is on considerably less than 100k (I earn more than 100K, and will be relieving him after I finish having to correct the uninformed), controlling more than twenty aircraft with an estimated 3000 people aboard. This traffic is considered ‘moderate’, as opposed to ‘high’ and ‘extremely high’. About 40% (and rising) of controllers would be on less than 100K
– did I mention the fact that if we make a mistake, hundreds may lose their lives? Does your occupation carry that type of risk?
– You’re right, anyone can apply to do this job. The ratio of end-state/licensed controllers to applicants, however, is very low (i.e. not many get through) – is it any wonder that we are seeking to increase the starting point for salaries to attract more ‘quality’ applicants who will have a higher chance of succeeding in this career path?
– After twelve years of shift-work, my sleep cycles are now at the stage where I can’t sleep for more than two or three hours at a time. If you think this is no biggie, I’ll arrange to come over to your place and keep waking you every few hours. We’ll see how you feel after a few days…
Balanced, I could go on and on. I suggest you have a good think about these points next time before you offer your ‘balanced’ opinion
I was considering a career in this field and the recent issues have made me reconsider my position. Also with the airlines beginning to reduce the number of routes due to fuel prices will we see a corresponding reduction in stress on the controllers ?
The real issues involve the sheer incompetence of the management group. Too many of those in supervisory and management roles are simply failed controllers. Because they are failed controllers they cannot step into the breach to replace a controller who is on a break or absent for other reasons. Also, as failed controllers, they carry chips on their shoulders that affect the way they attempt to manage and motivate staff.
Like so many organisations, the problem comes down to leadership (or the absence thereof). The Transport Minister should insist upon an urgent root-and-branch review of the Air Services organisation. Will it happen? Probably not. There are no votes in fixing this… unless and until a major aviation accident reveals that the organisation is indeed on the brink of failure.
Balanced- AUD100K is not that much these days and, frankly, this is not an area where you can afford to make mistakes. What is a crime is the amount paid in salary to those failed controllers who are promoted to management roles.
I feel so sorry for you. You neglect to mention the 100k salaries that Air Traffic controllers get paid. The unlimited days off, the loadings, etc, etc. Air traffic controllers are very highly paid so a 10 hr shift should not be complained about given the exceptional overtime rates given. Remember whilst an important job its not one that requires a degree from university or any other academic qualification. In fact anyone can apply to do this job on the Air Services web page. I think the good wife should be happy that her husband makes a good earn and be happy with it.