[Peetwo]

Harfwit admits he is incompetent?? - 

Via ASA:

Airservices Australia Unveils Inaugural Australian Aviation Network Overview



Airservices Australia has today released its first deep-dive report on trends in the Australian aviation sector, covering the 2023 financial year.

Designed to inform discussion among industry stakeholders, the Australian Aviation Network Overview: Financial year 2023 offers a snapshot of key social and economic trends in the sector, our regional context and the performance of the Australian aviation network.

Inspired by similar international publications such as Eurocontrol’s European Aviation Overview, the Australian Aviation Network Overview will be updated monthly.

Airservices Australia Chief Executive Officer Jason Harfield said Airservices is working closely with customers and stakeholders to support the recovery and sustainable growth of aviation, and the release of the report underscores the importance of ongoing cross-industry efforts to increase transparency and collaboration to drive enhanced network performance.

Discussion of the report and further performance insights will be included in Airservices’ ongoing industry engagement, including the recently established quarterly Aviation Network Performance Roundtable meetings.

“Regrettably, Airservices has not consistently delivered the service standard we expect of ourselves and relied upon by our customers and stakeholders. While aviation safety performance has been maintained, the efficiency and consistency of the network, at times, has been impacted and constrained, hampering the recovery,” he said.

“The entire Airservices team is dedicated to returning the consistency of our service performance to the world-class standard that is expected and for which we are renowned.

“We are focused on ensuring the speed and effectiveness of executing our improvement activities and other change programs that improve your service outcomes.

“I welcome industry feedback on the insights of these new reports.” 

Our next report for July-August 2023 is expected to be published in September.

---

About Airservices

Airservices Australia is responsible for the safe and efficient management of 11 per cent of the world’s airspace and the provision of aviation rescue fire fighting services at Australia’s busiest airports. We connect people with their world safely – linking family and friends, generating economic activity, creating jobs and facilitating trade and tourism.

Posted on: August 4, 2023 Posted in Air traffic management, Corporate, Feature Story, Media Release

 
Plus from Oz Aviation, via FB:

Australian Aviation
14 h  ·

The CEO of air traffic control provider Airservices has admitted his organisation is not delivering the standard of service expected following a row over closed airspace.

However, Jason Harfield insisted “aviation safety performance has been maintained” and pledged to ensure “transparency and accountability for our ongoing performance”.

The statement, released to coincide with its new industry report, was released on a Friday afternoon and significantly didn’t include an apology.



Ref: https://australianaviation.com.au/2023/0...dmits-ceo/

I also note that AusALPA recently submitted at the regional meetings of the IFALPA 77th conference their concerns with the ASA ATC deficiencies:

Topics covered in the regional meetings included briefings from each member association of issues
affecting countries in their areas. Through AusALPA, the AFAP was involved in putting forward a safety request to our regional chair in order to alert international pilots to our growing concern with ATC deficiencies in Australia.

Ref: https://www.afap.org.au/Portals/0/Anna%2...7156818866 & https://www.ausalpa.org.au/Portals/5/Doc...111311-593

Finally back to the AFAP survey and it's conclusions: Ref - https://www.afap.org.au/news1/ArtMID/160...-deficient-

The AFAP has recently surveyed its pilot members, consulted with pilot representatives, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) union, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and requested freedom of information (FOI) material from the regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). For the reasons outlined in the material below we have reached the following concerning conclusions:

1. Airservices Australia (ASA) is struggling with severe staffing shortages of air traffic controllers, leading to overreliance on contingency measures that introduce safety risks. These shortages were set up well before the pandemic and are not primarily caused by short notice sick leave.
   
2. The frequent and unplanned use of procedures like “Traffic Information Broadcast by Aircraft” ((TIBA), TIBA is a contingency measure used in controlled airspace when infrastructure or resourcing has failed) is unsustainable, less safe and indicates a lack of robust air traffic management systems and resources.
   
3. Incidents in Australia and internationally point to the critical importance of effective airspace management for aviation safety. These lessons were built into the ATC system and removal of staffing resilience opens the risk of catastrophic outcomes.
   
4. ASA faces challenges with procurement practices, budget overruns, and toxicity within the organization's culture.
   
5. There are questions about the adequacy of oversight, planning and funding by ASA's executive team and board to properly manage Australia's airspace.
   

Recommended actions:

1. The government should intervene to address dysfunction within ASA and bring the organisation back under proper public control.
   
2. An urgent recruitment drive and investment in training is needed to address staffing shortages of air traffic controllers and build resilience back into the organisation.
   
3. ASA must improve air traffic management systems and procedures to minimize reliance on unsafe contingency measures like TIBA.
   
4. Stronger oversight and governance should be implemented to hold ASA's executive team and board properly accountable for airspace management outcomes.
   
5. An independent review of ASA's staffing levels, culture, procurement practices and budgeting should be conducted to identify and implement necessary reforms.
   

And for the latest on closed airspace etc refer to this UP thread: https://www.pprune.org/australia-new-zea...st11479207

MTF...P2