Australia and RI work together on air safety

Australia and RI work together on air safety

SYDNEY (AFP): Australian and Indonesian aviation authorities
are trying to overcome air space co-ordination problems, fearing
they could result in a major mid-air collision, The Australian
newspaper reported yesterday.

Fifty-nine incidents resulting from inadequate communication
between air traffic controllers in the neighboring countries were
reported in 1994, the newspaper said.

These incidents included aircraft unexpectedly entering air
space without warning from the handover controlling agency, and
entering at levels or places other than those expected.

The paper said air traffic controllers in Perth and Brisbane
encountered most of the problem as they tracked aircraft across
the top of Australia en route to Indonesian air space and centers
such as Jakarta, Bangkok and London.

The Australian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Indonesia's
Directorate General of Air Communications (DGAC) were now working
to resolve the problem, it said.

"There is a risk because there's always that potential when
you have aircraft suddenly turning up unannounced," said John
Guselli, manager of air traffic services with the CAA's quality
assurance branch.

"It's a bit like going through a red light," the paper quoted
Guselli as saying, adding problems included language and
different technology.

Co-operation with Indonesia would continue in the foreseeable
future, with an exchange program between Australian and
Indonesian controllers about to take place, Guselli said.

The Australian said the Australian airlines Qantas and Ansett
had expressed concern at the failure of air traffic controllers
from both countries to co-ordinate aircraft.

The Civil Aviation Authority said yesterday it had no comments
to add to those made by Guselli in the newspaper.