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.