Air Traffic Control ... en Australie

Article de "The Australian" ... Le sous effectif en Australie ...

VIRGIN Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey has blasted the management of Australia's air traffic control system, saying it is infuriating that a handful of people can hold the country to ransom because of inadequate staffing.

In a broadside against Airservices Australia, Mr Godfrey said airlines were being doubly penalised by strict curfew rules and an air traffic control system that was thrown into chaos every time three or four people were sick.

"It's pretty infuriating that about a dozen people can hold the country to ransom," Mr Godfrey told The Australian.

"I'm being told people are sick and I know that there's a union pay claim issue here but I really think we're being let down."

Air traffic control staffing shortages have caused disruptions since last year as sections of Australian skies and some towers were left unmanned, sometimes for hours.

Air traffic controllers, who say they are overworked and facing unrealistic demands, have raised safety concerns about aircraft passing through uncontrolled airspace. But aviation officials say international procedures used in such instances pose little risk. Mr Godfrey said Virgin carried more people than it needed so that if a pilot did not show up to work, there were others ready to fly the aircraft.

Even though the airline ended up paying for those additional staff, the reality was Virgin wouldpay "a bucketload more" for the inconvenience and inefficiency of not having people turn up to work.

"I think it's disappointing that people who actually maintain the air traffic control systems in Australia don't likewise have contingency plans -- whether it's management getting involved or whether it's surplus resources," he said. "I know they're recruiting now, but this should have been known ... 18 months ago."