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Safety is the primary focus of the next round of National Airspace Reforms (NAS) commencing on 27 November 2003.
Aviation Reform Group (ARG) Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Transport and Regional Services, Ken Matthews, said today that the new system was being implemented safely.
"The changes to airspace management have been subjected to rigorous safety analysis of all issues raised and have been approved by both the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Airservices Australia," Mr Matthews said.
"The National Airspace System Implementation Group (NAS IG) has also written to all pilots noting their obligation to report incidents, which might relate to the new airspace changes, so that post-implementation analysis can identify any further improvements."
CASA Acting Director of Aviation Safety, Bruce Gemmell, said CASA's acceptance of the new airspace system followed the incorporation of changes in updated pilot and air traffic controller training and education material, regarding radio use, operations in non-controlled airspace, and the inclusion of additional safety mitigators.
Airservices Australia CEO, Bernie Smith, said the changes proposed by the National Airspace System Implementation Group offered Australia a United States-based airspace system that was safe and harmonised with world's best practice.
"Safety is fundamental to what we do. This United States-based airspace system offers Australia a safe, proven system. The changes proposed by the National Airspace System Implementation Group have been independently scrutinised by Airservices' own safety experts, the Directorate of Air Safety and Environment Assurance with acceptance of the design and implementation safety cases provided by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority," Mr Smith said.
The Royal Australian Air Force has also accepted the new system as safe with Defence aircrew and air traffic controllers being prepared for the next phase of the NAS.
Contacts:
All inquiries of a technical nature should be directed to the NAS IG - the group responsible for implementing the new system.
- Colin Blair, NAS IG, 02 6287 6978 / 0416 266 843
- Veronika Sain, Department of Transport and Regional Services, 02 6274 8031 / 0411 323 104
- Richard Dudley, Airservices Australia, 02 6268 4479 / 0412 146 828
- Peter Gibson, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, 02 6217 1015 / 0419 296 446
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