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Output Number
R19980160
Approval Date
Published Date Time
Recommendation type
Recommendation
Mode
Aviation
Date released
Background Text

See report B98/90 - 'Systemic investigation into factors
underlying air safety occurrences in Sydney Terminal Area
airspace'.

The Bureau of Air Safety Investigation recommends that
Airservices Australia consider restructuring the current roster
operating in the Sydney TCU to ensure that contemporary fatigue
management research is translated into meaningful duty hour
regulations. In any restructure of the roster, BASI recommends that
Airservices Australia expand its absentee management program to
include individuals who expose themselves to the risks of fatigue
by participating in excessive amounts of overtime and/or emergency
duty.

Organisation Response
Date Received
Organisation
AirServices Australia
Response Status
Monitor
Response Text

I refer to your letter of 14 August 1998 concerning the Bureau
of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) report on operations in the
Sydney terminal airspace area (Investigation Report B98/90).



The report was initially considered by the Board Safety and
Environment Committee on 14 August 1998, the day the report was
formally issued by Government. Subsequently, the BASI report was
considered at the full Board Meeting, held on 21 August 1998.



The Board and Management of Airservices are affording priority
consideration to the BASI recommendations and findings. We will
work closely with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in assessing
the actions necessary to address the recommendations and findings
of the BASI report.



I will write again shortly, when the specific action plans are
developed.

Date Received
Organisation
AirServices Australia
Response Text

In any restructure of the roster, BASI recommends that
Airservices Australia expand it absentee management program to
include individuals who expose themselves to the risks of fatigue
by participating in excessive amounts of overtime and/or emergency
duty.



The review process outlined in R980157 above addresses much of the
issues identified in this recommendation. It is planned that
changes to the TCU roster will become effective on 1 February 1999
after staff consultation and expert opinion has been taken into
account.



Airservices is committed to the absentee provisions of its EBA and
has adopted a program of aggressively addressing this issue. Any
revision of rosters will encompass consideration of the effects of
fatigue in the workplace.

ATSB Response

The following correspondence was forwarded to Airservices
Australia on 4 January 1999:



R980160 - Airservices Australia consider restructuring the current
roster operating in the Sydney TCU to ensure that contemporary
fatigue management research is translated into meaningful duty hour
regulations. In any restructure of the roster, BAS1 recommends that
Airservices Australia expand its absentee management program to
include individuals who expose themselves to the risks of fatigue
by participating in excessive amounts of overtime and/or emergency
duty.



Response classification: CLOSED-ACCEPTED



The Bureau requests that confirmation is provided when the proposed
changes to the Sydney TCU roster have been implemented, including
the nature of those changes.

Date Received
Organisation
AirServices Australia
Response Text

Airservices has previously responded to the following
recommendations and has been advised that BASI has accepted those
responses and closed off any further action:



R980157

R980160

R980163

ATSB Response

The following correspondence was forwarded to Airservices
Australia on 17 December 1999:



Thank you for your response, dated 9 June 1999, in which you
detailed action taken in response to recommendations related to the
systemic investigation of factors underlying air safety occurrences
in Sydney terminal airspace. The following comment on each response
to the recommendations is provided for clarification.





R19980160 - The Bureau of Air Safety Investigation recommends that
Airservices Australia consider restructuring the current roster
operating in the Sydney TCU to ensure that contemporary fatigue
management research is translated into meaningful duty hour
regulations. In any restructure of the roster, BAS1 recommends that
Airservices Australia expand its absentee management program to
include individuals who expose themselves to the risks of fatigue
by participating in excessive amounts of overtime and/or emergency
duty.



Response classification - CLOSED - ACCEPTED



Although the Bureau accepted the Airservices response to this
recommendation, confirmation of proposed changes as advised by
Airservices in 13 November 1998 correspondence, was requested.
While the Bureau has received informal advice the Manager Sydney
Operations on 8 August 1999, no formal advice has been received to
date. In order to finalise this matter, the Bureau requests that
further advice be provided at your earliest convenience.

Date Received
Organisation
AirServices Australia
Response Text

A restructure of the then current roster was done in February
1999.



During 1999 three more rosters were planned to be in force. Two
rosters have been put in place, the one leading up to the
transition to TAAATS and the one over the transition period. Advice
was received and utilised from Rostering Consultants as the most
effective rosters, taking into account fatigue and rest
periods.



The third roster is the post transition roster. A core roster
review team has been appointed which has attended a fatigue
management conference as a precursor to developing new rosters in
both the TCU and Tower. We will also be waiting for the outcomes of
the "Review of Teams" before the roster is finalised.