Recommendation

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 am writing in response to the BASI report on the Investigation
of Systemic Safety Issues at Sydney Airport.



The attached response provides details on Airservices ongoing
actions to address the recommendations. Airservices is working
closely with CASA to resolve the issues of mutual concern.



I must stress that this process is being approached with caution
and planning to ensure minimal disruption to the safe and efficient
operations of Sydney Airport.



Airservices will provide you with further reports on progress in
due course.



R980164 Airservices Australia in conjunction with CASA reconsider
the current policy of routinely operating the short runways at
Sydney with up to 25kts crosswind when other runway options are
available.



CASA is re-examining their policy regarding operations with 25
knots of crosswind and will provide direction in due course. This
review is being undertaken with the full cooperation of Airservices
and operators.



Additionally, Airservices has commissioned an independent review by
the Bureau of Meteorology of the impact of reducing the crosswind
criteria on operations at Sydney. This report will enable the
traffic management impact of any changes to be determined.

I am writing to provide a response to the BASI Systemic Review
of Airservices' operations at Sydney Airport and subsequent
investigations which have resulted in recommendations correlated
with that review.



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



The following is a precis of the action Airservices is undertaking
in response to the remaining outstanding recommendations:



"R980164

Airservices Australia, in conjunction with the Civil Aviation
Safety Authority, reconsider the current policy of routinely
operating the short runways at Sydney with up to 25 knots crosswind
when other runway options are available."



Airservices Australia have reconsidered and consulted with the
Civil Aviation Safety Authority on BASI Recommendation R980164. The
Civil Aviation Safety Authority advised Airservices in a letter
dated 20th April 1999 " ... it is CASA's belief that the practice
of routine operating runways with up to 25 knots of crosswind
before initiating a change of nominated runway does not pose an
unacceptable safety hazard."



Airservices believes it is moving forward in a positive and
concerted manner to improve safety as well as the organisation's
productivity and service to its customers and stakeholders.