Recommendation

SUBJECT



Coordination problems between Brisbane Sector 7 and Townsville Air
Traffic Control (ATC) operator positions.





OCCURRENCE SUMMARY



There have been six incidents (see Appendix A) in which
coordination between Brisbane Sector 7 and Townsville controllers
has not been conducted. Additionally, information obtained during
the investigation of an incident (9603722) in 1996 indicated that
there were limitations due to the single communication line between
the two units.





SAFETY DEFICIENCY



Aircraft movement coordination between Brisbane Sector 7 and
Townsville ATC operator positions is constrained at times by the
single inter-communication line.





ANALYSIS



Current situation



There have been five reported occurrences of errors in
coordination between Sector 7 and Townsville ATC operator positions
during 1997. These occurrences may have been due to controller
error or an inability to readily access the shared communication
line. There is a perception that the single shared communication
line between Townsville and Sector 7 operator positions is limiting
the conduct of timely coordination.



Anecdotal evidence from the ATC Safety Audit team visit to Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Townsville during the period 21 -
24 July 1997, indicated that access to the shared communication
line was a limitation on the controller's ability to conduct timely
coordination.



The level of concern is not supported by incident reports to date.
The controllers stated that they were reluctant to report every
incident of missed or late coordination. In a number of cases the
situation was discussed by the relevant RAAF supervisor and the
Brisbane team leader. However, there were no formal reports
submitted on these incidents. Consequently, there is limited data
to support the premise that access to the line is a problem.



Airservices Australia Northern District has submitted a proposal
for an additional communication line between Sector 7 and
Townsville ATC operator positions. The audit team agreed with this
proposal and recommended that RAAF Townsville ATC submit an
engineering change proposal in support of an additional line.



Post-TAAATS implementation situation



The proposed communication facilities for The Australian Advanced
Air Traffic System (TAAATS) will provide an increased level of
inter-communication lines between Brisbane and Townsville operator
positions. However, prior to the acceptance into service of TAAATS,
new procedures or inter-communication lines are required to reduce
the coordination problems.



APPENDIX A



9603722 14 Nov. 1996



The controller became task saturated and overlooked the
possibility of a B747 and a B737 coming into conflict. The aircraft
passed with a horizontal separation of 2 NM and at the same
level.



9700466 17 Feb. 1997



The Townsville Approach controller did not coordinate the
departure of the aircraft with the Brisbane Sector 7V controller.
The aircraft was given traffic information on another military
aircraft. There was no breakdown of separation.



9700963 18 Feb. 1997



Departure coordination was not passed to Brisbane Sector 7 on a
RAAF IFR aircraft proceeding outside controlled airspace.



9701403 30 Apr. 1997



The pilot of VH-TMP contacted the Sector 7 controller at 0532. No
departure coordination had been received from Townsville Approach.
The Approach controller later advised the aircraft had departed at
0518.



9701404 30 Apr. 1997



The pilot of VH-FCL reported to the Sector 7V controller at 0242.
No departure coordination had been received from Townsville
Approach. Subsequent investigation revealed that the aircraft had
departed at 0238. There was no breakdown of separation with any
other aircraft.



9701839 3 Jun. 1997



The Sector 7 controller did not coordinate with Townsville Tower
the estimate for the aircraft. As a result, there was no separation
assurance applied between the aircraft and Restricted Area R744A,
which was active at the time.