BK Tower restrictions
 

OK, so what's going on here then???

Due to the lack of staff the circuit frequency will is combined with the the arrival and departure frequency so 1 less person is required in the cabin.

As a result, only 4 can be in the circuit due to workload of the Controller and frequency congestion.

It's not just BK but also out at Parafield too:

RESTRICTED CIRCUIT OPS AVBL AND START APPROVAL REQUIRED
DAILY 0630-0730
DUE STAFF SHORTAGE
FROM 02 010730 TO 04 040730 EST

Asa recruitment must be slow! :confused:

I don't think it's necessarily 'slow', but it does take time to train them. Also there have been the usual retirement aged folks going as well as attractive overseas options.

Another thing that's becoming a semi-regular event is delays on departure due to staff shortages. No doubt the airlines are getting rather cranky with AsA management.

Glad I don't fly out of BK any more.

BK operators can't be happy.

Indeed, Amnita Hennesy- owner of Clamback and Hennesy flying school reckons this one act is losing her about 50% of daily profit- see her blog on clahen website.

I flew out of BK last week on Wednesday and cant believe the shift that has occured since i started training there in 2005. There was a 152 at runway centre saying he was ready at runway left- he got a hammering from tower.

It seems the controllers are fed up of some of the pilots flying into BK- student pilots no doubt which often dont comply with regulations/respond to calls even. Another 152 doing a go around on circuit runway (11R) with about 8 in the circuit failed to notify tower. When Tower realized the 152 had already reached late upwind and was turning crosswind right into the path of a cherokee- 3 calls went unheeded by the pilot of the 152 until finally he responded to the sequencing instructions. Thankfully tower was there to tell the 152 to extend the upwind because the two planes came very close- me being on downwind at the time so saw it all.

I just think reducing the planes to 4 will cause bottlenecks of planes rushing on the ground to join circuit, and others coming back from the training area wanting to join circuit which could also be a problem.

Anyways just my 2 cents.

What about flying down to YWOL or out to Camden?

SSHH!!! They might hear you, and then it'll be just as bad out there!!!

From what ive been seeing on PPRUNE,

Camden is becoming far more busier now Hoxton Park is closed, and ctaf calls are hard to come by with all the frequency traffic:)

But with the new CTAF procedures theres a fine for not calling all the relevant legs- i believe?

Go figure!

And who polices that? Will ASA with all of their staff send someone out to listen to Camden CTAF or does CASA send their wonderful staff. At least with the latter option the fine will take a year to get to you or not at all.

Haha, very true.

just like ASIC renewals right:D

Whilst I don't work at Bankstown any more, I know what it is like to work out there.

In 2008, Bankstown was the busiest aerodrome in Australia. The number of Controllers there has reduced due to staff movements across the country and there is at least 1 new ATC training there and about 2 waiting to move to another Tower location but can't be released.

The reason the circuit is closed for a couple of hours is because the old roster of 6 controllers a day has had to be reduced to 5. To run at full capacity, there needs to be 3 controllers in the cab: A Ground/Coordinator, and Tower 1 and 2. When it is quieter, the two tower positions are combined, but once the number in the circuit gets over 4 (as a maximum) the picture gets too complex and the frequency gets too congested.

If the circuit is not closed, then no one gets breaks as the circuit gets is generally around 6-8 at most times now. It is as simple as that. No industrial action (as Aminta stated). In fact it is the compete opposite.

If you think about it, management control how many staff in a certain location and how the roster is run and the issuing of NOTAMs. Why would management be assisting line Controllers as a precursor to industrial action?

I feel for the pilots and schools at Bankstown, but after spending two years in the tower there, trust me: Controllers need breaks. And if there is not enough staff, then they can't run with the circuit open all day.