SAFIS flies under the Radar 7 April 2021
Whilst Airservices Australia s proposal to modify the base of Class E airspace on the eastern seaboard has garnered a lot of feedback traffic, there has been very little chatter surrounding another part of the modernisation program: SAFIS.
Surveillance Aerodrome Flight Information Service (SAFIS) is set to be implemented at two non-towered airports mid year if the proposal goes ahead unchanged. The two airports–Ballina/Byron Gateway in NSW and Mangalore in Victoria–are both heavy-traffic airports that Airservices believes warrant greater situational awareness that just CTAF procedures.
SAFIS will amalgamate Flight Information Service (FIS) in the surrounding Class G and Surveillance Information Service (SIS) to achieve what Airservices says will be an increase in safety at those airports.
Air traffic control staff to escalate industrial action over remote towers plan
Updated: March 15, 2021, 6:26 pm
There are plans for remote control towers at some airports including Kirkwall Airport (Danny Lawson/PA)
Air traffic control (ATC) workers are to escalate industrial action over plans to introduce remote airport control towers at Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL).
Since December, employees with the Prospect union have been refusing to engage with the proposals which include closing workspaces, centralising operations to Inverness and downgrading airports.
But the action will now include staff working to rosters, a ban on overtime, refusing shift extensions (except for search and rescue) and refusing to train new controllers.
Updated: March 8, 2021, 5:27 pm
There are plans for remote control towers at some airports (Danny Lawson/PA)
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Councillors have urged the Scottish Government to show it is “listening to the islands” after a report found plans for remote airport control towers will have a negative impact on some communities.
Western Isles Council said the latest report showed “in black and white” that the plans will cost jobs and damage island economies.
Listen to islanders over remote airport control tower plans, demand councillors
Updated: March 8, 2021, 5:27 pm
There are plans for remote control towers at some airports (Danny Lawson/PA)
Councillors have urged the Scottish Government to show it is “listening to the islands” after a report found plans for remote airport control towers will have a negative impact on some communities.
Western Isles Council said the latest report showed “in black and white” that the plans will cost jobs and damage island economies.
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) is planning to introduce remote integrated air traffic control services for five airports: Inverness, Dundee, Stornoway, Kirkwall and Sumburgh.
HIAL to proceed with air traffic scheme despite forecast job losses
March 5, 2021 at 11:36 am
HIAL is to proceed with its controversial Air Traffic Management Strategy, despite warnings of widespread job losses.
Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. (HIAL) has confirmed that it will be proceeding with its controversial Air Traffic Management Strategy (ATMS), despite warnings of widespread job losses at airports across the region, including Kirkwall.
An impact assessment for the ATMS, published today, Friday, has forecast “very significant negative impacts” on Orkney’s economy, if current plans go ahead.
But HIAL’s managing director, Inglis Lyon, has said that the company has “always known” that there would be “impacts” resulting from such a scheme. He has endeavoured to continue with the ATMS, with the aim of delivering “viable solutions that will maintain lifeline services and essential connectivity for generations to come”.