+34
ATSB preliminary reports reveal a Cat A runway incursion at Sydney Airport and predicted elevated fatigue risks, as investigations examine staffing levels across four July-August incidents.
A near miss at Sydney Airport on 27 July has been classified as a Cat A runway incursion, the most serious level on the international safety scale and only the third such incident in Australia since records began in 2003.
ATSB Sydney Airport Incidents
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released four preliminary reports on Wednesday covering six recent incidents at Sydney Airport, with staffing levels emerging as a recurring line of inquiry. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the reports do not make findings or recommendations but set out the events and operational context in which they took place.
In the 27 July incident, a Qantas Boeing 737 was cleared by controllers to cross in front of a Qantaslink Dash 8, with the two aircraft coming within 120m of each other. The controller completed a handover to a colleague in order to take a rest break required to manage their predicted fatigue risk level, which was high for their shift.
On 9 August, a Jetstar A320 braked abruptly to avoid colliding with a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 being towed, causing a flight attendant to fall and fracture her wrist. That same day, a Qantas Boeing 737 was cleared to cross the runway in front of a Virgin 737 that had just been cleared for takeoff.
Staffing, Fatigue and Safety Defences
Mitchell said safety defences operated in some form in all six incidents, with air traffic controllers, pilots or ground crew acting to prevent more serious outcomes. Nonetheless, he said the bureau needs to understand why those interventions were required. Air traffic control staffing levels have been strained globally and emerged as a recurring line of inquiry during the Sydney Airport investigations.
Mitchell stressed the ATSB has not determined whether staffing resources directly contributed to any occurrence or were simply underlying conditions being managed by Airservices. However, the reports note that Airservices own roster modelling predicted elevated fatigue risks for staff at the time of many occurrences, in some cases applicable to multiple personnel on the shift.
Mitchell said an elevated fatigue risk does not necessarily mean a controller was fatigued or that fatigue affected performance, but the effectiveness of measures to manage this pre-identified risk is being examined. Investigators will consider whether staff combining operational roles contributed to the incidents, along with routine reliance on overtime to fill shifts and training and supervision conducted alongside normal duties. Mitchell said nationally over the decade reported ground confliction rates have remained broadly steady.
Sydney Airport Conflict Rates
However, Sydney recorded the highest confliction rate per aircraft movement post-Covid among major airports, about 20% above the national average. He said this should be viewed in the context of Sydney Airport being the most complex in the country. Mitchell said ground incidents attributed to air traffic control actions had increased since the Covid period in Sydney. Sydney has also recorded twice the annual average number of information and procedural errors compared to other airports, he said.
Higher-consequence incidents, including runway incursions, taxiway near-collisions and losses of separation attributed to air traffic control, have also increased at Sydney post-Covid. Mitchell said this was driven partly by the July and August peak. Airservices Australia, which provides air traffic services, said the interim reports would be reviewed and the organisation would continue working with the bureau as it finalises its investigations.
A spokesperson said the aviation safety system is designed to manage operational risks through multiple safeguards and the recent occurrences do not indicate an immediate safety risk to the travelling public. The spokesperson said Airservices has publicly acknowledged workforce pressures at Sydney and is addressing them through its Sydney Service Resilience Plan.
Airservices Response and Independent Review
The spokesperson noted the ATSB has not determined that staffing, overtime or fatigue contributed to these occurrences, and an elevated modelled fatigue risk does not mean a controller was fatigued. Transport Minister Catherine King said she expected Airservices Australia to cooperate fully with the investigations and fix any problems. She announced the creation of a new independent assurance panel for Sydney air traffic control.
The regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, said it believed none of the incidents presented an immediate safety risk and air travel was safe in Australia. Final reports from the investigations are expected in 2027. There have been grave concerns about changes to airspace rules, with the situation likened to the months leading up to a crash in Washington DC in which 67 people died.
smh 
GuardianAus:Concern over Sydney airport as near misses and runway incursions at 20% above national averageThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
ATSB Investigation Runway Incursion Air Traffic Control Staffing Fatigue Risk
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Newcastle Knights reach 2026 NRL grand final, face Sydney RoostersThe Newcastle Knights will meet the Sydney Roosters in the 2026 NRL grand final after a dramatic preliminary final win over the Penrith Panthers, their first decider in 25 years.
Read more »
Newcastle Knights Fans Get Direct Trains to NRL Grand Final in SydneyThousands of Newcastle Knights fans will travel to Sydney for the NRL grand final after extra direct trains were announced, easing fears over weekend trackworks.
Read more »
Essendon appoints John Longmire as general manager of performance after 25 years at Sydney SwansEssendon has hired former Sydney premiership coach John Longmire as general manager of performance, reuniting him with new Bombers coach Mark McVeigh after 25 years at the Swans.
Read more »