Plane drama official back
Controller retrained after near-collision in PE
THE air traffic controller who almost caused two passenger airliners to collide at the Port Elizabeth Airport has been retrained and is back on duty. The recently-released report completed by aviation watchdog the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) found the air traffic controller had been at fault for the near catastrophe involving two South African Airways aircraft in July last year. The planes were jointly carrying more than 170 people. An SA Express plane was flying passengers from Durban to Port Elizabeth and received permission to land at about 11am on July 10. At the same time, another SAA flight was preparing to take off for Johannesburg on the same runway. In a statement yesterday, Air Traffic and Navigation Services Company (ATNS) spokesman Percy Morokane said the recommendations made in the report had been noted and were being assessed. ATNS manages air traffic control facilities at most South African airports. “The controller was subsequently withdrawn and retrained,” Morokane said. “He is back on active duty – though in a different environment because he has undergone further training in air traffic management.” Morokane said they would engage with the relevant authorities about the report. He did not elaborate on whether the air traffic controller had been suspended and exactly what action had been taken. “Air traffic management is a complex real-time activity where judgment calls are made and decisions taken to achieve the best possible outcome at the time, while assuring aviation safety.
“At the time of the event a number of activities were under way simultaneously which together gave rise to the reduction in separation [of the planes],” he said. “ATNS provides services in compliance with all relevant South African and international standards and will continue to.” According to the report, both collision warning alarms on the two aircraft activated when the planes were about 370m apart. The report states that at the time of the incident the controller was instructing a student and also used incorrect terminology when advising the pilots. “The controller’s workload was regarded as high from the time he commenced duty. “He became preoccupied and, in doing so, most probably did not monitor the aircraft on final approach effectively.” While most of the passengers aboard both planes remained fairly oblivious to the near collision, passengers on one plane saw a flight attendant crying. In addition to the air traffic controller issues, the report said the instrument landing system at the airport had not been online due to scheduled calibrations being conducted. Concerns about the standard and safety of aviation after the incident were raised by Freedom Front Plus parliamentary transport spokesman Anton Alberts several weeks later. The Airports Company of South Africa failed to respond to questions about the report.
