Near collision involving a British Aerospace PLC 3107, VH-ESW and Fokker B.V. F27 MK 50, VH-FNH, 257 km south of Carnarvon, Western Australia, on 9 July 1998

The pilot of the Fokker 50 was tracking the 168 degree radial from Carnarvon enroute to Perth. Whilst passing FL183 on climb to FL190, the pilot of the Fokker observed a Jetstream pass beneath and to the left on the reciprocal track. The Jetstream was enroute from Perth to Carnarvon and was maintaining FL180. FS had not provided traffic information to either pilot. Airservices Australia reported that a new manning roster was being trialled at the Flight Service Centre and that there were a small number of teething problems being experienced with staff and supervisors becoming familiar with the new hours and rotation of staff within the roster.

On this occasion, insufficient staff was available to provide relief to the operating positions. The flight service officer had just commenced duty but due to the staffing restrictions being experienced through the new roster, he did not have time to complete his normal familiarisation with the activities of the centre before he was required to assume the operating position. The workload at the time of the incident was high and the handover from the officer previously occupying the position was reported as being rushed and incomplete. The flight service officer who had assumed the operating position was, therefore, unfamiliar with the traffic situation.

LOCAL SAFETY ACTION

Airservices Australia has reported that it has identified the problems with the new roster and these will be rectified pending a review.