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Sydney airport near misses rise as Australia faces air controller shortage

The Australian and International Pilots Association says staffing levels are not at the level required, and forecasts call for more than 70,000 new controllers globally by 2034.

Reported · Written up by our desk · North America

Australia’s air traffic controller shortage is showing signs of reaching a breaking point, with Sydney Airport recording at least four near misses in the past month, according to SCMP Economy. The incidents since late July included a passenger jet aborting takeoff because another aircraft was in its path, and a separate close call where a taxiing aircraft had to slam on the brakes to avoid colliding with another jet.

SCMP Economy reports that the urgency is being driven by the difficulty of quickly filling the shortfall, because it takes years for new recruits to become fully trained. As flight demand continues to grow, the shortage has become a major frustration for the aviation industry worldwide, SCMP Economy adds.

The outlet cited comments from Andrew Marshall, president of the Australian and International Pilots Association, which represents flight crew at Qantas Airways, saying pilots are the last line of defense but are not an appropriate long-term substitute. SCMP Economy also referenced CAE forecasts that more than 70,000 new controllers will be needed globally by 2034.

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