Australia’s air traffic controller shortage triggers spike in near-misses

Since late July, incidents at Sydney Airport included a passenger jet aborting its take-off because there was a plane in its path. In a separate close call, an aircraft that was taxiing had to slam on the brakes to avoid colliding with another jet.

Short-staffed control towers have long been a problem globally, but nowhere is the urgency of the matter more on display recently than in Australia. The growing number of incidents is pressing the need for authorities worldwide to crank up hiring and adopt new tools like artificial intelligence.

“Air traffic control staffing levels are not at the level required,” said Andrew Marshall, president of the Australian and International Pilots Association, which represents the flight crew at the nation’s flag carrier, Qantas Airways. “Whilst pilots are the last line of defence in aviation safety, it isn’t an appropriate long-term solution.”

The problem is there is no quick way to fill the shortfall of air traffic controllers in Australia, largely because it takes years for a new recruit to be fully trained. Meanwhile, flight demand continues to grow.

That is becoming the case worldwide as the lack of controllers has turned into one of the aviation industry’s biggest frustrations. More than 70,000 new controllers will be needed globally by 2034, according to forecasts by aviation training provider CAE.