Working at West Radar

The Team

South-West Regional Services consists of three teams of air traffic controllers. The full performance controllers rotate through each sector during a shift.

With a 24 hour, 7 day-a-week rotating roster, two teams are rostered on while the third is rostered off. Most shifts are 7.5 hours long with an additional 12 minute handover/takeover period. This equates to a 72 hour fortnight (averaged over 3 months). Weekend staffing levels are lower than weekdays. While our industrial agreement allows for a 20 minute break in a 7.5 hour shift, we generally have more because no more than 2 hours is recommended in front of a radar screen.

Most controllers have other responsibilities which they attempt to cover in their breaks and during specifically rostered shifts. These include

• the Group Training Specialist (covering conversion training of controllers entering the group, and refresher training),

• the Group Support Specialist (covering procedures, documentation and operational data),

• the Rostering Officer, and

• the Group Safety and Quality Specialist.

Each has an assistant who is "learning the ropes" and covers during recreation leave, illness, etc. The positions are reviewed every 18 months or so.

None of these positions attract a higher salary but are a break from routine and means of advancement to Team Leader.

The 3 hour time difference between Melbourne and Perth (in summer) means that shifts are skewed towards the afternoon and evening. Once every 6 weeks we are rostered a team meeting shift. This allows the team opportunity to review new procedures, air grievances and conduct refresher training and simulator exercises.

Additionally there are two leave lines on the roster and a Group Leader line. We are currently short of staff due to controllers being seconded to projects, failing to gain a rating after training, and departing for the greener pastures of the Middle East!

The Team Leader

Each team of 5 or so controllers is headed by a Team Leader. The Team Leader holds a line on the operational roster but has at least one administration day per week. Generally more are required because he is required to conduct 6-monthly performance checks on the controllers and supervise their annual general rating paper examination. Each Team Leader is allotted specialty areas, such as supervising the training program, document control or the rostering/leave program.

The Group Leader

The Group Leader manages South-west Regional Services, which now consists of West Radar and and the Perth terminal area controllers. He is the link between the group and management and responsible for forward planning and budgeting.

Training:

Training consists of 4 days theory, 12 days of simulation and 6 weeks on-the-job training. A theory examination and a simulator "exit" check must be passed prior to the commencement of on-the-job training. About half way through the on-the-job-training, a progress check is conducted. The Group Training Specialist normally conducts the theory and simulator training, but on-the-job training is allocated to a line controller qualified as an On-The Job Training Instructor. Final checks cover all positions over several days and the workload and complexity must be above average. Checks may, therefore, be extended until the required workload is obtained.

Checks are conducted by the Group Standardisation and Training Specialist and a trainee must have been checked, at some stage, by two different specialists prior to gaining a rating. Training may be extended if there is confidence that the trainee will obtain a rating shortly. Trainees who fail to rate will usually return to their previous Group.

The Group Safety and Quality Specialist

The GSAQ, differs from the GTS and GSS positions in that the time spent away from operations does not belong to the Group. Instead, he/she reports to the Manager (Safety and Quality Assurance) of Melbourne Centre Operations where their primary role is to assist MCO with safety investigation, safety audits, risk mitigation and educational activities.

Under the direction of the Manager (S&QA), the GSAQ's job is to:

· investigate, report upon and make risk mitigation recommendations about air safety incidents within the Melbourne FIR;

· participate in reviews conducted MCO;

· educate Groups and individuals about relevant safety issues arising from incident investigations;

· participate in operational safety audits;

· analyse "event" reports and make recommendations;

· determine measures to identify safety issues and initiate mitigation strategies.

Union Activity

The air traffic controllers' union is the Civil Air Operations Officers Association of Australia (colloquially known as Cocoa). We are currently 99% unionised. One of the most important benefits of union membership is the Loss of License Insurance which covers controllers should they lose their ATC license due to medical problems. The union is not only an industrial advocate but plays a solid role in ATC technical development and holds regular meetings with Airservices management. Civil Air is a founding member of the International Federation of Air Traffic Control Associations (IFATCA).

Current ATC Salaries (2006)

The following table lists the current salaries and increments for air traffic controllers. These are composite salaries which include shift penalties and weekend loadings. (But not public holidays - "their" actuary couldn't agree with "our" actuary). Progress through the increments is subject to gaining and maintaining various ratings, passing annual checks and examinations, and maintaining medical fitness.

Under our current Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, these salaries increase by 2% every six months until the end of 2008. The current EBA is here (with the payscales at the bottom).