Air traffic control probed over Qantas near-miss in Sydney

Air traffic control is under scrutiny over how two Qantas jets came within 150m of each other at Sydney airport.

The control tower at Sydney Airport. Picture: AAP

A Qantas pilot was forced to take action to create a safe distance between his Airbus A330 and a Qantas Boeing 737 after the aircraft were directed into converging paths by air traffic control at Sydney.

A preliminary report on the incident on August 5, 2019, said the A330 was just taking off from runway 34 in Sydney, as the 737 made its final approach to land on the same runway.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau report said the trainee controller realised there would be insufficient space between the aircraft and ordered the 737 to go around.

As it did so, separation between the A330 and 737 reduced to 150m vertically and just under 800m laterally.

At that time, the A330’s traffic collision avoidance system activated and the first officer saw the 737 overhead, in close proximity.

“In response, (the A330 pilot) reduced the aircraft’s angle of bank to reduce the turn towards the 737,” the report said.

“The captain of the A330 made a radio transmission to advise the controller that it was ‘very close’. The controller then issued an instruction to the A330 flight crew to turn left.”
The A330 climbed to 5000 feet away from the 737 and flew on to Melbourne without further incident. At the same time, the 737 landed on its second approach to runway 34.

Graphic shows the incident at Sydney Airport.

Although the ATSB investigation was continuing the report noted that the controller had not issued a safety alert to the pilots of both aircraft, as required when aircraft are considered to be too close to one another.

“The investigation is continuing and will include examination of air traffic control procedures and flight crew actions ... and further analysis of flight data recordings and ATC recordings,” the report said.

The design and risk assessment of missed approaches from runway 34 would also be examined further.

The report noted the air traffic controller was experienced in another tower and was nearing the end of his training in Sydney, with a performance check scheduled for the next day.

An Airservices Australia spokeswoman said an internal investigation was being conducted into the incident, in accordance with their safety management system.

A Qantas spokesman said the airline was continuing to work with the ATSB on their ongoing investigation.

“Our crew followed directions from air traffic control at all times,” said the spokesman.

A final report is expected by late September.