Aircraft unsafe distance at Sydney Airport being investigated

An investigation has been launched into the second serious loss of separation between two aircraft at Sydney Airport in six months.

A Virgin Australia ATR 72, like the one involved in a loss of separation with a United Airlines’ Boeing 7777 at Sydney Airport on January 22. Picture: Bloomberg News

An investigation has been launched into why a United Airlines jet turned across the path of a Virgin Australia aircraft as both flights took off from Sydney Airport last Wednesday.

As a result the aircraft came within an unsafe distance of one another, prompting the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to investigate the incident as a “loss of separation”.

According to a brief description of the “serious incident”, the ATSB said “during the initial climb the United Airlines’ Boeing 777 turned right, resulting in a loss of separation with the Virgin Australia ATR-72 departing from the parallel runway”.

The United Airlines’ 777 was en route to San Francisco, and the Virgin Australia turboprop heading to Tamworth in New South Wales.

As part of the investigation the ATSB have contacted the operators involved and Airservices Australia to obtain relevant incident data about air traffic control directions.

A Virgin Australia spokeswoman confirmed one of its ATR aircraft was involved in a loss of separation event on January 22 “while under the direction of air traffic control”.

“We are assisting the ATSB with their inquiries,” she said.

Airservices is also providing input to the investigation as requested.

It is the second serious loss of separation incident at Sydney Airport to be investigated by the ATSB in six months.

On August 16, 2019, two Qantas aircraft came within 152m of each other after following the directions of air traffic control.

The incident remains under investigation by the ATSB and Airservices, with a final report due later this year.

A loss of separation occurs when there is less than 305m (1000 feet) of vertical distance between two aircraft, or fewer than 3 nautical miles (5.5km) laterally.