Study into merger of air traffic systems

THE Federal Government will examine whether merging Australia’s military and civil air traffic management systems could cut duplication and costs, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services John Anderson and Minister for Defence Robert Hill have announced.

Airservices Australia, the national air traffic management organisation, and the Air Force will jointly undertake a feasibility study.

The two organisations are joint custodians of the nation’s airspace and will report to the Ministers in the first half of this year.

The study will focus initially on integrating civil and military air traffic management systems at the Air Force-controlled airports of Darwin and Townsville.

“It is time to question if the current two-system approach is the best way to manage our airspace,” the Ministers said.

“The feasibility study will look at areas where integration is possible, quantify the expected benefits to airlines and passengers and identify risks.

“An integrated air traffic management system has the potential to deliver efficiencies through stronger cooperation, shared information and knowledge and consistency in training, policies and procedures.

“However, service continuity and the RAAF’s deployment capability will be maintained in any future integration of the air traffic management systems.”

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