A joint Airservices Australia and Australian Department of Defence working group will release in June its first report on the opportunities and issues surrounding the integration of the country's civil and military air traffic management (ATM).
The first phase of the Integrated Operating Concept will focus on two centres where the approach could initially be adopted - Darwin and Townsville - but the ultimate objective of the programme is to combine civil and military ATM throughout the country. The primary aim of the programme is to ensure better use of airspace through collaboration.
Air traffic control at Darwin and Townsville is provided by the Royal Australian Air Force, but the partners are considering the idea of civil service provider Airservices Australia taking over ATC services.
"The two bases will be used as a litmus test for a national programme," says Airservices Australia. The aim is "total integration", but this depends on whether the needs of all parties are met. No timeframe has been set for the programme, but "both parties will be disappointed if there is not a lot happening within five years," says Airservices.
Several issues need to be investigated before launching a programme, such as how to accommodate RAAF personnel and ensur-ing that operational readiness is provided for the RAAF in situations such as the 1999 East Timor crisis.
Meanwhile, Airservices Australia is watching with interest Europe's progress towards a Single European Sky as it begins talks with New Zealand and Fiji on the possibility of combining the upper airspace of the three countries.
Source: Flight International
