New details emerge from two Sydney Airport aircraft near-misses on the tarmac
Two close calls at Sydney Airport have exposed a communication breakdown between pilots and air traffic control, with new reports examining staffing and safety procedures. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) published the two remaining preliminary reports on Monday, completing its initial reports into six aircraft coordination and conflict incidents at the airport in July and August. Both reports detail staffing and rostering conditions in the air traffic control tower at the time. One report details how Qantas flight QF420, operating Boeing 737 VH-VZV, had to brake as Virgin Australia flight VA1589, operating Boeing 737 VH-IXJ, passed in front of it on August 17. The Virgin crew had not read back the full air traffic control instruction, which included an order to “follow the Qantas” aircraft. The controller did not recognise the incomplete readback. As the Qantas jet vacated…
