“An Airservices Australia spokesman denied current radar coverage would be removed, despite the considerably lower cost of ADS-B technology.”

Anyone who has the slightest knowledge of the Airservices lower level airspace proposal would know that it was based on the fact that it was to be financed by the removal of enroute Secondary Surveillance Radars.  Look at this paper “Cross Industry Business Case & Cost Benefit Analysis: ADS-B Avionics Fitment. Introduction of TSO 145/146 Navigators & Extended Surveillance   Coverage.” 

It shows that the funding of ADS-B units in general aviation aircraft (to ensure mandatory fitment) is based on the removal of the Secondary Surveillance Radars, saving not only the cost of replacement but also the cost of maintenance.

Isn’t it extraordinary now that Airservices claim that this was never planned?  The following is from an article in the Australian Financial Review Wednesday 3 May 2006:

“An Airservices Australia spokesman denied current radar coverage would be removed, despite the considerably lower cost of ADS-B technology.”

Yes, it is amazing that they can sleep at night.  Then again, it was the Airservices Board that approved the reversal of the Class E above Class D airspace in Australia with a safety study that showed it was not just slightly less safe but it was incredibly unsafe, whilst at the same time Airservices Australia won a contract in the USA to operate exactly the same airspace – saving costs for American aviators and bringing profits back to Airservices to share with their executives.