In an experiment that has never been attempted anywhere in the world, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has informed Newcastle Airport Limited that they are approved to operate without air traffic control and radar over the Christmas period. 

Former Civil Aviation Safety Authority Chairman Dick Smith said, “Rather than using a proven risk modelling formula based on historical incident data, CASA has developed its own unique safety case which relies on “stakeholders” making guesses as to the chance of an accident.  This formula has not been used elsewhere in the world and has not been validated.

Dick Smith said, “Newcastle Airport is the only airport in Australia which has CASA approval to close down its air traffic control service during the peak Christmas period – where traffic densities and risks are highest.

“Newcastle is one of the busiest non capital city airports in Australia. It has over 50,000 aircraft movements, and up to 1 million passenger movements per year. 

“December and January are the worst months for extreme weather and thunderstorms in Newcastle,” said Dick Smith.

“The air traffic controllers at Newcastle are as good as any in the world, however they have been told by CASA that they are not necessary for safety.  They have been sent on holidays at the time we need them the most.

Dick Smith said, “The CASA safety study claims that it is 3 times safer to have a control tower, however 43 cents per passenger can be saved by the airlines if the tower is not provided. 

“I just hope the computer designers that modelled this new CASA safety formula are not the same ones responsible for the $1 billion Seasprite computer software failure,” said Dick Smith.