Report - Loss of separation assurance 2 x A330s North Western Australia

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markis10

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This is actually quite a scary incident!

Investigation: AO-2012-047 - Losses of separation assurance involving Airbus A330-243, PK-GPO and Airbus A330-341, PK-GPA near ATMAP (IFR reporting point), WA on 31 March 2012

On 30 March 2012, Airservices Australia was unable to resolve two short-notice controller absences for night shift coverage of the Kimberley and Cable airspace sectors, located over north-western Australia. A contingency plan was activated and a Temporary Restricted Area (TRA) initiated for that airspace from 0015 to 0515 Eastern Standard Time on 31 March.
Two aircraft separately entered the TRA without the knowledge of Airservices personnel. An Airbus A330 registered PK-GPA, on a flight from Denpasar, Indonesia to Melbourne, Victoria, was detected at 0500 when the flight crew contacted a Melbourne Centre controller because their aircraft was at the Brisbane/Melbourne Flight Information Region (FIR) boundary after transiting the TRA. The second aircraft, an A330 registered PK-GPO, on a flight from Denpasar to Sydney, New South Wales, was detected at 0641, when the crew contacted Melbourne Centre at the FIR boundary. The aircraft had been operating in controlled airspace for 86 minutes, without the knowledge of any controllers. The minimum standards for separation from other aircraft were met, but both situations constituted losses of assurance that separation would be maintained.
 
Markis wouldn't that be a bit of a yellow flag for pilots to go through what would normally be controlled airspace?
 
Markis wouldn't that be a bit of a yellow flag for pilots to go through what would normally be controlled airspace?

Not talking to anybody for a while would be a flag if they missed the notam!
 
It's like TIBA - never a comfortable bit of airspace to be in; and worse, it's usually at night!
 
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