A Virgin 737 flew untracked for 27 minutes after air traffic control incorrectly thought (the) aircraft was headed for Newcastle:
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 flew untracked for 27 minutes on its way from Sydney to Brisbane after air traffic controllers mistakenly assumed the flight was headed to Newcastle’s Williamtown Airport.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report into the September 28 2012 incident found Airservices controllers let the aircraft, VH-VUM, fly about 225nm (416.7km) in controlled airspace without any assurance air traffic control would positively separate it from other aircraft in the vicinity.
Just after a handover between controllers had taken place, VH-VUM was “inhibited” on the air traffic control console, meaning it was shown as a black track with limited information provided on the accompanying on-screen label.
hmm... good advertisement for ADS-B.
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 flew untracked for 27 minutes on its way from Sydney to Brisbane after air traffic controllers mistakenly assumed the flight was headed to Newcastle’s Williamtown Airport.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report into the September 28 2012 incident found Airservices controllers let the aircraft, VH-VUM, fly about 225nm (416.7km) in controlled airspace without any assurance air traffic control would positively separate it from other aircraft in the vicinity.
Just after a handover between controllers had taken place, VH-VUM was “inhibited” on the air traffic control console, meaning it was shown as a black track with limited information provided on the accompanying on-screen label.
hmm... good advertisement for ADS-B.