Turning now to the latest near miss at Sydney Airport. That’s right, another one. This time, a Qantas plane was cleared to turn onto a taxiway at the same time as another aircraft. Let’s bring in today’s talkers, Liberal Senator Paul Scarr and our very own Lizzie Pearl.
Paul, it feels like every week we’re talking about another near miss. Is it time for government intervention before something happens that we’ll all regret?
Paul Scarr:
Absolutely. As you say, this isn’t the first near miss we’ve had. We’ve seen a number of incidents. We’ve also had Sydney Airport effectively shut down because of a lack of air traffic controllers. So there is clearly something wrong at Airservices Australia when it comes to staffing levels.
We’ve also heard warnings about the amount of overtime air traffic controllers are working, and that raises the risk of fatigue. That’s when mistakes can happen. The minister really needs to step up before a tragedy occurs.
Host:
And it must be said, air traffic controllers are understaffed, and the ones currently working are no doubt under enormous pressure, perhaps too much pressure, as Paul has just explained.
Lizzie, as someone who travels regularly for work, do these near misses concern you?
Lizzie Pearl:
Absolutely. I’m a terribly nervous flyer. When I lived in the United States, I was on a plane every week, and I was always frightened during take-off and landing.
I can’t imagine how people on these flights feel when they’re involved in one of these near misses. It’s incredibly alarming, and frankly, it’s not good enough.
There are a lot of moving parts in aviation. There’s the airport itself, Airservices Australia and its air traffic controllers, as well as the airlines. But as a member of the travelling public, all we want is to get on a plane and arrive safely at our destination.
Flying is built on confidence, and I think a lot of people are losing confidence in what’s happening in the aviation industry at the moment.
Host:
We certainly need to recruit and train more air traffic controllers.
And if you’re thinking about applying for a job as an air traffic controller, perhaps have a listen to this next story.
A Perth man has sparked debate on social media after questioning the dress standards of people attending job interviews. Paul, one person reportedly turned up wearing tracksuit pants. Was that you at your interview for the Liberal Party?
Paul Scarr:
Absolutely not.
You can see how I dress every weekend for this show.
Host:
That got a laugh, Paul.
Paul Scarr:
I say people should be inspired by Lizzie. Look how beautifully dressed she is today. That’s the standard. It’s a standard we should all aspire to.
Lizzie Pearl:
You should have seen me arrive at work, Paul.
Host:
You’ve got a little something on your nose there, Paul.
Paul Scarr:
Lizzie, you look fantastic every time you’re at work.
Host:
But I know you also value comfort, and comfort can help productivity. Can you really be upset with someone turning up to a job interview in trackies?
Lizzie Pearl:
It’s a tough one. Sometimes when I’ve got a lot of work to do, I’ll go upstairs, put my tracksuit back on, sit at my desk, put the headphones on and really focus.
But for a job interview, you’ve got to be presentable. If you turn up in trackies and UGG boots, people aren’t going to take you seriously.
Put a little effort in. You might get the job you want. Then, once you’ve got the job, you can go and change into your comfortable clothes.
Paul Scarr:
More than presentable.
Host:
You are on fire this morning, Paul Scarr. You’re the great suck-up today!
