The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating staffing gaps at Sydney airport as a key factor in four safety incidents that occurred in July and August this year. The investigation follows a review that identified runway incursions and near misses at the airport at a rate 20 percent above national averages.
Modelling by Sydney airport's air traffic control operators had predicted elevated fatigue risks for staff at the time the incidents took place. The ATSB is now examining whether understaffing contributed to the events.
The incidents, which occurred over the two-month period, prompted heightened scrutiny of safety protocols at Australia's busiest airport. The four events are understood to include near collisions and incursions where aircraft or vehicles entered runways without clearance.
Air traffic control operators flagged fatigue as a concern in their modelling, raising questions about shift patterns and resourcing levels. The ATSB's investigation will assess whether staffing shortfalls directly led to the elevated incident rate.
No injuries or damage have been reported from the incidents, but the findings could lead to changes in staffing requirements and fatigue management at the airport.