澳大利亚多个机场近日因空中交通管制人员短缺而陷入延误困境。周二，墨尔本和珀斯机场约200班航班面临延误，悉尼138班航班预计延误约43分钟[1]。更令人担忧的是，周日悉尼机场还发生了两架客机险些在地面碰撞的事件[1]。
管制部门虽在积极补充人力。Airservices Australia首席执行官Rob Sharp表示，过去一年国家级中断下降86%，地面延误下降13%[1]。澳大利亚去年创纪录地录用109名新管制员，目前拥有超过1070名空中交通管制员，另有15人在培训中，预计2027年底前加入团队[1]。然而，这一招聘速度仍难以跟上需求。根据报道，2021年10月至2022年12月间，超过180名管制员接受了自愿遣散[1]。
空中交通管制工作的高度专业性加剧了这一困境。管制员通常需要12个月的培训，但专家认为需要5年以上的工作经验才能在复杂交通情景中高效表现[1]。为吸引人才，澳大利亚向初级管制员提供6万澳元基本薪酬，5级管制员薪酬超17.1万澳元，主管薪酬超28.6万澳元[1]。这一问题并非澳大利亚独有——美国联邦航空局面临约3000名管制员短缺，美国运输部长Sean Duffy称现代化空中交通管制系统需耗资315亿美元[1]；新加坡则为Changi机场新招管制员提供2万新元签约奖金[1]。
Australia's air traffic control system is grappling with personnel shortages that have cascaded into significant operational disruptions at major airports. On Tuesday, approximately 200 flights faced delays at Melbourne and Perth airports, while Sydney experienced delays affecting 138 flights with an average postponement of around 43 minutes [1]. The strain reached a critical point on Sunday when two aircraft nearly collided on the ground at Sydney Airport [1].
Airservices Australia, the national body overseeing air traffic management, has undertaken recruitment efforts to address the crisis. The organization hired a record 109 new controllers last year and currently employs over 1,070 air traffic controllers, with an additional 15 undergoing training expected to join by the end of 2027 [1]. Despite these efforts, staffing challenges persist across the sector. Between October 2021 and December 2022, over 180 controllers accepted voluntary severance packages [1].
The role demands specialized expertise that extends far beyond initial certification. While controllers typically complete 12 months of training before taking positions, experts emphasize that five years of experience is necessary to operate efficiently in complex traffic scenarios [1]. Compensation structures reflect the profession's technical demands, with entry-level controllers earning AUD 60,000 annually, advancing to over AUD 171,000 for level-five positions and exceeding AUD 243,000 for senior roles [1].
The shortage reflects a global challenge. The United States Federal Aviation Administration faces a deficit of approximately 3,000 controllers, prompting Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to call for a modernized air traffic control system requiring USD 31.5 billion in investment [1]. Singapore has responded to recruitment pressures by offering signing bonuses of SGD 20,000 to new controllers at Changi Airport [1].
Airservices Australia's leadership has highlighted recent improvements, with Chief Executive Officer Rob Sharp reporting an 86 percent decline in national-level disruptions over the past year and a 13 percent reduction in ground delays [1].