过去三周内，悉尼机场发生了三起地面近距离险些相撞事件，其中7月27日发生一起，8月9日发生两起。[1]澳大利亚运输安全局正在调查这些事件。[1]这一系列安全隐患暴露了澳大利亚空中交通管制机构Airservices Australia面临的严重人员短缺问题。
运输部长凯瑟琳·金因此召见了Airservices首席执行官罗布·夏普。[1]金表示："我已明确表示我对Airservices必须谨慎管理8月剩余时间的悉尼情况的期望。"[1]Airservices承诺将在9月初开始实施值班制度变更，以应对人手不足的困境。[1]
Airservices将空中交通管制员短缺列为"第一大挑战"。[1]过去18个月内，该机构仅认证了8名新的塔台管制员，目前有6名管制员正在悉尼塔台接受培训，另外15人预计将在2027年底前开始培训。[1]招聘和培训困难显著：2025年Airservices认证了91名培训生，但其中39人中途退出或不及格；2024年有52人获得认可，32人退出或不及格。[1]
人员短缺导致现有管制员工作强度巨大。[1]数据显示，2022年3月至2024年2月间，管制员月均加班1.8至2班，年额外班次达21.5至23.6班。[1]员工士气明显下滑，2025年6月Airservices员工敬业度指数跌至49%，远低于70%的目标水平，较上年的59%进一步下降。[1]
Sydney Airport has faced three ground-level near-collision incidents within a three-week span, with occurrences reported on July 27 and twice on August 9, prompting investigations by Australia's transport safety authorities [1]. The incidents have exposed critical staffing shortages at Airservices Australia, the nation's air traffic management agency.
Transport Minister Catherine King summoned Airservices chief executive Rob Sharp to account for the safety concerns, stating that she had "clearly expressed expectations that Airservices must carefully manage the Sydney situation for the remainder of August" [1]. In response, Airservices identified controller shortages as "the first big challenge" and announced plans to implement roster adjustments beginning in early September [1].
The staffing crisis reflects broader recruitment and training difficulties. Over the past 18 months, only eight new tower controllers have been certified, with six currently undergoing training at Sydney's tower and 15 others expected to begin training by the end of 2027 [1]. Training attrition rates compound the problem: in 2025, 91 air traffic controller trainees were certified but 39 withdrew or failed, while in 2024, 52 obtained accreditation against 32 who dropped out or did not meet standards [1]. Controller workload has intensified, with personnel averaging 1.8 to 2 additional shifts per month between March 2022 and February 2024, translating to 21.5 to 23.6 extra shifts annually [1]. Additionally, Airservices' employee engagement index fell to 49 percent in June 2025, significantly below the 70 percent target and down from 59 percent the previous year [1].