An Australian pilots group has called for procedures that allow air traffic controllers to be authenticated after a hoax message prompted a Virgin Australia flight to abort a landing.
Australian Federal Police are investigating 15 fake air traffic control calls made in recent weeks, including a fake distress call,
In the fake mayday transmission aired by national broadcaster the ABC, the hoaxer impersonated the pilot of light aircraft experiencing engine trouble.
Asked to advise his situation, he said: “Engine failure passing through 4500.’’
The aborted landing call late last month prompted a Virgin Australia plane flying from Queensland’s Gold Coast to Melbourne to perform a go around, climb to 3,800ft and start circling over the Victorian capital, the ABC said.
Go-arounds are well practiced procedures that follow set guidelines but the worry is a bogus operator could put a plane at risk by sending it on a heading that conflicts with other traffic.
The hoaxer in this case is believed to be a single individual and is capitalising on the fact air traffic controllers work on an open VHF frequency often monitored by aviation enthusiasts.
Virgin Independent Pilots Association president John Lyons told AirlineRatings that pilots had no choice but to obey ATC instructions.
While there was no danger in a go around, Lyons said there could be a risk if an aircraft was told to take up a heading that took the plane into unprotected territory and possible conflict with another aircraft. He said a mayday also received priority and could lead to other aircraft on the frequency being compromised.
“This clown who has this transceiver seems to know enough about procedures and terminology to do dumb things,’’ he said.
Lyons said he was satisfied authorities were doing everything they could to investigate the hoax.
“Our concern is that they introduce procedures which enable some form of authentication in the event of a suspected hoax call,’’ he said. “I don’t know how they do that.’’
A joint statement from air navigation provider Airservices Australia and the Australian Federal Police confirmed that the 15 incidents at Melbourne Airport and a second airport outside of Melbourne were underway. The AFP has brought in the Australian Communications and Media Authority to use it expertise and technology in locating rogue transmissions to help the investigation.
“As a result of the unlawful interference with air traffic control broadcasts over several weeks, the AFP has today issued a call for public help for any information that will result in the identification and arrest of the person responsible,’’ the statement said. “There is no current threat to the safety and security of the travelling public as a result of these unlawful radio transmissions in the Melbourne area. Travellers do not need to change their plans.’’
AFPO head of crime operations Chris Sheehan said Airservices and the AFP could assure that appropriate procedures were in place to ensure the safety of aviation operations in Victoria and nationally.
“The AFP, Airservices, the Australian Communications and Media Authority and the aviation industry are all committed to ensuring the safety of the travelling public and we are treating this matter extremely seriously,” Sheehan said. “These incidents are being thoroughly investigated by the AFP, with technical support from the ACMA.
“The airlines have been briefed to ensure the advice has been passed on to their pilots and to ensure appropriate measures are in place.’’
Airservices said at no time was safety jeopardised as a result of the calls and it was working closely with the airlines and the AFP.
An Airservices spokeswoman was not aware of procedures to authenticate air traffic controllers but said pilots were aware of the hoaxer and were taking extra precautions with their communications.
Under Australian law, the culprit behind the unauthorised transmissions faces up to 20 years in jail. Police have urged anyone with information to ring Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Other instances of fake ATC broadcasts have occurred in Britain, including attempts in 2010 at Leeds-Bradford Airport and in Manchester, England, in 2003.
In the Manchester case, the hoax calls were traced to a transmitter in Dublin.
