Air traffic cops holding nation ‘to ransom’ (Adelaide Now)VIRGIN Blue’s chief has blasted Australia’s air traffic control system, claiming it is regularly throwing the nation’s airspace into turmoil.

VIRGIN Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey has blasted the management of Australia’s air traffic control system, saying it is infuriating that a handful of people can hold the country to ransom because of inadequate staffing.Virgin blasts air traffic system (The Australian)

The chief of air traffic control’s governing body has admitted his organisation is “not very efficiently organised” and says constant interruptions to flights are “not ideal”.Air traffic control body ‘inefficient’ (The West Australian)

Air traffic controllers holding nation ‘to ransom’ (News Interactive)Vigin Blue chief slams air traffic controllers Flight chaos caused by their sick leave, he says They are “holding nation to ransom”

World focus on our sky safety (The Australian)AUSTRALIA is facing international pressure to address growing safety concerns about the practice of passenger jets flying through uncontrolled airspace.

‘Renegade’ controllers leave pilots flying blind: air chief (The Age)A group of “renegade” air traffic controllers in Melbourne and Brisbane are deliberately closing air space.

On the eve of taking delivery of its first eco-efficient Airbus A380, Emirates today unveiled a series of new initiatives to further improve the environmental performance of its operations worldwide. …Emirates Airs launches new environment programme (AME Info)

Pilots go it alone for third night without controllers (Harden Murrumburrah Express)COMMERCIAL pilots were flying blind east of Sydney last night because a chronic shortage of air traffic controllers left a vast swathe of airspace unmonitored for the third night in a row.