A senior air traffic controller has confirmed that leaked emails detailing problems in the nation’s air traffic control system are authentic, but brushed the said problems off as minor issues that do not pose safety risks.

“We do not compromise on safety,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted, noting that there are a lot of lives and property at stake in air safety.

The source, who declined to be named, said there are three backup systems in place and claimed that air traffic control had not encountered even a single “near miss” in aircraft collision in Malaysia.

When asked to rate the new air traffic control system commissioned last Dec 13 against the old one on a ten-point scale, he gave both eight points, but added that it is easier to get parts and technical support for the new system.

“The old system...  I’d give you an example, works on Windows 3. The new system? Windows 7.

“All over the world, they are going to Windows 7. How can you get Windows 3 updates any more? If you have problems with the system and you are using Windows 3, how do you get back-up?” he explained, giving the justification for the Malaysian Air Traffic Services Modernisation Programme (MATSMP) Improvement Project 2 (MIP2).

Continuing the computer analogy, he said even the popular Windows 7 operating system is not trouble-free, but millions still use it.

NONE Malaysiakini had also read out the emails disclosed by PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar at a press conference earlier today.

The emails detailed problems ranging from frozen radar screens to computers rebooting itself. The source confirmed that each email were indeed internal communications within the Department of Civil Aviation and explained the issues.

Responding to one email that required staff to record any problems and report them immediately if a breakdown lasted more than five minutes, the source said that this was a standard procedure that pre-dates the MIP2 system.

However, the email was sent out as a reminder since the procedure was not followed and some issues went unreported for too long.

As for the longer system breakdowns, he said this was due to weekly system maintenance.

This would be done only when air traffic is so sparse that no monitoring is required for the duration of the maintenance, and staff would have been informed.

He attributed the other problems to human errors from airlines or air traffic control assistants in entering flight plans and needed correction.

When asked if the multitude of small problems could add up to an air safety issue, the source said, “Oh no, no no... If there is an air safety issue, the maintenance team is in big trouble, the supplier is also in big trouble, and we are also in big trouble,” he said.

‘They don’t like changes’

He added that there were many objections when the MIP2 from air traffic controllers when it was introduced, but chiefly because “they don’t like changes”.

However, he said there are now “not much to complain about”.

NONE When asked to speculate for possible reasons for the leak, he said it could be due to disgruntled staff who are dissatisfied about their career advancement or had been unable to obtain leave.

He was also asked whether the air traffic controllers at the National Air Traffic Control Centre (NATCC) where he works was understaffed.

The source responded there were just enough air traffic controllers, but some may have gone for courses, which in turn causes a shortfall in human resources.

The NATCC based just outside Subang Airport coordinates air traffic in Peninsular Malaysia.

PKR: Internal email shows air traffic problems ongoing