What happened
On September 5, 2024, an aviation incident occurred within the Kraków TMA while the controller was managing two sectors (West and East) simultaneously. The position was being operated by a single controller from the Katowice DIR sector, supported by a coordinator (CO).
During the hour between 15:00 and 16:00 UTC, the airspace experienced high traffic density, with 33 operations out of a maximum capacity of 35. At 15:33 UTC, a personnel change occurred at the Kraków APP Executive (EC) position. This transition coincided with a period of intense traffic; by approximately 15:40 UTC, 12 aircraft were active on the Kraków APP frequency. This high volume resulted in significant radio communication congestion, characterized by simultaneous transmissions from aircraft arriving in the TMA and delays in transferring departing aircraft. Furthermore, responses to pilot inquiries were delayed.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the operational conditions at the Kraków APP during the period of the shift change. The investigation focused on the workload levels, the impact of the personnel transition on traffic flow, and the communication environment on the frequency during peak traffic density.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the loss of situational awareness by the personnel at the Kraków APP Executive position.
- The timing of the staff change at the EC position during a period of high traffic density led to temporary operational overload and reduced the efficiency of traffic services within the Kraków TMA.
- The delayed opening of the Kraków DIR sector acted as a contributing factor to the incident.