Camera bungle forces curb on flights to Sydney's new airport

Cameras at Sydney’s new Western Sydney International Airport are producing digital images of insufficient quality for air-traffic controllers 17 kilometres away, forcing aircraft to be spaced farther apart on landing. Sources say controllers must keep planes at least 15 nautical miles (27.8 km) separated because they cannot adequately see the most distant aircraft on their screens. The change could significantly increase landing intervals to about seven minutes, limiting the airport’s capacity compared with the 4–5 nautical miles typically required at airports with a traditional manned tower. The new restrictions follow earlier delay concerns and scrutiny of Airservices Australia. The $6 billion airport has banned visual separation using the digital tower’s 25 cameras, pending safety regulator approval.