RAAF staff set to stay put in Baghdad

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) air traffic controllers manning Baghdad airport could remain in Iraq well beyond May amid rising concerns about the security situation.


Defence Minister Robert Hill also ruled out yesterday an early return of the 80-strong Australian army detachment guarding Canberra’s diplomatic mission in the Iraqi capital.

About 65 RAAF air traffic controllers and air operations staff were due to return to Australia by mid-year after Iraqi civilians were installed in their place.

Baghdad airport remains a military airport, with air traffic control equipment being temporarily installed by the RAAF after the airport’s communications systems were destroyed during the war last year.