NOVEMBER 24
2005 IMPLEMENTATION
1. Background
Changes to Australian
Airspace have progressively been introduced since the
decision to adopt the National Airspace System in May
2002.
The changes largely
bring Australia into line with recognized ICAO standards
and pick up many features of the American airspace system.
The next series of
changes become effective on 24 November, 2005. These
changes impact flying at all non-towered aerodromes
– that is any aerodrome / airfield / bush strip / Ag
strip / aircraft landing areas (ALA) etc across Australia.
Consequently, these changes impact glider pilots.
These latest changes
include a standard set of practices to be adopted for
operations at all non-towered aerodromes.
2. Definitions
| Non-towered
aerodrome |
- - aerodrome without a
control tower.
- - aerodrome where control
tower is not operating.
|
| Straight-in-approach |
- - an approach where the
aircraft is aligned with the landing
runway by 5nm and broadcasts at 3nm and 1
nm (with intentions). Aircraft
must be radio equipped!
- - Normal circuit aircraft
have right-of-way.
|
| Circuit Live-side |
- - that side normally used
for circuit direction (generally left
hand side)
- it is a requirement
that all turns at non-towered aerodromes
be left hand turns
unless the CASA has issued a direction to
the contrary.
|
| Circuit Dead-side |
- - that side not normally
used for circuit direction (generally
right hand side of circuit).
|
| MBZ |
- - Mandatory Broadcast Zone.
(Redundant in the new system.)
|
| CTAF |
- - Common Traffic Advisory
Frequency.
|
3. Changes
a) No defined volume
for airspace associated with non-towered aerodrome.
b) MBZ's will be
discontinued.
c) Radio carriage and
use will be mandatory at some aerodromes. This will be
depicted by CTAF XXX.X (R) on charts. (XXX.X
= frequency) e.g. Mildura 118.8 (R)
d) Radio equipped
aircraft to monitor and broadcast on CTAF frequency at or
before 10NM (18 Km).
e) Positional
broadcasts will be introduced in the circuit area to
enhance situational awareness.
All
Operations
| General Aviation Calls |
Glider Calls |
- Before taxying
- Before entering any active runway
- When clear of an active runway |
- Before takeoff (by Tug if
applicable) |
| Inbound/Overflying (regardless
of altitude) - Before 10 NM
- When entering circuit downwind
- When entering circuit on dead side
- When conducting straight in approach
- at 3 NM
- at 1 NM
|
- Before 10 NM (18 km)
- When entering circuit downwind
- When entering circuit on dead side
- When conducting straight in approach
- at 3 NM (6 km)
- at 1 NM (2 km)
|
| In The Circuit -
Downwind
- Turning onto Base leg
- Turning Final, with intentions
|
- Downwind
- Turning onto Base leg
- Turning Final
|
| Outbound - Departing
contrary to circuit direction
|
- Departing contrary to
circuit direction
|
f) Standard Broadcast
Format: Location Traffic, A/C type,
Callsign, Position, Intentions, Location
e.g. "Waikerie traffic,
glider India Kilo Oscar, joining mid-downwind, Runway 26,
Waikerie".
| Gliders – Example
Calls Before take-off
- if aerotow, Tug will make the call
- if Winch
– "Balaklava Traffic, Glider Zulu
Bravo Golf, preparing to winch launch, runway 16
Balaklava"
Outbound
- "Balaklava
Traffic, Glider Zulu Bravo Golf, 4500, departed
Balaklava for Clare" (or first
turnpoint)
Inbound
- "Balaklava
Traffic, Glider Zulu Bravo Golf, 18km north-east,
4000 inbound for Balaklava"
Circuit
Calls
Joining
Downwind (live side): "Balaklava Traffic,
Glider Zulu Bravo Golf, 900, joining mid-downwind,
runway 16 Balaklava"
Joining
Downwind (dead side): "Balaklava Traffic,
Glider Zulu Bravo Golf, 1100, joining circuit,
crosswind for runway 16 Balaklava"
Turning Base: "Balaklava Traffic,
Zulu Bravo Golf, turning base, runway 16
Balaklava"
Turning Final: "Balaklava
Traffic, Zulu Bravo Golf, turning final (short
final / long final) Balaklava"
Other
Calls
Other calls
should be made (recommended) or information
provided, if pilots consider the additional
information will enhance flying safety, e.g. if
another glider is observed ahead, the call might
be: "Balaklava Traffic, Glider Zulu Bravo
Golf, 1100, joining circuit, crosswind for Runway
16 Balaklava, number 2 to ASK 21 ahead"
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g) Circuit Heights,
relative to Aircraft Performance
High Performance
aircraft - 1500 Ft AGL on QNH, e.g. RFDS, i.e. 1640
Ft (at Waikerie)
Typical GA
aircraft - 1000 Ft AGL on QNH, e.g. Tug, i.e. 1140 Ft
(at Waikerie)
Gliders - 600
– 1000 Ft, AGL on QNH, i.e. 750 Ft – 1150
Ft (at Balaklava)
h) Preferred Entry Point
The preferred circuit entry point is mid
downwind, joining at 45 degrees to the downwind leg.
If joining from
deadside of circuit, enter on crosswind and cross the
active runway between mid-downwind and the upwind end
of the runway, giving way to other circuit traffic
and aircraft entering at 45 degrees mid-downwind (on
the live side). Consider gliders being launched by
winch when overflying airfield!
If possible, avoid flying through
the circuit area.
i) Max Speed in
Circuit
The maximum speed
in any circuit at a non-towered aerodrome is 200 Kts.
j) Take-off and
Landing
Takeoffs and
landings should be performed on the runway most
closely aligned with the wind direction.
k) Straight-in-Approach
May only be
conducted when it is safe to do so.
Aircraft must
be radio equipped and monitor and broadcast
intentions on the CTAF.
Aircraft must
be aligned with the runway by 5 NM (9 Km), make calls
at 3 nm (6 km) and 1 nm (2 Km).
If conflict
occurs, the pilot conducting the straight-in approach
must give-way.
l) Departure
Procedures
Broadcast
intentions.
If departing from
live side of circuit, climb to circuit height, or
above and clear of other circuit traffic, before
turning outbound.
If departing from
the deadside of the circuit, climb straight ahead to
500 Ft above circuit height before turning, and
broadcast intentions.
m) Fly Over
It is recommended pilots avoid flying over a
recognized airfield to minimize risk of conflict. The
"avoid" may be by lateral or vertical
separation – i.e. fly over high, not at circuit
height.
n) Aerodromes with Gliding Activity
Ideally gliders and powered aircraft should
be separated thus gliders should operate inside
powered aircraft circuit
Notes
1) Existing discrete
CTAF frequencies will remain – i.e. Waikerie 126.7
2) Any aerodrome with
specific local procedures will remain.
3) All pilots are
encouraged to monitor and broadcast on the CTAF if radio
equipped.
4) The requirement to
maintain a good lookout remains. Remember to LOOK,
TALK and TURN.
5. CTAF information
is contained in ERSA.
6. There are no rules
that grant one type of operation priority over another,
pilots should use common courtesy.
7. Gliders must give-way
to balloons. Other powered aircraft must give-way to
gliders.
8. Existing rules
relating to gliders remain, except for references to MBZ
(now CTAF (R).)
9. Pilots should use
QNH as the datum for all altitude / height references.
10. These Standard
Procedures are recommendations.
11. The formal
documentation refers to exemptions under CAO 95.4 These
exemptions are addressed in a separate document.
John Hudson, October
2005.
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