[Peetwo]

Carmody Capers in denial on CTAF cock-up -


Via Annabel in the Oz today:

CASA denies CTAF plan canned

12:00amANNABEL HEPWORTH

CASA says it has not yet make a decision on expanding common traffic advisory frequency broadcast areas.

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The nation’s aviation safety regulator says it has not yet make a decision on its controversial proposal to expand the common traffic advisory frequency broadcast areas near non-­towered ­aerodromes, moving to hose down suggestions it has canned the idea.

The proposal has split the sector as it has support from regional airlines but has been criticised by the Regional Airspace and Procedures Advisory Committee, Recreational Aviation Australia and businessman and aviator Dick Smith.

Under the proposal, the CTAF radius would be widened to 20 nautical miles and 5000 feet in altitude at non-controlled airports.

Pilots use the CTAF at non-towered airports to indicate their plans and position.

There has been speculation within the sector in recent days that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has dropped the proposal.

However, in a statement responding to questions from The Australian about whether CASA had abandoned the plan, a CASA spokeswoman said “no decision has yet been made”.

“Consultation on the proposed changes closed on January 12 and more than 1000 responses were received,” the spokeswoman said.

“We are encouraged by the high level of engagement from industry on this topic and are now analysing this feedback and considering next steps.

“As safety is our primary consideration we are keen to have a practical solution which delivers the optimum solution for the flying public.”

The proposal on the CTAF is contained in a consultation draft that advises light pilots at some small airstrips to use the “multicom” radio frequency of 126.7 MHz.

The release by CASA of the multicom proposal came after years of debate about earlier changes to radio frequencies.

CASA had been criticised about its handling of some radio frequency procedures and the release of the multicom proposal was described by CASA as part of its delivery on long-running issues. But the debate over expanding the CTAF has cast a shadow. CASA has previously said that the proposal on the CTAF was aimed at supporting the plan for the use of the multicom frequency.

The plan would “ensure that aircraft conducting instrument approaches are on the same frequency as aerodrome traffic, prevent multiple frequency changes during climb and descent and ensure transmissions at busy aerodromes do not experience clutter from the multicom frequency”, CASA says on its site.

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& Sandy with a comment in reply... :



Great photo with the story Annabel but with respect I doubt that that’s a regional airline service being depicted there, the airstrip is too dusty, likely to be soft after rain, and too unkempt. What the photo might portray is a runway little used and in a poor state of maintenance. Just as General Aviation having been hammered into the ground by CASA, the small amount of GA activity these days means that many outback airstrips are not properly maintained or have simply disappeared. The flying communication frequency changes mooted by CASA will be a safety disadvantage to most GA flying operations because, for much of the flight time, aircraft flying into such airstrips will not have the benefit of advice from Air Services controllers

Unfortunately CASA, even with some 830 employees and a non flying CEO on c. $600,000 pa (with the fatuous title “Director of Air Safety) doesn’t have the ability to assemble a rational and acceptable proposition to change the status quo. Until, or more likely ‘if,’ the Minister takes control and changes the Act the present terminal trajectory for GA will continue. The CASA model of governance is broke. Alex in the Rises.

MTF...P2