Minutes VIC RAPAC Convenor: Jim Duff Chair: St. John Morris

Transcription

1 VIC RAPAC Meeting: Date: 23 July 2015 Time: Industry Only 1200hrs RAPAC 1300hrs Venue: Essendon Fields House Level 2, 7 English St Essendon Airport Minutes VIC RAPAC Convenor: Jim Duff Chair: St. John Morris Agenda 1. Opening 1300hrs Apologies Acceptance of previous minutes Correspondence Correspondence In Correspondence Out Business arising from previous minutes Essendon Airport Windsock Illumination Cessation of use of Gliding Frequencies as CTAF ERSA Entries CAAP 166 1(2) Multi-com frequency at aerodromes without a discreet CTAF Mangalore Operations Circuit Direction Sky Dive Euroa Proposed Danger Aea ALA Lake Modewarre STAA School Ballarat Serpentine Rockets Restricted Area 326A-C Agenda Items Bureau of meteorology Brief/Issues Airservices Brief/Issues Defence Brief / Issues Other Business & Late Agenda Items VTC Review (New item) VFR Transit through East Sale airspace (New item) National Issues Multi-com Meeting Closed Next Meeting VIC RAPAC Meeting Minutes

2 11. Attachments Attendees Airservices Update provided Mr Kent Quigley VIC RAPAC Meeting Minutes

3 1. Opening 1300hrs The meeting opened at 13: Apologies Sheb Saxena QANTAS Link Tony Vanderspeck AOPA. 3. Acceptance of previous minutes The Minutes of the VIC RAPAC Meeting were accepted by the forum without amendment. 4. Correspondence 4.1 Correspondence In The Convenor advised no correspondence had been received by the Committee. 4.2 Correspondence Out The Convenor advised no correspondence had been sent by the Committee. 5. Business arising from previous minutes 5.1 Essendon Airport Windsock Illumination In general discussion, the meeting noted the following points about the Essendon Airport windsock: - That this item relates to the need to illuminate the wind sock at night when the tower is closed and no ATIS is available. - No flights have been scheduled at this stage. - Essendon Airport discussions are considering relocating the windsock to the other side of runway. Graham Ware from Essendon Airport advised that a Safety Case to relocate the windsock from its current location to a positon north of aerodrome approximately 300 metres from the threshold of RWY 26 had been submitted to Airservices Australia (Airservices) and CASA Melbourne Regional Office in March Mr Ware advised the forum that the location is non-compliant with Civil Aviation Safety Regulation (CASR) Manual of Standards Part 139, however, is considered to best possible location for the windsock. The forum was informed that Airservices had responded and Essendon Airport was awaiting the CASA Melbourne Regional Office response. Actions: Update the forum on the progress of the relocation of the windsock. Responsible: Essendon Airport 5.2 Cessation of use of Gliding Frequencies as CTAF It was noted at the meeting: - That the issue has been around for a while i.e. the cessation of using gliding frequencies as the default CTAF. - Benalla is to change frequency. GFA is negotiating with the Benalla Local Council to find a suitable frequency. - Tocumwal is to change frequency to in the May 2015 AIRAC cycle. Chris Thorpe advised that Tocumwal frequency change had been completed in May 2015 AIRAC update. VIC RAPAC Meeting Minutes

4 Phil McCann advised the forum that a discrete frequency for gliding operations at Benalla was in the process of being allocated through Airservices. There was a discussion among the members of possible options for frequency pairing should there be limited numbers of frequencies available in the future. Actions: Update the forum on the progress of the allocation of a discrete frequency for gliding operations at Benalla. Responsible: Mr McCann 5.3 ERSA Entries Discussion at the meeting noted: - The ongoing need to make the ERSA a more intuitive document. - There will be a change to the way aerodromes are promulgated in the next PCA chart. It was requested for all ERSA aerodrome entries that the CTAF be placed below the elevation information and that both are in bold print. Airservices needs to advise if this is feasible and timeframe. Ashwin Naidu advised that the next PCA charts published would be formatted as: Location identification Area Number and Location Name in full. The Forum endorsed this change as a positive enhancement. The forum had a robust discussion on amending the ERSA and the best placement of CTAF information in the ERSA. A number of different options were discussed by the forum, however; no final proposal was agreed at the meeting. The Chair advised the ERSA format has been developed by Airservices to be broadly compliant with ICAO Annex 15. CASA regulates the accuracy and completeness of the State AIP information, including ERSA, through the relevant CASR including CASR Part 175. The Convenor advised he will draft a formal proposal and forward this to the RAPAC Secretariat for distribution to the other RAPAC Convenors for their Committees consideration, as this would impact other ERSA users. The Chair committed the RAPAC Secretariat to collating the responses to the proposal from all the RAPAC minutes. Kent Quigley advised he would be the appropriate recipient of the collated response from the RAPAC Secretariat on behalf of Airservices and that he would ensure the proposal, once received, was processed. Actions and Responsibility: Draft a proposal for a revised placement of CTAF information and other supporting amendments and send to the RAPAC Secretariat for dissemination to the other RAPACs Convenor Distribute the VIC RAPAC ERSA amendment proposal to other RAPACs. Collate the responses from the applicable RAPAC Minutes. Send the collated responses to Mr Quigley RAPAC Secretariat Receive the collated responses from the RAPAC Secretariat for processing Mr Quigley Update the forum on the progress as this activity as it progresses. All responsible parties above. 5.4 CAAP 166 1(2) Multi-com frequency at aerodromes without a discreet CTAF Tim Penney noted the issues are still being considered by CASA and no further information is available at this stage. Dick Gower s submission to RAPAC July 2014 is at Attachment Mr Gower provided a summary of the history of the issue. Eight of the eleven RAPAC convenors have signed a letter of complaint to the CASA Industry Complaints Commissioner, and a response from the ICC is still to be provided to the group of Convenors. Post meeting note 15 April 2015: Please be advised that the ICC has forwarded a response to Mr Gower. VIC RAPAC Meeting Minutes

5 The forum had a robust discussion on the subject. Mr Gower advised that it is now 12 months since the issue was first raised. The Chair advised the he understood that Mr Gower and the VIC RAPAC have been informed that the appropriate forum for this topic is the Regional Aviation Safety Forum (RASF), which deals with Regional aviation at a national level and the Operations sub-committee of the Standards Consultative Committee (which deals with non-airspace-related operational procedures for Australia). Robust discussion ensued including advice from Chris Thorpe that the issue did not gain traction with the members of the RASF at their last meeting, which he attended. The forum discussed a number of ways to progress the issue as the general consensus from the forum was that they did not believe they have received an adequate response from CASA, regarding the safety issues they had raised previously. The Convenor advised that he will write to CASA through the RAPAC Secretariat detailing the VIC RAPAC concerns. Mr Penney updated the forum on the work being conducted to educate pilots of the radio telephony procedures and frequencies for operations in Class G airspace. Actions: Write to CASA through the RAPAC Secretariat detailing the VIC RAPAC concerns CAAP 166 1(2) Multi-com frequency at aerodromes without a discreet CTAF Responsible: Convenor 5.5 Mangalore Operations Circuit Direction The Chair noted there is still merit in changing the circuit direction although the issue was withdrawn by the proponent. The meeting recommended that Proposal 1 (altering the circuit direction) has safety merit and is to be investigated further. John Mathews CP MFTA submission to RAPAC is at Attachment The Convenor reiterated that the Committee had previously received correspondence from Moorabbin Flight Training Academy (MFTA) operations at Mangalore, advising the proposal to change the circuit was withdrawn. Mr Penney advised that MFTA were the major user of the aerodrome. The forum after discussion determined that without the support of MFTA the proposal should not be progressed. The forum agreed to close the agenda item. Actions: Close the agenda item. Responsible: RAPAC Secretariat Due Date: Not applicable 5.6 Sky Dive Euroa Proposed Danger Area Tim Penney asked the meeting: - Is a danger area needed in addition to the current VNC symbol for skydiving operations at the Euroa ALA; or - Are an ERSA entry and the current symbol sufficient? The meeting recommended that a danger area is not required, and that an ERSA entry is appropriate for the operation at the Euroa ALA. The Chair advised the OAR had received an proposal from the proponent. The OAR was seeking input from the relevant industry body, CASA Self Administering Sports Aviation Organisation Staff and CASA Regional Office Staff. The OAR is awaiting final responses. Once all the responses are received the OAR will consider the proposal and advise the proponent in writing of the decision. VIC RAPAC will be advised of the OAR s decision at the next meeting following advice to the proponent. Actions: Advise the forum of the decision following advice to the proponent. VIC RAPAC Meeting Minutes

6 Responsible: RAPAC Secretariat 5.7 ALA Lake Modewarre Tim Penney noted the issue at Lake Modewarre (west of Geelong), concerning a small ALA in close proximity to a number of other ALAs. A request was made to have an ALA symbol included on the VNC that was subsequently approved, however on publication only an ultralight symbol was marked. The meeting recommended that the ultralight symbol be removed and replaced with an ALA symbol and mark the frequency The forum advised they understood that this proposal had been submitted to Airservices for action. After discussion it was determined that the proposal may not have progressed due to some missing information from Peter Prendergast. This information may have been received late for the last meeting and is not attached to the Minutes of VIC RAPAC The Convenor advised he will forward all the relevant s to Mr Quigley for Airservices consideration and to the RAPAC Secretariat for inclusion with the Minutes. Actions and Responsibility: Forward the Peter Prendergast to Mr Quigley and RAPAC Secretariat Convenor Update Peter Prendergast and the forum on Airservices consideration of the proposal Mr Quigley Attach a copy of the with the Minutes of VIC RAPAC RAPAC Secretariat 5.8 STAA School Ballarat Tim Penney noted his consultation with all the stakeholders who supported the ERSA entry. Other points Tim reported included the following: - Tim Penney on behalf of CASA Safety Education conducted a safety seminar at Ballarat on Thursday 12 February. The majority of operators at Ballarat were present at the seminar where we discussed in detail some of the main hazards to be found when operating at uncontrolled aerodromes and spoke about how best to manage many of the risks that manifest themselves in the CTAF environment and what might be done to mitigate or eliminate some of these. - Operators present at the seminar were cognisant of the fact that traffic related hazards at Ballarat aerodrome needed to be managed more proactively by the organisations that fly there. Operators agreed that the major flying school at Ballarat (STAA) that is responsible for the majority of movements at the aerodrome distribute their daily flying program to the other flying schools and operators on the airfield. This will enable other aerodrome users to better program their activities outside the traffic peaks generated by the STAA flying Academy, thereby reducing average circuit traffic levels and hence risk of airborne collision. - Tim suggested that the major operators at the airfield meet together at regular intervals (e.g.: once a quarter) to discuss safety and traffic related issues in and around Ballarat. This could be a simple way of proactively managing safety by sharing information and ensuring a commonality of procedures among users of the airspace. This proposal was again, very well received. - Recent observation of circuit operations at Ballarat in April by Tim Penney indicated a very good level of airmanship and the correct and appropriate use of radio by training aircraft in and around the Ballarat circuit area by the main operators present at the aerodrome which was pleasing to see. - Tim will return to Ballarat at least every month to continue observing circuit operations and in the second half of 2015 will check on progress being made with the sharing of information and cooperation among the major operators at Ballarat. VIC RAPAC Meeting Minutes

7 The forum was updated on operations at Ballarat by Mr Penney. Key points were: Ballarat remains Australia s busiest CTAF. CASA Aviation Safety Advisors (ASA) continues to engage regularly with the operators at Ballarat. ASA are encouraging the local operators, other flying school aerodrome and airspace regular users and the aerodrome operator to meet quarterly to coordinate their plans and procedures. Singapore Technologies Aerospace Academy (STAA), the major aerodrome and adjacent airspace user, are using Deniliquin as an additional operating aerodrome to reduce congestion at Ballarat. Some potential operational efficiency and safety enhancements are to be discussed with the local operators, other flying school regular users and the aerodrome operator include: o publishing a similar entry to Mangalore Additional Information 1. Possible high volume ab-initio training; and o construction of additional taxiway infrastructure to minimise holding and backtracking on active runways. The Convenor on behalf of the forum thanked Mr Penney for his efforts in enhancing Regional Aviation Safety. The forum agreed to close the agenda item. Actions: Close the agenda item. Responsible: RAPAC Secretariat Due Date: Not applicable 5.9 Serpentine Rockets Restricted Area 326A-C The current concern is that the restricted area is now close to the Raywood gliding field, Bridgewater sky diving field, and is not far from the Bendigo-Mildura corridor. The Chair advised that stakeholder consultation was the responsibility of the proponent of an airspace change. An initial review of the airspace change found the change was approved with limited consultation. The OAR has reviewed its internal procedures and has measures in place to prevent a reoccurrence. All Restricted Areas are reviewed at least once every five years and R326 A-C will be reviewed not later than Ralph Hamilton-Presgrave, Chief Instructor (Bridgewater DZ)/ Director, Australian Skydive Pty Ltd advised the forum that the skydiving facility at Bridgewater has been in continual use for the past 24 years without interfering with any other air space users. When the Restricted Area (R326A) was first established, it had a 3.5 NM diameter, which presented no issues to their operations. Late last year I became aware that the area had increased in size to 5 NM, without consultation which was problematic for his operations. Mr McCann also advised that this increased diameter was problematic for gliding operations. In recent months, Mr Hamilton-Presgrave has been advised by Air Services (Melbourne) that there is an additional 5 NM Buffer zone around R326 when active. The Chair advised that rocket operations were considered firing and that separation standards and their application was an issue for Airservices to respond to. The forum was informed by a number of parties that the rockets were being fired from locations close to the edge of R326 and that there was no readily available contact number so that de-confliction or emergency access could be facilitated. Mr Hamilton-Presgrave stated that he believed it possible for all the users to be able to operate in the airspace with better coordination. After further discussion the following action items were agreed by forum: Actions and Responsibility: Write to the OAR and Airservices outlining the issues Mr Hamilton-Presgrave and Mr McCann Determine what stakeholder consultation was completed for the November 2014 airspace change and advise VIC RAPAC of the outcome OAR through RAPAC Secretariat Examine airspace coordination to improve other users access OAR through RAPAC Secretariat Advise CASA SASAO of the concerns raised by adjacent airspace users of reports of rocket firing close to the edge of R326 RAPAC Secretariat VIC RAPAC Meeting Minutes

8 Investigate the separation standards and their application by Airservices between skydiving aircraft and R326 and advise both Mr Hamilton-Presgrave and VIC RAPAC of the findings Mr Quigley 6. Agenda Items 6.1 Bureau of meteorology Brief/Issues Mr Naidu (BoM) provided a final presentation on the TAF Review. Ashwin s presentation included the following sections: - TAF network in Victoria - Observation infrastructure - Geographical area forecasts - Members of the Working Group - GAF boundaries with TAF locations - Vertical extent - Example of a Vic GAF - Issue and validity times - Winds and temperatures - Vic GPWT - New aviation brochures - Low probability forecasts The Bureau is planning to produce Graphical Area Forecasts (GAF) to replace current Area Forecasts. The GAF Working Group (WG) meetings are held to define the requirements of the product. Implementation plan is as below: User education documents and guidelines will be prepared and widely distributed to all relevant stakeholders in advance. GAF is planned to implemented in NOV 2016, depending on the Bureau's and Airservices IT resources. Before GAF implementation, ICAO compliant AIRMET will be implemented. This is planned in May Graphical AIRMET, similar to Graphical SIGMET is also expected to be produced with this. TTF Review Review is looking into 3 major recommendations. It is expected that TTF will be replaced by 3 hourly issued TAFs. A draft report will be released to the industry soon. Industry will be given at least 3 months period for comments and feedback. Actions: Update the forum at the next meeting Responsible: Mr Naidu 6.2 Airservices Brief/Issues Airservices Navigation Rationalisation Project Rob Scott, Airservices Australia provided an update noting: - An airspace change proposal has been sent to OAR with a list of navaids being ceased. - Attendees were advised to consult the Airservices Australia website Navigation Rationalisation Project link at - Information at the link covers: Transitioning Australia s navigation network Civil Aviation Order 2018 Aircraft equipment, licensing or training requirements Backup navigation aid network Navigation rationalisation project decommissioning list Industry events - Re NAVEX 2b, by end of 2015 all backup navaids will have been replaced, renewed or refurbished - The update of ADS-B is increasing about 65% up take for the IFR fleet so far. VIC RAPAC Meeting Minutes

9 Airservices presented an update on the Navigation Rationalisation Project. Australian aviation is preparing for the transition to the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), as the primary means of navigation, which will be supported by a robust backup navigation aid network known as the BNN. CASA published Civil Aviation Order in August 2012, with a revised version in December 2014, mandating the use of GNSS technology for all Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) aircraft operating in Australian airspace, by 4 February As part of the transition to satellite-based navigation, and with a reduced reliance on ground-based navaids in the future, the Airservices Navigation Rationalisation Project is preparing to switch-off up to half of Australia s network of conventional navigation facilities from May The conventional navaids that are expected to be removed from operational service and decommissioned include non-directional beacons, VHF omni-directional radio ranges and distance measuring equipment. The remaining network of conventional navaids, currently being replaced and upgraded by Airservices, is set to form the BNN. The BNN will be maintained and monitored by Airservices, and is expected to support a GNSS contingency mode of operation, allowing for the completion of flights in progress, in the case of unexpected loss of the satellite service. Industry representatives to respond to a request to review VTCs with regard to what reference points are displayed and advise if reference are no longer required or additional current local references need to be added to VTC. Actions: Update the forum at the next meeting Responsible: Mr Quigley 6.3 Defence Brief / Issues No update on this occasion. SQNDLR Daren Carvolth advised the forum that construction and lighting of a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower had been completed. The new ATC Tower is located to the south of the old ATC Tower. The new ATC Tower will not be occupied for several years. If aircraft divert into RAAF Base East Sale with a radio failure they should look to the old ATC Tower to observe the ATC light signals. The forum requested an update on the progress of the Pilot Training System which may result in increased traffic at RAAF Base East Sale and in the surrounding airspace. SQNDLR Carvolth advised that the Pilot Training System Project AIR5428 as still pending Second Pass approval by Government. The project was planned to be submitted to Government for Second Pass approval from August Any advice on aircraft types, basing requirements or airspace was purely speculative and should be ignored until a formal announcement is made, which will be some time following Second Pass approval. Actions: Update the forum at the next meeting Responsible: SQNDLR Daren Carvolth 7. Other Business & Late Agenda Items 7.1 VTC Review (New item) Background: The Chief Air Traffic Controller has tasked all TCUs around Australia to undertake a review of their VTCs with regard to what visual reference points are displayed. Mr Quigley advised that a review of all VTC nationally was being conducted following the findings from an ATSB Investigation and Report into a near miss event outside controlled airspace in the vicinity of Hamilton Island, QLD. An outcome from the consideration of the VIC RAPAC Meeting Minutes

10 report is that Airservices have identified the use of visual reporting points, not marked on the VTC, and may contribute to the potential repetition of this type of event. Airservices are requesting RAPAC Members consult with the organisations they represent in order to identify any visual reporting points on VTC that could be removed and any additional points that could be recommended as additions. Mr Quigley cited an example as the 3LO radio masts which were in customary use by both ATC and pilots but was not marked on the VTC. RAPAC members are requested to consolidate the responses from the their members and forward them to Mr Quigley by 16 October 2015 in order that Airservices are able to develop a briefing pack for presentation at RAPAC Actions: Review VTC and collate RAPAC Member s organisations responses and forward to Airservices Responsible: All RAPAC Members Due Date: 16 October 2015 Actions: Present a briefing of the collated VIC RAPAC review of VTC Responsible: Mr Quigley 7.2 VFR Transit through East Sale airspace (New item) Following consideration of the responses from SQNDLR Carvolth at Agenda Item 6.3 the forum agreed this agenda item had already been addressed. The forum agreed to close the agenda item. Actions: Close the agenda item. Responsible: RAPAC Secretariat Due Date: Not applicable 8. National Issues 8.1 Multi-com Following consideration of the discussion at Agenda Items 5.3 and 5.4 the forum agreed the agenda item had already been addressed. The forum agreed to close Agenda Item 8.1 but retain Agenda Item 8 as a Standing Agenda Item until further notice. Actions: Close Agenda Item 8.1. Retain Agenda Item 8 as a Standing Agenda Item. Responsible: RAPAC Secretariat Due Date: Not applicable 9. Meeting Closed There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 15: Next Meeting Time and Place: Date: 5 November 2015 Time: Industry only 1200hrs, RAPAC 1300hrs Venue: Essendon Fields House Level 2, 7 English St Essendon Airport VIC RAPAC Meeting Minutes

11 11. Attachments 11.1 Attendees Name Organisation Graham Murphy Dick Gower Phil McCann Selwyn Ellis Christopher Thorpe Adrianne Fleming John Gleeson Kent Quigley Julian Smibert Kevin Smith Jim Duff Tim Penney John Woodhouse Darin Carvolth Steve Galjer Ashwin Naidu Rob Scott Brett Simmons Ian Matthews 7-11 Pilot AAAA Gliding Federation of Australia Gliding Federation of Australia The Honourable Company of Air Pilots Australian Women Pilots Association Kyneton A/C Geelong Sports Aviators Airservices Australia Australian Federation of Air Pilots Shortstop/GAM Convenor Civil Aviation Safety Authority RAAF East Sale ATC RAAF CAE Oxford Aviation Bureau of Meteorology Airservices Australia Airservices Australia The Parachute School Ralph Hamilton-Presgrave Australian Skydive Rob Payne Martyn Silver Tom Watson Victorian Tasmanian Parachute Council Defence LU RAAF (Point Cook) VIC RAPAC Meeting Minutes

12 11.2 Airservices Update provided Mr Kent Quigley. VIC RAPAC Meeting Minutes

13 VIC RAPAC Meeting Minutes