CASA Media Release - Tuesday, 4 June 2002
Air safety crackdown for desert off-road race
Aviation safety will be in the spotlight during the running of this year’s outback Finke Desert Race.
The Alice Springs to Finke race - the world’s largest desert race - is held over the June long weekend and attracts hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators.
Many aircraft follow the race along the track that once serviced the old Ghan railway line, 240 kilometres south from Alice Springs to Finke.
A ‘danger’ area will be declared in the airspace up to 1000 feet above and one nautical mile either side of the old railway line.
This ‘danger’ area will be imposed on 9 and 10 June during daylight hours and special operating conditions will apply to aircraft using this airspace. The conditions will safely separate aircraft and establish a common radio frequency within the danger area.
Full details will be supplied to pilots in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which will be published by Airservices Australia well before the race starts.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority will also crackdown on unsafe flying right through the long weekend race activities.
Two flying operations inspectors and one airworthiness inspector will conduct surveillance of pilots and aircraft in Alice Springs and Finke. The inspectors will make sure all aircraft operations are carried out safely and within the air safety regulations.
CASA is acting due to the large number of aeroplanes and helicopters that operate during the race and the thousands of people on the ground taking part in or watching the action.
Aircraft flying along the race route include private and charter operations carrying race officials, medivac and emergency services, competitors, journalists and spectators.
Pilots or air operators found breaching the air safety rules will be subject to investigation and possible regulatory or legal action.
The Finke Desert Race has grown over the last 26 years to include motor bike and off-road motor vehicles, with competitors and spectators coming from across Australia for the two day race and long weekend festivities.
Media contact
Peter Gibson
ph 02 6217 1015
mobile 0419 296 446
Ref: MR0216