CASA Media Release - Friday, 20 September 2002
Safety checks at West Qld airports
Special safety checks are being carried out at several western Queensland airports early next week.
The checks will cover aerodromes at Winton and Hughenden.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is making sure new instrument navigation procedures at the aerodromes are safe.
The safety checks are part of an upgrade of flying procedures at 22 regional and remote aerodromes across Queensland.
As a result of the upgrade pilots will be able to use the latest Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite navigation at many Queensland aerodromes.
CASA pilots will fly the approaches to the aerodromes to check that new procedures work in practice and there are no obstacles that could endanger aircraft.
This will involve a number of low level flights in the areas surrounding the aerodromes in a twin engine light aircraft. CASA apologies for any inconvenience caused by the low level flying.
Dates for the flying checks are:
- Hughenden on the morning of Tuesday 24 September; and
- Winton on the afternoon of Tuesday 24 September.
New instrument approach procedures for the aerodromes help to make flying even safer and more efficient.
Pilots using GPS can fly in a straight line towards the runway rather than making a circling approach – cutting flying time, saving fuel and reducing noise in surrounding areas.
GPS approaches also allow greater access to the aerodrome during poor weather.
Media contact
Peter Gibson
mobile 0419 296 446
Ref: MR0252