CASA Media Release - Tuesday, 12 November 2002
Solar eclipse signals air safety crackdown
A large number of aircraft are expected to travel to Ceduna and Leigh Creek
for the 4 December solar eclipse. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority will carry out special safety checks at
Ceduna on the day of the eclipse as well as monitoring operations in the region. Two CASA inspectors will be based in Ceduna, checking pilot activities and
inspecting some aircraft. It is expected that more than 60 aircraft will fly to Ceduna – bringing
visitors to watch the total eclipse from across Australia. A number are also
expected to fly to Leigh Creek, near Lyndhurst. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) will be issued warning pilots of the expected higher-than-usual
air traffic density, as well as special aircraft parking arrangements at Ceduna
aerodrome. Ceduna and Leigh Creek are Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) aerodromes
and normal procedures will apply on 4 December. Pilots flying radio equipped aircraft are required to broadcast their intended
operations before entering CTAF airspace and arrange their own separation from
other aircraft. Pilots are being asked to make sure they are familiar with CTAF radio requirements
and circuit entry procedures as set out in the Aeronautical Information Publication
and the VFR Flight Guide. Ceduna, 770 kilometres west of Adelaide, is considered the best location in
Australia to view the total eclipse of the Sun. The eclipse path begins over the Atlantic Ocean, west of Africa. It crosses
Angola, Mozambique and the Indian Ocean, before making its Australian landfall
at Ceduna late in the afternoon. The path of the eclipse then heads north-east
across the South Australian outback before leaving the Earth's surface east
of Lake Blanche. The only towns in the path of the total eclipse are Ceduna and Lyndhurst,
where the event happens less than an hour before sunset. At Ceduna the total
eclipse will last 32 seconds.
Media contact
Peter Gibson
mobile 0419 296 446
Ref: MR0261