CASA Media Release - Tuesday, 1 June 2004
Air safety warning for Finke Desert Race
Pilots flying to support or observe this year’s outback Finke Desert Race are being warned they must put safety first.
Many aircraft follow the two-day Alice Springs to Finke off-road race for motorbikes, cars and four-wheel drive buggies.
The race follows a track that serviced the old Ghan railway line, with the round trip from Alice Springs covering nearly 500 kilometres.
Aircraft follow the race to provide support for the competitors and to watch from the best possible vantage points.
Pilots are being urged to undertake all safety procedures and to learn the special safety arrangements put in place for the race.
A ‘danger’ area for airspace surrounding the race route will be declared for the two days of the race – 13 and 14 June – during daylight hours, as well as on the practice day, 12 June.
The danger area will extend 1 nautical mile either side of the race route and up to 1000 feet above the ground.
All aircraft flying in this airspace should operate on 123.45 MHz and make sure their operations are known to other air traffic.
In the danger area, southbound aircraft should remain east of the race route, while northbound aircraft should stay west of the track.
Full details of the special arrangements will be published in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
This is the 29th Finke Desert Race, which has grown to be the world’s largest off-road desert race.
Competitors, spectators and aircraft come from across Australia for the event, with thousands of people taking part over the June long weekend.
Media contact
Peter Gibson
mobile 0419 296 446
Ref: MR0416