Class G airspace demonstration terminated
The demonstration of new airspace management procedures between Canberra and Ballina will end at 6.00am on Sunday 13 December 1998.
This follows a recommendation from the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) to terminate the demonstration in the airspace known as Class G.
The Director of Aviation Safety of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Mick Toller, says a great deal has been learned from the demonstration.
Mr Toller says the end of the Class G demonstration does not mean the plan to bring Australia's airspace management into line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) classifications and proven international practice will be abandoned.
"The CASA Board and Management is committed to providing a safe and efficient airspace management system and to implementing the Federal Government's policy to bring Australian airspace management into line with international classifications," Mr Toller says.
"The CASA Board has set the end of 1999 as the target date for making Australian airspace management meet ICAO practices.
"This will be achieved alongside the introduction by Airservices Australia of The Australian Advanced Air Traffic System (TAAATS).
"We are working to develop a modern, automated airspace system using all available skills and technology."
Mr Toller says from the outset of the Class G demonstration he made it clear that if CASA or BASI identified genuine safety concerns he would immediately take steps to end the demonstration.
"I accept the interim BASI recommendation to terminate the demonstration, while noting that BASI believes the demonstration has served its purpose.
"I also note that BASI says it is not possible at this stage to compare the overall safety of the Class G demonstration with the previous airspace management system.
"The Class G demonstration maximised the use of radar, a move BASI itself recommended in an earlier report.
"In recommending the termination of the Class G demonstration I would expect that BASI took into account the fact that a radar information service will no longer be available to aircraft in the demonstration area. CASA believes the use of radar was a safety bonus and wants to see it re-introduced into the area as soon as is practical.
"I fully recognise the Class G demonstration has been controversial but this was not unexpected as the previous management procedures had been in place for more than 40 years.
"In an effort to meet industry concerns the Class G arrangements were in fact more complex than I would have liked. As a result in some cases the demonstration provided a higher level of service than required by ICAO in Class G airspace.
"Airspace classification and management is about traffic densities and risk analysis - major international airports require a full air traffic control service while in the outback a low level of service can deliver safe skies.
"Between these two extremes there is a need to assess the level of air traffic and provide a suitable level of control. This was a primary aim for the Class G airspace demonstration."
Mr Toller says CASA will continue to work with Airservices Australia to improve Australia's airspace management.
He says there will also continue to be meaningful consultation with all airspace users over the development and implementation of new management systems.
"A new timetable for the introduction of reforms to Australia's airspace management by the end of 1999 will be announced once the review of the responsibilities of CASA, Airservices Australia and the Federal Department of Transport and Regional Services is completed."
Background
During the Class G demonstration aircraft in the relevant area between Canberra and Ballina had access to radar information services where available and used a special radio channel to directly communicate with each other to maintain separation.
By returning to the previous airspace management system aircraft will lose access to radar and instead use information on the location of other aircraft provided by Flight Service Officers. This information is collected by radio reports only.
9 December 1998
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Ref: ME9832PR