Organisations facing infrastructure issues related to remote aerodromes. These may include:
- fencing
- wildlife hazards
- conditions.
What can CASR Part 135 operators do?
Utilise your safety management system to ensure you:
- capture risks
- have appropriate mitigation techniques
- identify trends
- consider aerodrome conditions before operations.
You should implement enough procedural mitigations to manage any risks to an acceptable level.
An example is an animal hazard at an unfenced aerodrome. You may require crew (through SOPs) to join the circuit cross wind and overfly the runway to assess and minimise the risk posed by animals.
Consider the risk posed by operations on uncertified aerodromes. You need to make sure the safety of operations define the:
- minimum acceptable standard
- necessary mitigation.
This will involve working with the aerodrome owner or operator on relevant issues and implementing any necessary procedures. For example, being satisfied with the condition of an un-sealed runway prior to operations.
You can also define what are the necessary checks. For example, using a Clegg Hammer with a certain period of different amounts of rain. This might include 10mm in the past 24 hours, 30 mm in the past 48 hours and so on.
The operator could then require the evidence of this test and results prior to departure.
You should make sure the client engages on all relevant safety issues when operating air transport flights to uncertified aerodromes. This ensures clients understand why you are limiting operations due to a given risk.
The more a client understands the associated safety risks the more they will understand any flow on service issues associated with the risk.
Maintain contact with aerodrome operators and local communities. The people that use your service are often willing to do what they can to help maintain your service. This may include driving the strip prior to aircraft arrival or strip condition reports.
You must also make sure flight crew have access to the necessary flight planning information. This includes the suitability (for a take-off and landing) of the departure and planned destination aerodrome.
You should ensure flight crew have enough time to conduct appropriate and comprehensive flight planning. This includes consideration of the necessary infrastructure (or lack thereof) implications at remote aerodromes.
What is CASA doing or has already delivered?
135 organisations
To support 135 organisations in identifying aerodrome hazards and assessing risks, we have provided resources through safety management systems on the CASA website.
This includes:
- resource kit to develop your safety management System. This is available online or in hard copy. Booklet 3 focuses on safety risk management.
- operating at aircraft landing areas – CASA Online store.
- advisory-Circular-91-02 – guidelines for aeroplanes with MTOW ≤5700-kg – suitable places to take-off and land. This AC guides aeroplane pilots and organisations when determining the suitability of a place to safely take off and land (other than at a certified aerodrome).
Aerodromes
For operators of non-certified aerodromes standards you can find best practices included in the manual of standards (MOS). Aerodromes should consider adoption of MOS requirements where it is practical to do so.
Consider adoption of an SMS. Refer to our resource kit to develop your Safety Management System to support organisations in developing and implementing an SMS.
Booklet 8 – Scaling for size and complexity provides guidance for smaller and relatively non-complex organisations such as smaller aerodromes.
We have worked with other state safety programme agencies to support the Regional Airports Program. This includes the remote airstrip upgrade program and remote aerodrome inspection program.
The Regional Airports Program competitive grants program aims to:
- improve the safety of aircraft, operators and passengers using regional airports or aerodromes
- facilitate improved delivery of essential goods and services such as food supplies, health care and passenger air services
- improve the connectivity of Australia’s regions to domestic and global market opportunities
- meet the operational requirements of aeromedical and other emergency services in the region.