The issues raised for aerodromes included:
- terminal aerodrome forecast – less availability affecting IFR and Night flying
- aerodrome lighting – Not all aerodromes have light activation readbacks
- de-icing not available
- security.
What can operators do?
Using your safety management system, ensures you:
- capture risks
- implement 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 unfenced aerodrome. You may require crew (through SOPs) to consider security requirements when leaving the aircraft unattended.
Make sure your crew understand procedures on what type of weather information is available for each aerodrome. This includes approved sources and other sources used for situational awareness only.
You can work with the Bureau of Meteorology and/or the aerodrome operator to push for the installation of an Automated Weather Information Service or other approved weather device. Organisations will determine what is necessary based on 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 flight planning information they need. 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 for thorough flight planning. This includes consideration of infrastructure (or lack thereof) at remote aerodromes.