Pilot safety hub

Controlled aerodromes and operations

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Non-controlled operations

Weather and forecasting

Flight planning

Controlled aerodromes and operations

Crash comic – Stranger danger

Always keep a good lookout, even in controlled airspace.

Reduced visibility due to urban haze, an unidentified aircraft and radio silence put this helicopter pilot on high alert.

See what happened and the lessons learned in our latest crash comic.

Comic displaying an aeroplane and helicopter almost colliding

Videos

NEW content status Image of an aeroplane in the sky

Operating under Special VFR

Watch a recording of an AvSafety webinar on the rules and requirements for operating under Special VFR.

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NEW content status Graphic of a helicopter and aeroplane

Explaining the rules – Classes of airspace

Refresh your knowledge with the requirements of each class of airspace with our explaining the rules animation.

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Image of aviation experts in the tower

Controlled aerodromes webinar series

Insights from aviation experts on avoiding airspace infringements, talking to the tower, runway safety, and more.

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Flight Safety Australia - The comfort of control

The comfort of control

Shelley Ross can get 'weirdly passionate' about controlled airspace – she explains why she considers deliberately avoiding it a tragedy.

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Controlled airspace communication

Explaining the rules - Controlled airspace communication

Refresh your knowledge of communication in controlled airspace with our animation.

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Light signals - controlled aerodromes

Explaining the rules – Light signals

If radio contact fails, the tower can use light signals to communicate. Watch our animation for tips.

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Airservices Australia

Airservices pilot safety shorts

Watch Airservices Australia videos on current and emerging risks in your operating airspace.

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Four aviation experts sitting around a table

AvSafety investigation – Distracted on approach

An analysis of an incident involving loss of situational awareness, based on an ATSB investigation report.

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Audio

Image of haze in the sky

A brutal hazing

A pilot has a close call in Darwin after experiencing smoke haze for the first time. Discover the lesson learned.

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Ignore the sirens

Ignore the sirens

In this close call, a pilot learns about the danger of fixation and the value of training.

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Do not cross tape

One wrong turn

A recreational pilot’s first flight after learning the basics of navigation unravels into an embarrassment that could have been a disaster.

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A plane flying above a forest

Too close for comfort

An instructor remembers just how close he got to a mid-air collision at Archerfield.

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Aerial view of an aerodrome's runways and taxiways

AvSafety podcast – staying safe on the runway

Tips for negotiating a busy runway and the importance of two-way radio communication.

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A white plane with stripes on its side is flying above bright blue water with a few islands in the background.

Taking the low road

This pilot’s decision-making skills kicked in when an overloaded pilot prompted evasive actions flying in Gold Coast airspace.

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Events and resources

NEW content status Image of a control tower

Check your departure plan

There’s no room for error at controlled aerodromes. In this article, we explore why a thorough departure briefing is time well spent.

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Fixed-wing pilot quiz

Challenge your knowledge

Do you know what ‘Reading you three’ means? Test your knowledge with our quiz.

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Helicopter pilot quiz

Can you get 100%?

Do you know what to do if the radio fails in the circuit area of a Class C aerodrome? Take the quiz.

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Image of the sky

Things that go wrong in the night

In this close call, a pilot learns that you should never hesitate to contact ATC – they’re here to help.

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Image of an aviation expert in the tower

Don’t bust it

Thorough pre-flight planning is your best defence against airspace infringements. Find out more.

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C - 06L-24R

Movement area guidance signs

Know what movement area guidance signs mean before flying in or out of busy aerodromes.

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Aerial view of Parafield aerodrome

Thriving in Class D

Read how to set yourself up for success and avoid some of the common mistakes when flying in Class D airspace.

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International resources

Image of a pilot flying a helicopter

PEDs can cause deadly distractions

Flying requires constant attention. The Rotorcraft Collective shares strategies for safely managing PEDs in flight.

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Animated graphic of a worker

Callsign confusion

Find helpful tips on avoiding callsign confusion in flight on the SKYbrary website.

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From the flight deck - Hazards and hot spots - human factors

Distractions on the runway

Human factors lessons from the FAA on a pilot causing a runway incursion from multitasking while taxiing.

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The rotorcraft collective

See and avoid

Looking outside is critical for a safe flight. Recommendations from the FAA’s Rotorcraft Collective to prevent a mid-air collision.

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A closeup of the eyes of a man wearing glasses with a flight radar display superimposed on top of it

Looking without seeing

Inattentional blindness is not seeing what’s right in front of you. A New Zealand analysis of this deadly threat to aviation.

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Resources from our store

Safety resources for purchase or free download.
Cover of the Part 91 plain English guide

Part 91 Plain English Guide

Our Plain English Guide makes it easy to understand the new general operating and flight regulations for all pilots.

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Poster displaying the classes of airspace

Australian airspace structure

A poster explaining the classes of airspace and what you need to enter and operate in that airspace.

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The title pages of many AvSafety cards

AvSafety cards

Enhance your knowledge of crucial safety topics with our popular A5 AvSafety cards – now available for free download.

Store
The Stay OnTrack booklets, lying spread out on top of each other

Stay OnTrack booklets

Grab a copy of our Stay OnTrack booklet series that helps you become familiar with flying in and around some of Australia’s cities.

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CASA's "Tips to avoid a runway incursion" card

Tips to avoid a runway incursion

An A5 card explaining how pilots can avoid being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

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A plane with the sun rising in front of it

Visual Flight Rules Guide and Plain English Guides

Download our Visual Flight Rules and Plain English Guides to make aviation rules easier to understand.

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Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//resources-and-education/pilot-safety-hub/controlled-aerodromes-and-operations
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