Controlled aerodromes and operations

Helicopter pilot quiz

Do you know the ins and outs of helicopter operations in controlled airspace?

Whether you're a seasoned pilot or new to aviation, challenge yourself to get 100% on our helicopter pilot quiz!

Videos

An aeroplane flying into a cloudy grey sky

Winter flying

Watch our winter flying webinar for a guide to winter operations - hints, tips and reminders for the season.

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An aeroplane flying through the sky under some fluffy white clouds

Avoiding airspace infringements

Watch an insider’s guide to preventing collisions and conflicts in controlled airspace.

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Explaining the rules - Controlled airspace communication

Refresh your knowledge of communication in controlled airspace with our animated explainer.

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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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Crash comic – Er, yeah, no.

A pilot wonders why he told ATC he understood when he didn’t, in our crash comic.

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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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An aeroplane flying through the sky with clouds above and below

Special Use Airspace

How well do you understand Special Use Airspace? Watch our webinar recording to refresh your knowledge.

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Working with the ATC

Keep up to date on the risks you face in the airspace where you’re flying – from Airservices.

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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

Ignore the sirens

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

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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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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

Hear how this pilot fast decision-making skills kicked in when an overloaded pilot prompted evasive actions while flying in busy Gold Coast airspace.

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Events and resources

Movement area guidance signs

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

Article

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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Fixed wing pilot quiz

Do you know your movement area guidance signs? Are you sure what to readback? Test your knowledge with our quiz!

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Plane marked VH-EWW taking off from an airport

Terrifying landing

Lessons from an ATSB report on miscalculations that brought a student and instructor too close to a hangar.

Article Fixed-wing

A photo of air traffic controllers at work on their computers, with a graphic of an air traffic screen with concentric circles and aircraft symbols superimposed over it

Safe flight in controlled airspace

Get tips and checklists for controlled airspace. Find out why one pilot thinks it’s actually a more relaxing place to fly.

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An air traffic radar display superimposed over a blurry view of an airplane parked at an airport

Aerodrome maps

Get the hot spots and other vital information about your aerodrome.

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International resources

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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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.

AvSafety cards

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

Store

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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Pilot safety campaign

Finding our safety messages useful? You can get copies of all the posters and flyers from the pilot safety campaign.

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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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Controlled aerodromes and operations

Non-controlled operations

Weather and forecasting

Flight planning