CTAFs are gone

It was in November 2005 that the then non-tower aerodrome procedures were overhauled with a big ticket presentation to Australian pilots. Since that time there have been some five subtle alterations of the procedures.

This latest revision comes with the first release of a CAAP that spells out what CASA is recommending for non-tower aerodrome flight and radio procedures. The changes come with the introduction of new class D airspace procedures at secondary airports.

CASA is to do mail outs and use the internet for dissemination of the new procedures as well as running a number of seminars.

The June CAAP will allow for slightly different circuit joining procedures including a straight-in approach at not less than 3 nm. It will also allow for a join on the base leg. In the past the requirement was to fly three legs of the circuit. The radio broadcasts in the CAAP have no mention of radio calls required on three legs of the circuit.

The June 2010 issue of the ERC Low charts will not have the words CTAF attached to aerodrome information boxes. To know which aerodromes require the use of radio a pilot will have to go to the ERSA book. In the top right hand corner of an aerodrome information page the abbreviations CERT, REG or MIL below the aerodrome abbreviation will indicate that that aerodrome requires the use of radio.

The abbreviation UNCR below the aerodrome abbreviation indicates that the use of radio is not mandatory unless required by the aerodrome operator or designated by CASA.

The seminar brought out several interesting points. CASA is now saying it is good that inbound pilots should overfly the destination aerodrome to ascertain the wind direction and view the aerodrome layout. This is in marked contrast with the previous procedures.

Circuit heights are now 500 ft AGL for low performance aircraft, e.g. 55 kt. maximum. Medium performance aircraft that fly between 55 and 150 kts. have a standard circuit height of 1000 ft AGL. High performance aircraft, including jets and many turboprops and with speeds above 150 kts. have a standard circuit height of 1500 ft AGL. In the past it was recommended that medium performance aircraft should always overfly the destination airport at 2000 ft. At the seminar it was said that 500 ft. above the highest circuit in use is now satisfactory. In the November 2009 online issue of the Visual Flight Guide it was recommended that helicopters fly an 800 ft. circuit height presumedly to avoid what is know as the engine out ‘dead mans curve’. The new CAAP makes no mention of this 800 ft. helicopter circuit height. Gone also is the advice to turn at the climb out height of 700 feet bringing the aircraft out to 1000 feet on the cross wind leg. At the time this requirement was introduced the reason given was that CASA was concerned about departure stalls and spins. Apparently no longer.

In the past a pilot was required to be on final at 500 metres from the runway. Now 500 feet altitude is all that is required.

Right hand turns after departure are allowed but are now to be after 3 nm from the runway but may be less for aircraft with high climb performance. In the past this was recommended as being 500 feet above circuit height. Interesting enough in the past there was a recommendation to make a radio call advising of a non-standard right hand turn after take-off. The new CAAP radio broadcasts have no mention of such a call. This writer for one would recommend that any right hand turn is preceded by a radio broadcast advising this intention. A departure call is not a requirement. Indeed the new CAAP and at the seminar the discussion on radio calls is to make them clear, concise, necessary and brief. Listening to other pilot broadcasts increases situational awareness. This has also been recommended by this column several times in the past. A pilot should not be discouraged from making additional calls if they feel that they will enhance safety.

All pilots are recommended to read, understand and fly by the new non-tower aerodrome operations CAAP. History tells us however that even these new recommendations will be altered in the future.

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Contact Dave by email at [email protected]