In a move to ensure flight path safety, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will be conducting safety checks on several aerodromes across South Australia and Mildura in Victoria. Locals may observe an aircraft flying at unusually low altitudes during the first week of May. This exercise forms part of CASA’s rigorous regulations to ensure that instrument procedure flight paths at various aerodromes operate securely.
Mandatory checks are required every five years to verify the continued safety of approach procedures. During the upcoming checks, a twin-engine Cessna Conquest aircraft will be used. This safety exercise is structured to include low-level flying, bringing the aircraft down as low as several hundred feet in places. The safety checks cover an area up to 40 kilometres from the aerodromes.
The checks will commence on Wednesday, 1 May at Carapateena, Woomera and Olympic Dam aerodromes. On 2 May, Leigh Creek, Prominent Hill, Coober Pedy and Streaky Bay air facilities will be examined. The surveillance will continue on 3 May at Wudinna, Kimba, Port Augusta and Port Pirie. The review on 4 May will cover Whyalla, Cleve, Tumby Bay and Port Lincoln.
The aerodromes in Edinburgh, Parafield and Adelaide will be scrutinised on 5 May, followed by Kingscote and Adelaide again on 6 May. The week-long safety exercise will conclude on 7 May, with checks conducted at Renmark and Mildura aerodromes.
During this period, local residents may perceive an unusual flight pattern. They are advised that this deviation from typical routes is intended to accurately mark obstacles on charts and to identify newly-emerging barriers. Obstacles may range from towers, trees and masts to buildings, all of which can pose a threat to aircraft.
CASA assures the public that if the checks are hindered by poor weather or other unpredictable factors, the checks would be rescheduled and conducted at the earliest possible opportunity. CASA’s priority is to ensure the flight paths under its oversight are safe for use, an objective that benefits the general public by contributing to the reduction of air travel-related issues.
| 1-May CARAPATEENA WOOMERA OLYMPIC DAM | 2-May LEIGH CREEK PROMINENT HILL COOBER PEDY STREAKY BAY | 3-May WUDINNA KIMBA PORT AUGUSTA PORT PIRIE |
| 4-May WHYALLA CLEVE TUMBY BAY PORT LINCOLN | 5-May EDINBURGH PARAFIELD ADELAIDE | 6-May KINGSCOTE ADELAIDE |
| 7-May RENMARK MILDURA |
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