• The Civil Aviation Safety Authority regularly creates discussion papers on a range of issues.
    The Civil Aviation Safety Authority regularly creates discussion papers on a range of issues.
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The Civil Aviation Safety Authority announced yesterday that it will produce a discussion paper (DP) on the issue of frequencies at unmarked airstrips.

Under the National Airspace System (NAS), all airfields without a dedicated Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) were to use Multicom 126.7, but CASA has since released advice that where the airfield is not marked on any chart, pilots should use the VHF area frequency for broadcasts.

The moves comes after Director of Aviation Safety Mark Skidmore held a teleconference with the convenors of the Regional Airspace and Procedures Advisory Committees (RAPAC) and aviation advocate Dick Smith threatened to take the matter to the Supreme Court to force a review of any CASA decision made on the matter.

"The discussion paper will be released during 2016 and CASA will be looking for everyone from sports pilots to regular public transport operators to comment on the issues," the CASA announcement stated.

"CASA will carefully consider all viewpoints before reaching a final position on the most appropriate frequency use in class G airspace. Until the consultation process is finalised CASA urges all pilots to follow the current advice on frequency choice in class G airspace which is to use the VHF area frequency."

Dick Smith has always said that the original concept of the NAS Multicom should be enforced to reduce VFR traffic on the area frequencies. It is believed that internal CASA staff are still leaning toward the area frequency.

Smith first raised the issue in October 2014, drawing a prompt response from CASA reinforcing their advice.

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