From April 21 2010, Archerfield, Bankstown, Camden, Jandakot, Moorabbin and Parafield will all be D-class controlled air space.
The directive was issued on the same day CASA released the long-awaited Ambidji/Lloyd report into GAAP operations.
Director of Aviation Safety, John McCormick, said the changes were part of CASA’s ongoing efforts to improve aviation safety at the busy GA airports.
“The action we are taking is the result of extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis undertaken by CASA in recent months, including surveillance activity of Air Traffic Services (ATS) at GAAP aerodromes,” McCormick said.
“This is also consistent with the findings of a review of airspace management recently commissioned by CASA [‘the Ambidji report’] which has highlighted the need for immediate action to improve airspace management at GAAP aerodromes.
“These proposed directions are an appropriate, measured and justifiable response to the safety requirements at and in the vicinity of GAAP aerodromes.”
GAAP was first introduced at Parafield in 1978 and progressively rolled-out to the other airports over four years.
This unique Australian air space classification was designed to help traffic flow in the vicinity of busy GA airports and placed the responsibility for aircraft separation on pilots, with the controllers issuing take-off and landing clearances and sequencing the circuit.
The procedures have been under scrutiny recently after mid-air collisions, most notable at Bankstown and Moorabbin.
Steve Pearce, CFI of Moorabbin-based Bini Flight Training, says their group hasn’t yet had the chance to assess the changes.
“There could be some serious issues at the coalface; we’ll just have to see how it pans out.”
The D-class directive was released with three others that came into effect on July 21 this year and modified existing GAAP operations.
They required:
• An immediate limitation of six aircraft in any one circuit controlled by one tower controller;
• An immediate requirement for all aircraft to obtain a clearance to cross or taxi along any runway, active or not; and
• The provision of aerodrome air traffic services every day during daylight without any reduction in the service currently provided after dark.
AOPA President Phillip Reiss commented that after reading the Ambidji report the Association understands the reason why CASA has acted so quickly for safety reasons.
“Our prime concern is that Airservices properly staffs the towers as full staffing is needed to ensure full airspace availability,” he said.
“Unless that occurs, the impact on flying schools could be severe and even generate moves to rural areas which would reduce the viability of existing GAAP locations.”