Two airspace-related events around the same aeroplane landing area have shown the importance of pilots identifying potential hazards on their planned flight routes, and remaining focused on their surroundings.
Both incidents took place at Nagambie, Victoria. The first incident occurred on 3 May 2013, when the pilot of a Cessna 182 was conducting parachute operations over Nagambie. At the same time, the pilot of a Piper PA-28 aircraft was conducting a private flight from Mangalore to Bendigo, Victoria. He planned to fly from Mangalore to the Nagambie Township and then to Bendigo, to avoid a restricted area and parachute operations danger area.
In both occurrences, the pilots were operating on the see-and-avoid principle of air traffic safety.
A Danger Area is one in which dangerous activity (such as skydiving) takes place, so pilots entering that area need to take appropriate precautions. In contrast, restricted areas are areas of airspace into which pilots cannot fly without permission.
After completing the parachute drop, the Cessna conducted a circling descent, joining the base leg of the circuit and making a broadcast on the radio.
When about 6 NM to the west of the Nagambie Township, maintaining 2,500 ft, the pilot of the Piper saw the Cessna above, on descent, flying from left to right. The Piper pilot took action to avoid the Cessna.
As the pilot of the Cessna entered the danger area, at around 2,000 ft, he saw the Piper in his 12 o’clock position taking avoiding action. He banked his aircraft heavily to avoid the Piper. He estimated the aircraft came within 50 ft of each other.
The second incident occurred five days later, when the pilot of a Bell 206 helicopter was conducting a private flight from Mangalore to Echuca, Victoria, flying via the Nagambie Township to avoid the restricted area, maintaining 1,000 ft.
After passing near the Nagambie Lakes area, the pilot received a call on the radio from the drop zone safety officer on the ground at Nagambie advising that he had just flown over a parachuting landing area. At that time, five parachutists had just landed and six were still airborne.
In both occurrences, the pilots were operating on the see-and-avoid principle of air traffic safety. An ATSB research report, Limitations of the See-and-Avoid Principle, examines the potential risks that can arise in these scenarios.
Read the report: Two airspace related events, at Nagambie (ALA), Victoria, on 3 and 8 May 2013