The reporter raised a concern regarding the number of NOTAMS raised for cranes at [Location] aerodrome and also queries why buildings are allowed to be built to such a height that they need to be declared an obstacle in the vicinity of the aerodrome.
The reporter expressed further concern about buildings and cranes infringing the horizontal surface at the northern end and east of the runway which has become very apparent after being instructed by ATC to conduct a go-around recently on runway [number].
The reporter questions how it is a safe situation for a light aircraft to have to manoeuvre around cranes and buildings when faced with conducting circling approaches in bad weather.
Certain airport personnel are granted delegatory powers under the 'Secretary's Airports (Protection of Airspace) Delegation Instrument 2020 (No.)' by the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. This allows the airport to approve or reject applications involving penetrations of prescribed airspace on behalf of the Secretary in accordance with the Airports Act 1996, Airport (Protection of Airspace) Regulations 1996, Guidelines for Processing Applications Under APAR, [Location] Airport Airspace Protection SOP - [procedure] application process. Under this process the airport accepts applications for cranes, equipment or obstacles operating at height within the controlled airspace of the airport. On receipt of these applications, a CASA-approved process is followed.
Stakeholder Communication:
The airport keeps operators updated of the application progress through automated workflows within the application process. Contact details are submitted with all applications allowing knowledge of the proponent, while the majority of operators have contact details for the airport. Site visits may be conducted if operations are not approved or appear to be in breach of approvals. Airspace obstacle elements and concerns are communicated to aerodrome technical stakeholders as required and via quarterly runway safety committees.
Obstacle Oversight and Assurance:
Aside from the direct airspace protection procedures, known and unknown obstacle penetrations are formally inspected daily during scheduled aerodrome serviceability inspections and over the course of general duties with new identified obstacles escalated to [airport] aviation management for corrective action.
CASA has reviewed the REPCON and the aerodrome operator response.
The CASA Airspace Protection team assesses each individual intrusion of the obstacle limitation surface (OLS) at any aerodrome on its own merits and NOTAMs are submitted by the respective aerodrome to advise pilots. The process as described by the aerodrome operator is typical of the assessment process followed at leased federal (and certified) aerodromes.
CASA has recently conducted a scheduled surveillance activity of the aerodrome operator that included a review of the operator’s procedures. CASA did not identify any process, or application of process, that is not consistent with CASR Part 139 requirements.