The ATSB is highlighting the safety risks of flying around non-towered aerodromes as part of this week’s national Ausfly conference at Narromine, NSW.
Narromine is expected to host hundreds of pilots who will fly in for Ausfly from all over Australia between 12 and 15 September. This is set to make Narromine Airport one of the busiest non-towered aerodromes in the country during that period.
ATSB Chief Commissioner, Martin Dolan, said that safety around non-towered aerodromes is one of the ATSB’s top transport safety priorities.
“The ATSB often receives reports from pilots that another aircraft is flying too close to them in uncontrolled airspace,” Mr Dolan said.
“In recent years there have been over 60 occurrences involving mid-air collisions and ground collisions in and around non-towered aerodromes.
“Flying around non-towered aerodromes requires the same discipline as operations around towered airports. Pilots should use alerted ‘see and avoid’ techniques wherever possible by making effective use of their radio, while always maintaining an effective look out for other aircraft.”
As part of the Ausfly conference, the ATSB will release a new aviation safety video highlighting the ever-present safety risks of flying around non-towered aerodromes. ATSB officers will also be conducting seminars on fuel management and amateur built aircraft accidents.
The aviation safety video is available on the ATSB’s YouTube channel, ATSBinfo. More information on staying safe around non-towered aerodromes is available at www.atsb.gov.au/safetywatch.