The Australian Transport Safety Bureau did not conduct an on-scene investigation of this occurrence. The report presented below was prepared principally from information supplied to the Bureau.
REPORTED INFORMATION
At 1139 eastern standard time on 2 February 2005, the crew of a Fairchild Industries Incorporated SA227 aircraft, registered VH-MYI, landed at Julia Creek aerodrome on a scheduled regular public transport service from Richmond, Queensland. At that time the runway was not available due to aerodrome line marking works, which had been notified in a notice to airmen (NOTAM) issued on 26 January 2005. There was no equipment or personnel on the runway at the time the aircraft landed.
The pilot in command (PIC) had read the NOTAM prior to commencement of his duty, but he only noticed that the line marking works were in progress and not that the runway was not available. The copilot did not read the NOTAMs prior to departure, nor was he required to by the company operations manual.
The aerodrome operator had issued a method of working plan (MOWP), YJLC Number 2, 18 October 2004 that detailed the works to be undertaken, the expected dates and the NOTAMs to be issued for the various stages. The runway was only to be closed for resurfacing during Stage 1 of the MOWP. There were to be no operational restrictions on use of the aerodrome during line marking, which was to be undertaken during Stage 2.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Manual of Standards Part 139-Aerodromes Chapter 10, paragraph 10.10.2.8 stated that an:
operator must not close the aerodrome to aircraft operations due to aerodrome works, unless a NOTAM giving notice of the closure has been issued not less than 14 days before the closure takes place.
The NOTAM issued for the line marking was not in accordance with that requirement, or Stage 2 of the MOWP.
The operator of the Fairchild has amended the operations manual for all aircraft types to require both pilots to read NOTAMs prior to departure.