Following the construction of a new hangar adjacent to runway 28
right (28R) at Archerfield Airport, Queensland, the Australian
Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) received a number of submissions
asserting that the building infringed safety standards or reduced
flight safety.
Drawing on an independent third-party review, the ATSB
determined that the building does not breach obstacle limitation
surfaces. The ATSB also conducted an initial examination of the
instrument departure procedure from runway 28R. The ATSB found that
the procedure complied with the extant instrument departure design
requirements, but identified an ambiguity in the guidance for
designing instrument departure procedures.
The ATSB assessed that this ambiguity could lead to inconsistent
expectations about the extent of clearance from obstacles provided
to aircraft when pilots were following an instrument departure
procedure. This had the potential to increase the risk of a
collision with an obstacle. In response, on 30 May 2008, the (then)
Executive Director of the ATSB commenced a safety issue
investigation in accordance with sections 21 and 23 of the
Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003.
As a result of that investigation, the Civil Aviation Safety
Authority and Airservices Australia have, in consultation, reviewed
their understanding of how the design standards for instrument
departure procedures should apply in Australia. They have also
re-examined the runway 28 instrument departure procedure at
Archerfield in the light of that review and have advised that they
intend to amend the requirements for instrument departures from
runway 28R.
The potential for inconsistent interpretation of the instrument
departure procedure design requirements has also been notified to
the International Civil Aviation Organization instrument flight
procedures panel, which monitors the international standards for
the design of instrument procedures.