The Bureau of Air Safety Investigation recommends that the Civil
Aviation Safety Authority amend AIP RAC 44.5. to increase the
tracking tolerance for pilots wishing to avoid controlled
airspace
This recommendation resulted from a study into violations of
controlled airspace.
Analysis
Of the Group-C pilots, only five planned to track more than 5 NM
from the boundary.
AIP RAC 44.5 advises pilots wishing to avoid controlled airspace to
apply appropriate tolerances to the flight path to ensure that
controlled airspace or restricted areas are not infringed. The
document gives the following guidance as to appropriate
tolerances.
Visual (powered aircraft)
0 2,000 ft AGL 1 NM( 2 NM by night)
2,001 5,000 ft AGL 2 NM ( 3 NM by night)
5,001 10,000 ft AGL 4 NM ( 5 NM by night)
The Bureau believes that these suggested tolerances are
insufficient and that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority should
amend the AIP to reflect a more appropriate distance for pilots
wishing to avoid controlled airspace.
The Bureau of Air Safety Investigation recommends that the Civil
Aviation Safety Authority amend AIP RAC 44.5. to increase the
tracking tolerance for pilots wishing to avoid controlled
airspace
The following is in response to recommendations R970083 and
R970084 contained in BASI Special Study 96254.
R970084
The recommendation that the tracking tolerances be increased for
pilots wishing to avoid controlled airspace is impractical.
Navigation of aircraft in uncontrolled airspace confined by
controlled airspace requires that pilots visually navigate to the
present minimum tolerances. This is not to say that pilots should
not plan to navigate and fly at greater distances from controlled
airspace where the situation permits. This is a training and
continuing education issue.
The training aspects will be addressed by our Personnel
Licensing Branch and the education requirement will be reaffirmed
with CASA's System Safety and Education Branch.