The Directorate of Flying Safety - ADF and the Bureau of Air
Safety Investigation (ATSB) recommends that Airservices Australia,
in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and AusSAR,
develop appropriate separation standards for the safe operation of
aircraft involved in search and rescue operations.
The issue of a separation standard to be used on class "G"
airspace under certain circumstances is a vexed question that only
CASA can decide upon.
Aircraft assigned for duty in a search area in class "G" airspace
are currently provided with search plans that provide a level of
segregation with other aircraft searching in the vicinity, taking
into consideration the purpose of the search activity and the
navigation capabilities of that and other aircraft.
The introduction of a separation standard in selected class "G"
airspace would necessitate the need to publish the area as a
"restricted area" and with that the possible requirement to provide
additional communication and navigation capability to facilitate
the provision and monitoring of separation. This may in itself
limit the availability of certain aircraft in a time of crucial
need.
Airservices will support any initiative on the part of CASA and
AusSAR to analyse the need for and if necessary develop a suitable
separation regime specifically to cater to search and rescue
operations in class "G" airspace.
