Australia's CASA Has a New Video

Safety at the thousands of bush airstrips scattered throughout remote Australia is the focus of a new video produced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The 17-minute video offers practical advice to people who own and maintain bush aerodromes, as well as air operators and pilots flying in remote areas.

Real life examples of the difficulties and dangers of operating bush airstrips are shown in the production, shot on location in the Western Australia, Northern Territory and Torres Strait.

Key safety issues examined include extreme weather, short and narrow runways, maintenance of dirt airstrips, inadequate runway and aerodrome markers and animals on runways.

It's just... there

There are no regulatory standards for bush airstrips, as the vast majority are simply designated as aeroplane landing areas. This means they are unlicensed and are not subject to CASA inspections, although safety guidelines have been issued.

The video points out that bush aerodromes provide essential access to remote communities, pastoral stations and mining sites.

Maintenance of bush airstrips is a never-ending task as both wet and dry weather plays havoc with the dirt surfaces. In the wet rain scours the surface and plants grow through the gravel top, while in the dry wind blasts the surface and damages markers and wind socks.

Bedtime for Bambi (and relatives)

Animal hazards exist wherever a bush airstrip is unfenced, with kangaroos, dogs, horses, cattle, sheep and camels all a danger to pilots during both landing and take-off.

Pilots are warned it is critical to make an airstrip inspection before landing by flying low above the runway and to be prepared to refuse to land if conditions are not safe.

[Note: it's a good idea to check format compatibility before ordering --ed.]

FMI: www.casa.gov.au/hotopics/media_rel/03-07-15.htm