So CASA is now going to introduce a new option. Could I suggest that new option is the Cabinet approved NAS?
It provides exactly what the regional airline pilots want in a very simple and non-prescriptive way because it follows the proven systems from overseas.
Have a look at
page 27 from the document
Reference Guide – How to operate in the National Airspace System effective from 17 November 2003. Yes, that is over 15 years ago.
Under ‘Appropriate frequency’ it says:
This system worked incredibly well for over three months, with no CTAF incidents reported from this at all.
Yes, there was an outcry from people who resisted change. They stated they wanted to have the frequency boundaries from the 1950s full position system put back on the charts. Without the approval of CASA, Airservices printed a chart with the frequency boundaries and sent it out to every pilot in Australia. No education program was put in place on how this “wound-back” system would work.
On page 8 of the same Reference Guide it states:
“A major change is that …all frequency boundary information has been removed from the charts.”
A little later on the same page it says:
“The important point is that when en route, if flying through the airspace used for approaching and departing traffic at an aerodrome, the frequency of that aerodrome should be monitored. This will provide the best situational awareness of traffic in your area.
A pilot should give more emphasis to monitoring CTAF…Multicom where the collision risk is many times higher. Constantly monitoring an ATC frequency, where most of the calls may not be relevant, can lead to a false sense of security and reduce the effectiveness for alerted see and avoid where it really matters in the aerodrome area.”
Note how there are no dimensions given.
Also on
page 27 of the Reference Guide, under ‘Appropriate frequency’, it mentions:
For situational awareness a pilot can simply monitor the closest ATC frequency outlet, which is shown on all modern GPS units. Of course it may have had some useful information 15 years ago, but now with ADS-B, most aircraft are not giving position reports – so monitoring the frequency is nearly useless for situational awareness purposes.
I ask everyone to have an open mind and consider whether we could return to the non-prescriptive, international National Airspace System (NAS) as introduced in November 2003. When I say “return”, well it was in for three months!
It is non-prescriptive based on common sense and good airmanship. Yes, I know there are those in CASA who believe you should write a regulation for everything so common sense and good airmanship is not required, but that will obviously never work.
I note in talking to people, especially younger pilots, there is less pressure to keep the 1950s frequency boundaries on the charts. One day we will have to move forward and copy the best. Why not now?