Thanks ATC news - nice spin.
Q. If there is no change to the service being provided by Airservices at Ballina - then why is Airservices consulting with industry about this lack of any change?
- Perhaps you are referring to the CA/GRS currently operating at Ballina, if so that is under CASR Part 139, which is not what Airservices is proposing, so there is a change.....
- Or are you referring to the mandatory IFR traffic information service provided in Class G airspace, but I understood VFR traffic would also be subject to the service, so there is a change.....
This service is also advertised as being airport-specific, which in Ballina's case would exclude Lismore and Evan's Head. So it is not simply Class G FIS on the CTAF, this is an Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) similar to Port Hedland, for which Airservices has approval on your Provider Certificate. (Note the underlined words below)
2.4.1 Content of an ATS Approved Provider Certificate
An ATS Approved Provider Certificate is to include the following details:
The identity of the approved provider (name and address, and if a corporation, its ACN and registered office)
A list of those ATS services approved under the certificate, together with details of their location, and aerodrome and airspace, as applicable
The date of approval of the Certificate
Conditions on the Certificate; including the condition that CASA has the right to undertake a safety audit of the provider’s operation at any time
Sorry, but if this is the agreement that Airservices has with CASA, then once again, Australian regulations are being ignored.