We have an aircraft hangared at YCAB and have been flying out of there for many years. Obviously keen to see what the final report says, but comms arrangements at YCAB have always been a personal concern, and I can't help but wonder if comms was a factor in this latest tragedy.
- One frequency (125.85) essentially covers D629C, D, E plus two busy ALA's (YCAB and YCDR). It does get congested. YRED has a defined area with its own discrete CTAF frequency. In my view, YCAB and YCDR need a similar arrangement.
- Carriage and use of radio is now required (great!) but if the radio is not checked and confirmed working before going full noise it can be deadly. Earlier this year, having just commenced my take-off roll on RWY11, a gyrocopter entered and rolled on RWY29. I aborted and came to a stop, he took off over the top of me. The subsequent aero club investigation found the gyrocopter had a faulty radio.