Activity over Melbourne - 2.

[witwiw]

OK, I'll try once more and hope it can be kept civil and not locked again :-)

Thanks for the one or two serious answers in the previous thread:-

Activity over Melbourne
For many months now I have been aware of an aircraft operating over Melbourne in a way that intrigues me.

The aircraft appears to be a C208 or similar and does the following;

It flies around in what look like racetrack holding patterns at around 8000' or higher. These "holding patterns" vary between 6 to 10 minutes leg length and vary in their alignment. They occur over greater MEL as well as to the east of the city and over the bay.

I have watched the aircraft through binos on a number of occasions during the day and have also been aware of it operating through dusk into the night. It also operates above and below cloud - that would tend to eliminate photography.

This often occurs on several days throughout each week.

I've spoken to an aviation aware friend and he has also noticed this activity.

Can anyone shed any light on what is happening and why? A serious question to which I'd appreciate serious answers.