From Aunty last week on this back-down by FF:
Flights between Adelaide and Coober Pedy to continue after agreement to widen runway
Posted Fri at 10:33amFri 26 Sep 2014, 10:33am
Related Story: MP questions need for Coober Pedy runway widening
Related Story: Council told to widen Coober Pedy runway
Related Story: Flights to Coober Pedy to continue
Map: SA
Flights between Adelaide and Coober Pedy in South Australia's north are to continue after an agreement was reached for the town to widen its runway.
The Regional Express airline had planned to stop operating the route from November 13 due to new runway width requirements imposed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
But the firm's director Jim Davis said the local council had now agreed to widen the runway.
He said the route would continue running as the CASA had relaxed the rules since an agreement was now in place.
"There'll be no more disruption to services as long as the runway widening is carried out within a reasonable time," Mr Davis said.
"That time's not specified, so CASA has been fairly reasonable in allowing the work to take place.
"The work will have to take place within a reasonable timeframe once the funding's obtained."
District Council of Coober Pedy Mayor Steve Baines said it would be business as usual as long as the council could obtain funding and carry out the work.
Mr Baines said last month that widening the runway
could cost up to $500,000.
Yes Soty sounds more like a classic FF 'stick and carrot' play...
I do wonder though if this opens the door for other operators with runway width exemptions expiring 13 November 2014??
After all (from what I can find), in the case of REX & PelAir, they were given a general exemption due to expire February 2015 and not just a one off exemption for Cooper Pedy:
15.
CASA EX37/12 – Expires end of February 2015.(not<18m)(REX)
16.
CASA EX36/12 – Expires end of February 2015.(not<18m)(Pel-Air)
[Signed John F. McCormick]
John F. McCormick Director of Aviation Safety
6 March 2012
Exemption — from minimum runway width instructions
1 Duration
This instrument:
(a) commences on 8 March 2012; and
(b) stops having effect at the end of February 2015.
2 Application
This instrument only applies to the SAAB Model A and B aircraft operated by Regional Express Pty Limited, Aviation Reference Number 752788.
3 Exemption
The aircraft are exempt from compliance with the instructions in instrument CASA 61/12.
4 Conditions
The exemption is subject to the conditions mentioned in Schedule 1.
Schedule 1 Conditions
1 The aircraft must not land on, or take off from, a runway that is less than 18 metres wide.
2 Operations on a runway that is not less than 18 metres wide must be conducted in accordance with the Australian CAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual Supplement #20 for the SAAB SF340A and Supplement #16 for the SAAB 340B.
Examples would be Hardy Aviation -
CASA EX83/14– Expires 13 November 2014.(not<18m) - or Pearl Aviation -
CASA EX45/14 - Expires 13 November 2014.(not<18m)...
From RAAA ASRR submission:
CAR 235A – minimum runway width
CAR235A describes a process to develop standards of operations
on narrow runways. It also introduces additional requirements that
may restrict or prohibit operations to remote regional communities.
Additionally, the Civil Aviation Advisory Publication (CAAP) contains
contradictions in regard to crew training and does not provide an
alternative means of achieving equivalent safety outcomes. One of
our Members indicated that CAR 235A has put regular public transport
services to at least one remote regional location in jeopardy.
Another of our members had a local inspector do all the checks at
Clermont Qld for reduced runway width and submitted the Standard
Form of Recommendation (SFR) to CASA where it was signed off by
the applicable section. After this it went to the General Manager within
CASA for final approval who refused to sign it without reason. The
CASA General Manager revisited the SFR twice ultimately waiting till
the maximum time period (3 months) specified in the regulations was
just about expired and then approved the SFR. Due to the excessive
period taken by CASA the client of our Member had decided not to
proceed with the project (mining) at that time
.
Hmm...maybe the RAAA could put forward an application for a general (blanket) exemption for all it's effected members, with the proviso that the various effected airports acquire funding and start construction, for widening their runways, within an acceptable time-frame. Certainly test the veracity of this supposed goodwill gesture from FF...
While on Cooper Pedy I noticed that a certain PC-12/47 had a run in with a fence while landing just the other day.
The ATSB has commenced an investigation into a runway undershoot involving a Pilatus Aircraft, PC-12/47, VH-HIG at Coober Pedy Airport, South Australia on 23 September 2014.
During an approach to runway 32 in gusty conditions, the pilot encountered reducing visibility due to dust, and a high sink rate. The aircraft touched down short of the runway and collided with a fence.
As part of the investigation, the ATSB will interview the pilot and seek information from the operator.
A report will be released within several months.
Maybe FF will now require operators to apply for runway length exemptions???
MTF...
