Ballina 50% Traffic Increase
 

At Senate Estimates on Monday, the AsA CEO stated Ballina traffic had increased 50% on pre COVID-19 numbers...

Is this true?

Anyone with knowledge care to respond.

G_f

Probably true, when the borders closed BNA was about the only place that Sydneysiders could fly to.

Such a statement by AsA CEO should've prompted the obvious question about Control Tower establishment criterion. Opportunity lost. Perhaps it is the long list of questions on notice!

Yep, QF started flying mainline B737’s in there for the first time during COVID, because the high yield passengers from SYD couldn’t cross the border, and I believe they still are.

I wonder how long it will be before the QF risk managers take another look at the consequence side of the matrix as soon as a 737 as an airprox? I think the Jetstar equivalents take their starting point within the box at VL and go upwards and sideways from there.

If nothing is done by the powers that be, it would be nice if we could come together (Virgin, QF & JQ) as one group of crew and Just say "NO" we are not doing it anymore.

Nice thought but it is difficult enough to get consensus within the various airlines let alone across them.

And Qantaslink .... and Fly Pelican (from 3 ports) .... and plenty of Citation and PC-12-type things...

I agree with Missy post #48 - And, surely such an increase should've triggered an Aeronautical Study by CASA. Last one, "Ballina Byron Gateway Airport Safety Analysis for the provision of a - Certified Air/Ground Radio Service" was August 2017.

Genuine question: how effective is a CA/GRS at providing helpful information that standard CTAF procedures don’t? I haven’t flown into a CA/GRS for a long time.

It obviously didn’t help the JQ/Jabiru incident.

All the CA/GRS does is clag up the CTAF frequency with superfluous chatter. The traffic info is being provided by Centre anyway and often at the same time as Ballina Radio. They often are trying to operate a pseudo ATC setup which is not in the job description. Even the weather info is dodgy with comments such as "There is a thunderstorm overhead as I can hear the thunder." The only benefit is for the provision of an accurate QNH and wind direction, definitely not for traffic info.

Without reading the actual transcript (if there is one), according to the prelim report the Jabiru pilot just broadcast to Lismore traffic that he was 4nm east of Lismore and descending. That probably meant zip to the CA/GRO who is concerned with traffic within 10nm of Ballina only. He's not paid to provide a service to Lismore or Casino traffic.

Mr Lookleft, I can only say that from your claim, 'that' service is hardly 'professional'...?
Pertinent ( conflicting) traffic, and weather (if no ATIS), should all be transmitted in a 'professional manner' - clipped (if necessary, due traffic) and accurate.
It IS a 'Flight Information' service.....(FIS)...Yes..??

Cheers

What is the distance Lismore / Ballina?
15nm or thereabouts?
Then, a report '4nm E of Lismore' puts the Jab. approx 11 / 10nm from Ballina, and descending inbound?

Is the CTAF at 10nm Ballina big enough to give time to give traffic?
If a Jet RPT calls at 10nm.....2 1/2 - 3 mins..??
The old 'AFIZ' call at 30nm gave about 7 mins for Jet traffic to be assessed and passed.
Just Sayin'......

Rotsa Ruck.........

It’s a CTAF which talks back to you. Doesn’t really add any value.

At the VERY LEAST...you know you are 'on' the correct frequency..............
FWIW......

A beepback achieves that without clogging up an already busy frequency.

It's purpose is to make sure the recalcitrants play ball

Any chance of a translation to English, maggot?

occasionally some aircraft in CTAFs have less than stellar reporting, compliance and/or flare for getting along with others. Someone listening may make those, rare, aircraft play ball a bit more

Elvis is alive and well...........................

He has just been spotted getting out of an aircraft at Ballina..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Except the Jab called Lismore traffic. He wasn't going to either Lismore or Ballina. If he didn't say where he was descending to, no-one knew where he was going. But it didn't matter, because it looks like no one heard it anyway.