Restricted areas to keep media choppers away?

[CaptainMidnight]

A bunch of restricted areas have been declared around CBR, and the rumour I've heard is that there will be more in other cities where the Queen will be visiting, and that they are being put in place to exclude choppers, specifically media. Anyone confirm this or know more?

C0343/11
TEMPO RESTRICTED AREA ACT
WI 0.5NM OF S35 17.2584, E149 8.4258 (ST JOHNS CHURCH REID),
DUE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY ACTIVITY IN SUPPORT OF HEAD OF STATE ACTIVITY. ONLY AIRCRAFT IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE APPROVED TO OPERATE IN THE TRA.
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: CASA OFFICE OF AIRSPACE REGULATION, TEL: [phone].
SFC TO 4500FT AMSL
FROM 10 230000 TO 10 230115

C0344/11
TEMPO RESTRICTED AREA ACT
WI 0.5NM OF S35 17.9022, E 149 9.8238(RMC DUNTROON),
DUE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY ACTIVITY IN SUPPORT OF HEAD OF STATE ACTIVITY. ONLY AIRCRAFT IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE APPROVED TO OPERATE IN THE TRA.
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: CASA OFFICE OF AIRSPACE REGULATION, TEL: [phone].
SFC TO 4500FT AMSL
FROM 10 212315 TO 10 220045

C0345/11
TEMPO RESTRICTED AREA ACT
WI 0.5NM OF S35 18.0756, E 149 4.6308(GOVERNMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA),
DUE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY ACTIVITY IN SUPPORT OF HEAD OF STATE ACTIVITY. ONLY AIRCRAFT IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE APPROVED TO OPERATE IN THE TRA.
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: CASA OFFICE OF AIRSPACE REGULATION, TEL: [phone].
SFC TO 4500FT AMSL
FROM 10 200630 TO 10 200730

C0346/11
TEMPO RESTRICTED AREA ACT
WI 0.5NM OF S35 17.4 E149 07.9 (REGATTA POINT-FLORIADE), DUE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND SECURITY ACTIVITY IN SUPPORT OF HEAD OF STATE ACTIVITY.
ONLY ACFT IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE
APPROVED TO OPERATE IN THE TRA.
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY OFFICE OF
AIRSPACE REGULATION. TEL: [phone]
FROM 10 200015 TO 10 200130

C0347/11
TEMPO RESTRICTED AREA ACT
WI 0.5NM OF S35 16.9, E 149 08.9 (AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL), DUE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY ACTIVITY IN SUPPORT OF HEAD OF STATE. ONLY ACFT IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE APPROVED TO OPERATE IN THE TRA.
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY OFFICE OF
AIRSPACE REGULATION. TEL: [phone]
FROM 10 242310 TO 10 250015

[tmpffisch]

Maybe when you're conducting an outside event (?), the last thing you want is a half dozen choppers making a racket!

0.5nm is a very small area.

[Tinstaafl]

Compare that to the 10nm no-fly zone + a second, larger restricted flight zone around the US president when he makes an appearance outside Washington, DC. It really screws things here.

[Desert Duck]

Not unusual - quite often they are used around major crime scenes as well

[CaptainMidnight]

Crime scenes are a different matter, with shots fired, maybe evidence etc.

If restricted areas are being declared due to someone's perception that helicopters will present noise or nuisance issues then it sets a dangerous precident, not just for helicopters and the media, but it could be applied to fixed wings in any number of circumstances and affect all of us.

This issue came up at RAPACs a few years ago, and my hazy recollection is that the media organisations said their legal advice was that the regulation involved was not being applied correctly as there was no aviation safety issue being presented, and threatened legal action.

Air Services who had airspace responsibility at the time (now CASA office of airspace regulation?), seemed to be careful from then on about declaring restricted airspaces.

Starting to appear around Melbourne now too

C6224/11
TEMPO RESTRICTED AREA ACT
WI 0.5NM OF S37 49.2 E144 58.1 (NATIONAL GALLERY AND FEDERATION
SQUARE), DUE SECURITY ACTIVITY IN SUPPORT OF HEAD OF STATE. ONLY ACFT IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE APPROVED TO OPERATE IN THE TRA.
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY OFFICE OF
AIRSPACE REGULATION. TEL: [phone]
SFC TO 2500FT AMSL
FROM 10 260115 TO 10 260200

[YPJT]

Seems pretty tame to me. .5nm restriction as opposed to what is being imposed around Perth during CHOGM. Could one interpret this as saying that less importance is being put on the security of Her Majesty than the collection of rabble that will be in WA later on next week?

[CaptainMidnight]

Perhaps so, but it is the application of the reg to declare restricted airspace for this purpose that is questionable. I suspect the thinking might be to make the areas small, and minimise the liklihood of legal challenge.

The response from the regulator would be interesting if someone eg media chopper or banner towing type sought approval to operate in the area

[Daysleeper]

Question is why would a modern media chopper need to be closer than 4,500 or 0.5nm. You guys are always bragging about being able to read car number plates from several miles away.

I think it's entirely reasonable for the visit of a head of state, likely to attract crowds and try to speak with folk perhaps give a short speech , to be relatively undisturbed by noisy overhead activity. You'll find the cops have told people not to dig up the road next door as well. Live with it and move on.

[hurlingham]

Bloody good idea - Keep them a couple of K's away

[havick]

do you guys watch the news?

[mickjoebill]

Solution is to have a single pool chopper. Manage it so it is downwind if there are speeches.

It is good for Australia Pty Ltd to be shown off around the world with a big zoom out from HRH to a wide shot of our great cities.

Ditto if Obama ever makes it here, dramatic pics of the motorcade set against the ozzie landscape.

Minister of Tourism should be all over it.. free international advertising where the pics aren't of squinty kids waving British flags.

Yesterdays missed opportunity was an aerial shot of liz on the barge, then zoom out to wide shot of Canberra, jolly good show!..not.


Mickjoebill

[Passagiata]

I was at the Trooping of the Colours all morning at Duntroon and I am very glad there were no choppers within hearing! - particularly during QEII's speech and also God Save The Queen, which was played twice - to a very intense, palpably emotional reaction throughout the crowd.

[John Eacott]

Originally Posted by CaptainMidnight

A bunch of restricted areas have been declared around CBR, and the rumour I've heard is that there will be more in other cities where the Queen will be visiting, and that they are being put in place to exclude choppers, specifically media. Anyone confirm this or know more?

First, this sort of RA is not at all unusual: Commonwealth Games had a Restricted Area all the way from MB to ML, we (the 4 broadcast machines) were the only ones over the Opening Ceremony with even the rapid response Mil machines holding out over Broadmeadows (and at FL30, before someone mentions the F/A18s!).

Second, it's not just helicopters that are excluded, it's all you FW rabble as well

As already opined, there is little of issue here and a good camera ball will gather all that is needed from half a mile off. Most media pilots would be more than comfortable with that size orbit, IMO.