Gympie... More Talkies Please!
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Gympie... More Talkies Please!
ABC Online News:
Flying rules change after 12 near-misses at Queensland airstrip
By Jonathan Hair
About a dozen near-collisions at a south-east Queensland airport has forced an urgent change in flying regulations to prevent a major disaster.
The Gympie Regional Council owns the Gympie Aerodrome, which is used by locally-based powered and non-powered planes as well as helicopters.
Mayor Mick Curran said it had only come to his attention in the past fortnight that there had been "about 12" near-misses in the past five years.
Some of the incidents "resulted from a lack of radio use by aircraft operators".
He said council had been unaware of how close it has been to an aviation disaster
"Nobody wants to see that, nobody wants to have that occur," he said.
"If council was aware of this prior to it, something would have been done."
Council has since held crisis meetings with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and convened a special meeting with councillors on Friday to push through new safety rules.
They include forbidding aircraft to land between sunset and sunrise with the exception of emergency flights.
It will also be mandatory for all aircraft to use radios while in the nearby airspace or on the ground.
In addition, helicopters are no longer allowed hover in the area.
By Jonathan Hair
About a dozen near-collisions at a south-east Queensland airport has forced an urgent change in flying regulations to prevent a major disaster.
The Gympie Regional Council owns the Gympie Aerodrome, which is used by locally-based powered and non-powered planes as well as helicopters.
Mayor Mick Curran said it had only come to his attention in the past fortnight that there had been "about 12" near-misses in the past five years.
Some of the incidents "resulted from a lack of radio use by aircraft operators".
He said council had been unaware of how close it has been to an aviation disaster
"Nobody wants to see that, nobody wants to have that occur," he said.
"If council was aware of this prior to it, something would have been done."
Council has since held crisis meetings with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and convened a special meeting with councillors on Friday to push through new safety rules.
They include forbidding aircraft to land between sunset and sunrise with the exception of emergency flights.
It will also be mandatory for all aircraft to use radios while in the nearby airspace or on the ground.
In addition, helicopters are no longer allowed hover in the area.
Yeah! I'm not surprised. Last time i rode through Gympie on me motorbike I nearly got hit by two different cars within minutes of each other. Up Gympie way they just don't look pulling outa their driveways. The local council needs to do something about it..
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I might just be a dumb pilot but I can see no connection between night operations, using radio and hovering helicopters and the need for 'crisis meetings" with of all people, CAsA and now councillors are going to meet and push through new safety rules.
What are the 12 'near misses" (or should that be near-hits) that are quoted as the reason behind all this?
Of course the safety case will explain everything, won't it. Copy please.
CC
What are the 12 'near misses" (or should that be near-hits) that are quoted as the reason behind all this?
Of course the safety case will explain everything, won't it. Copy please.
CC
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I might just be a dumb pilot but I can see no connection between night operations, using radio and hovering helicopters and the need for 'crisis meetings"
Another link in the aviation safety chain, Councillor Muldoon!
Local councils always give me the impression that inbreeding of village idiots should be stopped in Australia.
Local councils always give me the impression that inbreeding of village idiots should be stopped in Australia.
Well, I'll take a guess these 12 "near-misses" (Agreed Charlie, stupid phrase) were mostly at night and/or between hovering Helicopters? Perhaps Helicopters hovering at night were nearly missing each other... haha.
How can you have a "near-hit"? By definition that's a hit so a distance qualifier is redundant. A "near-miss" conveys the fact they missed but also that they passed near each other. Someone didn't even make year 8 English obviously 
Would "farkin-close" work better? 
Would "farkin-close" work better?
Whilst the only report so far regarding Gympie has come from a news report (ABC) experience has taught me to be wary of content and context from press reports.
I cannot find any associated information on either the ATSB or CAsA websites to explain the items in the news report.
I have now found the Gympie Council agenda for a special meeting last Friday 28 July.
See para 3.1 https://www.gympie.qld.gov.au/docume...g%20Agenda.pdf
It would seem as though the anti-noise nimby's have rattled a few cages.
As these council actions have changed some procedures, I wonder if the QLD RAPAC were involved in the discussions as they should have been. If CAsA were up to their usual tricks they would have done their very best to avoid involving RAPAC at all.
CC
I cannot find any associated information on either the ATSB or CAsA websites to explain the items in the news report.
I have now found the Gympie Council agenda for a special meeting last Friday 28 July.
See para 3.1 https://www.gympie.qld.gov.au/docume...g%20Agenda.pdf
It would seem as though the anti-noise nimby's have rattled a few cages.
As these council actions have changed some procedures, I wonder if the QLD RAPAC were involved in the discussions as they should have been. If CAsA were up to their usual tricks they would have done their very best to avoid involving RAPAC at all.
CC
Last edited by Checklist Charlie; 29th Jul 2017 at 23:15. Reason: Later info and link to council
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Portable electric lighting without PAL.
How much night flying has been done in Gympie in the last 5 years?
Or helicopter/s flying over influential residents house/s at night VFR?
How much night flying has been done in Gympie in the last 5 years?
Or helicopter/s flying over influential residents house/s at night VFR?
Folks,
A serious question --- I wonder what criteria is being used to determine whether a "near miss" ( I prefer near hit, doesn't a near miss mean you almost missed, but didn't --- and near hit is commonly used elsewhere), has occurred?
In the Sydney area, such is the silly nonsense perpetrated by the "pingya" brigade, that sighting an aircraft in the windscreen, anywhere outside a circuit area seems to constitute a "near miss".
It is some time ago now, after political pressure, that ATSB investigated one "occurrence" reported by a "highly experienced and qualified" pilot (which he is, based on hours, licenses and ratings) south west of Camden.
Turns out the "separation" in Class G airspace was, determined by radar traces, to be 5km. plus laterally and 900 ft or so vertically ---- near miss?? At least the complainant's eyesight is good, that he even saw the "conflicting traffic".
As a second of too many similar examples, a very well known retired domestic Captain reported: (Oh! Shock! Horror!) I had to change heading to avoid the other aircraft. This was in Class G below 5000', central Victoria.
The thought: "Toughen up, Princess" does spring to mind.
Tootle pip!!
A serious question --- I wonder what criteria is being used to determine whether a "near miss" ( I prefer near hit, doesn't a near miss mean you almost missed, but didn't --- and near hit is commonly used elsewhere), has occurred?
In the Sydney area, such is the silly nonsense perpetrated by the "pingya" brigade, that sighting an aircraft in the windscreen, anywhere outside a circuit area seems to constitute a "near miss".
It is some time ago now, after political pressure, that ATSB investigated one "occurrence" reported by a "highly experienced and qualified" pilot (which he is, based on hours, licenses and ratings) south west of Camden.
Turns out the "separation" in Class G airspace was, determined by radar traces, to be 5km. plus laterally and 900 ft or so vertically ---- near miss?? At least the complainant's eyesight is good, that he even saw the "conflicting traffic".
As a second of too many similar examples, a very well known retired domestic Captain reported: (Oh! Shock! Horror!) I had to change heading to avoid the other aircraft. This was in Class G below 5000', central Victoria.
The thought: "Toughen up, Princess" does spring to mind.
Tootle pip!!
I prefer near hit, doesn't a near miss mean you almost missed, but didn't --- and near hit is commonly used elsewhere
Where is "near hit" commonly used, link please?
