Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > PPRuNe Worldwide > The Pacific: General Aviation & Questions
Reload this Page >

Restricted areas in Oz for environmental purposes being used to suspend pilot licence

Wikiposts
Search
The Pacific: General Aviation & Questions The place for students, instructors and charter guys in Oz, NZ and the rest of Oceania.

Restricted areas in Oz for environmental purposes being used to suspend pilot licence

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 9th Apr 2018, 05:13
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 4,600
Likes: 0
Received 68 Likes on 27 Posts
Restricted areas in Oz for environmental purposes being used to suspend pilot licence

I have recently been told that a pilot had licence action taken for flying in the R766 “ environmental” Michaelmas Cay restricted area. It appears the pilot was identified by Airservices Australia radar and the controller reported it to CASA. No doubt more and more of these reports will be put in now that ADSB identifies the aircraft by registration.

Could it be true that there are going to be thousands of these restricted areas incorporated over every environmentally sensitive area of Australia? If there is one at Michaelmas Cay, why not everywhere else?

Does anyone know why the USA does not use restricted areas to protect nature?

Lead. Is this a correct usage of restricted areas?
Dick Smith is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 06:18
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: australia
Posts: 1,681
Received 43 Likes on 28 Posts
Be interesting to see the LAW on this as opposed to CAsA's "just-arse" culture and methods.

While many birds are airborne around Michealmas Cay...is this "restricted" zone for wildlife protection ?.. therefore the province of the EPA.? Or "safety" and CAsA want to be in on the action.

Lots of cays , lots of birds all over the Barrier reef, even at places with chopper pontoons ...just ask John Quadrio., and learn about the disgusting treatment he got by those disgusting employees of CAsA. Scandalous in the extreme.
But unfortunately all too common.
aroa is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 07:17
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: meh
Posts: 674
Received 10 Likes on 7 Posts
It's quite obvious that the area has been established to prevent activities, in this case aviation, that are going to have an impact on the environment. I reckon that if I came and did burn outs in my Cortina with Conway Twitty blaring on the radio around Terry Hills I wouldn't have a driver's license for long either.
Plazbot is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 07:37
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Cab of a Freight Train
Posts: 1,217
Received 117 Likes on 61 Posts
It doesn't really matter what the RA was established for, and if Ol' mate deliberately violated it then yes, he deserves the pineapple.

What makes an RA established for environmental protective reasons any less important than an RA established to keep you from being shot down by a live firing range or the RA over Sydney Harbour??

But what was he doing so low, so far out - and did he have the required life jackets and/or live rafts required for flight beyond gliding distance from land? Seems there could be a bit more than just a simple 'inadvertent' RA violation??
KRviator is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 08:11
  #5 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 4,600
Likes: 0
Received 68 Likes on 27 Posts
You have clearly misunderstood what I am getting at.

Are the fly neighbourly areas I introduced in the 90s to be replaced with restricted areas and licence suspensions?

We copied the fly neighbourly areas from overseas. Is there a problem here?
Dick Smith is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 08:18
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Vermont Hwy
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by Dick Smith
You have clearly misunderstood what I am getting at.

Are the fly neighbourly areas I introduced in the 90s to be replaced with restricted areas and licence suspensions?
Well maybe you should provide more information.
I find it hard to believe your story with such finite details. I'd be very surprised if an accidental flight through an RA would result in a suspended license.
Couple in your token anti-ADSB sentiment and it seems like another sensationalist grab at some attention.
More facts, less emotion. Please.

By the way, in FAA-land if you disturb certain wildlife in designated areas you are breaking the law. They don't have "restricted areas" per se, but they do have some wildlife protections in place.
Car RAMROD is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 08:31
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: nosar
Posts: 1,289
Received 25 Likes on 13 Posts
I understand what you are getting at and watch in dismay as National Parks try to intervene in aviation when they know sweet FA. I don't know this area or the RA but I know of other areas where do gooders are getting their way to the detriment of aviation.

I am surprised that the sentiment of this thread already seems to be backing CASA
Aussie Bob is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 09:00
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Up The 116E, Stbd Turn at 32S...:-)
Age: 82
Posts: 3,096
Received 45 Likes on 20 Posts
Re " We copied the fly neighbourly areas from overseas. Is there a problem here?"

YEP!! Try landing at JT after the 6PM 'curfew', and under their 'good neighbour policy' ....I wonder where they got that from....fork out another $20....KA_CHING!!

For putting the wheels of a Tiger Moth down after 6pm local, when LL in Summer is around 7.50 pm......or thereabouts.....and those Summer evenings are LUVLY flying weather........

First word = 'Rip'

Second word = 'OFF'!!

NO Cheers......Bah Humbug!
Ex FSO GRIFFO is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 09:08
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: YMML
Posts: 1,838
Received 16 Likes on 6 Posts
Any idea how long R766 has existed for? At least 15 years. How many restricted areas do we have that were established for environmental reasons? One.

So no, it's not the thin end of the wedge but a very specific exclusion. It's a one nautical mile in radius due to extreme sensitivity of nesting birds. Boats are regulated to one vessel per day.

JADSBU - just another Dick Smith beat up.
le Pingouin is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 09:11
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: On the water
Posts: 648
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Michaelmas is a sensitive bird breeding area, amongst other things

Interesting there is also a reference to "Fly neighbourly" on that website... just in case you thought you were missing out on some credit.

There are literally two other cays (three if you still count Upolo) within a couple of minutes flight time from Michaelmas, plus a bunch of others a little further away. So why did your mate think he was entitled to disregard the rules, given ignorance is not a valid defence?
WannaBeBiggles is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 09:11
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,154
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
References:

Airspace Regulations 2007 Part 6
DAH Section 13 PRD-31
CASA: Airspace Risk and Safety Management Manual Section 3.6

No doubt more and more of these reports will be put in now that ADSB identifies the aircraft by registration.
They said the same 50 years ago when transponders came in.

Don't bust restricted airspace without a clearance/approval.
CaptainMidnight is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 09:34
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YMMB
Age: 58
Posts: 703
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What's the big deal?

It's a restricted area below 3,000ft. Simply don't fly over the Restricted Area below 3,000ft. I'm waiting for someone to complain about Millennials feeling "entitled", and then whinging about not being able to fly thru Restricted Areas.

According to Schedule 3 it's the only 'Environmental" Restricted Area in Australia.

YBBB/R766 MICHAELMAS CAY CONDITIONAL STATUS: RA3
ENVIRONMENTAL RESTRICTED AREA LATERAL LIMITS: A circle of 1.00NM radius centred on
16 36 23S 145 58 22E
VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC - 3000
HOURS OF ACTIVITY: H24
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: GBRMPA

@DickSmith - just as GNSS is a much better replacement for ADFs, ADSB will be a worthwhile upgrade to primary/secondary radar.

Please stop trying to scare people into a frenzy with half-baked claims and make a fact-based analysis.
peterc005 is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 09:59
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Melbourne
Age: 72
Posts: 774
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have recently been told that a pilot had licence action taken...

Not really first hand, verified information.
fujii is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 10:00
  #14 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 4,600
Likes: 0
Received 68 Likes on 27 Posts
Does it comply with the law of the land?
Dick Smith is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 10:30
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: YMML
Posts: 1,838
Received 16 Likes on 6 Posts
What makes you think it doesn't? They're clearly allowed to:

Airspace Regulations 2007

6 Designation of prohibited, restricted or danger areas

(3) CASA must not declare an area to be a restricted area unless, in the opinion of
CASA, it is necessary to restrict the flight of aircraft over the area to aircraft
flown in accordance with specified conditions in the interests of any of the
following:

(a) public safety, including the safety of aircraft in flight;

(b) the protection of the environment;

(c) security.


https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2016C00341
le Pingouin is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 10:36
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Australia/India
Posts: 5,286
Received 419 Likes on 209 Posts
Because subsection (1) of section 9A of the Civil Aviation Act is cited so frequently as the justification for just about anything, few people get to subsection (2), which says:
(2) Subject to subsection (1), CASA must exercise its powers and perform its functions in a manner that ensures that, as far as is practicable, the environment is protected from:

(a) the effects of the operation and use of aircraft; and

(b) the effects associated with the operation and use of aircraft.
Subsection (2) has profound theoretical implications that are generally not realised practically, as a consequence of politics.
Lead Balloon is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 11:18
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Oz
Posts: 538
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I have been in Cairns for 22 years and R766 has been active all that time. It is an important bird breeding site.
There have been many aircraft that have infringed this R area in that time, including an RAAF Hawk. As I understand it, most have just had a please explain. So do your own thinking as to why this person has had licence action.
topdrop is offline  
Old 9th Apr 2018, 20:55
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
DON'T LET THE FACTS...

Originally Posted by Dick Smith

Are the fly neighbourly areas I introduced in the 90s to be replaced with restricted areas and licence suspensions?

We copied the fly neighbourly areas from overseas. Is there a problem here?
Dick,

Your memory seem to have faded a little. Surely you remember that as a Queen's Scout we trust you to be truthful. I'm sure Snapppy and GLS would take umbrage at your suggestion that it was you, alone, who introduced FNA's.

As for Michaelmas Cay: As a newly minted Staff Officer and observer of the GBRMPA I visited the Cay in early 1987. Even though not having wings myself I was appalled at what I saw and took several photographs. When these were developed (yes, it was that long ago) I passed then around the flying types on the 9th Floor (of A Block, Russell Offices) and a warning was immediately issued to ADF pilots to avoid the area. Have you been there and seen the density of birds? Whatever the formal reason, it's a very practical example of one of the reasons "restricted areas" are declared - the safety of aircraft.

MJG
Getting on these days but still with some great memories to mind - did I spell that correctly?
mgahan is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2018, 05:09
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: australia
Posts: 1,681
Received 43 Likes on 28 Posts
Havent yet seen the specific details of what flying matey actually did...can someone fill that gap.
Within 1 mile ? Low? Over the cay ??

One aircraft flyby or whatever... ONE boat of tourists a day.
Obviously there's a sensitive ornothological difference.?? What ??

Protection of these places was/is needed. In the days of yore boaties used to go out an fishing trips and bring 'Fido' along for the days fun. Once ashore you can imagine the mayhem.!!

I do have a fond memory from long, long ago of a showery moonlit night, having to sleep on the beach at Upolu Cay?. Damp, dry, Wet, dry, crabs checking the head over for dandruff or whatever. And the noise !!.. birds came and went or flew circuits all night, calling to chicks ,mates or just sky yakking.. Certainly a 'lovely' night !!... cloudy with great swirls of birds, moonlit shadowy clouds and curtains of light rain.
Notable.
aroa is offline  
Old 10th Apr 2018, 05:17
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Sydney Harbour
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I once brought it to the attention of the previous DAS that there is far too much restricted airspace in Australia and that in the USA, you can pretty much fly over an Air Force Base at 3,500ft without talking to anyone, and you would have thought I had just been caught sleeping with the DAS's wife by the way he reacted!

To the average PPL out there, Restricted airspace is just a no-go area, don't bother trying to ask for a clearance, and there is a Gazillion square miles of the stuff along the east coast alone.

Why is the tops of the Restricted airspace at East Sale FL450? Nothing there flies that high! So why?
Dangly Bits is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.