Disaster Resilience and Country Airstrips.
Thread Starter
Disaster Resilience and Country Airstrips.
Given recent national experience with floods and bushfires, it should be apparent that Country airstrips should be jealously guarded from local Councils, NIMBYS, Greens and property developers. Will the Federal Government act to protect these vital resources?
https://www.theage.com.au/national/v...17-p5bq9y.html
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/emerg...resilience.pdf
https://nema.gov.au/#/map
https://www.theage.com.au/national/v...17-p5bq9y.html
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/emerg...resilience.pdf
https://nema.gov.au/#/map
Except that the words "Airstrip", "Airport", "Aerodrome", or "Aviation" are not to found at all in the document in the homeaffairs link. Would appear they are not seen as that vital to even rate a mention.
The words "road", "rail", "ship" and "transport" are not found in the Home Affairs document either.
(Other than in tangential references: "roads" once - apparently they and bridges get inundated in floods; "transport" appears in a reference to the Department and a quote from the UK and "ship" appears many times but only as part of all the waffle about "partnerships" and "leadership" and "relationships" and "kinship".)
Shepparton Airport has been a hive of activity of recent times, with the floods in the Goulburn Valley really testing out the preparation of emergency services.
Mostly choppers, but a few fixed wing king airs and a pilatus.
A pilot friend of mine was trying to coordinate the return of his grandkids to their parents via plane as so many of the roads and bridges closed.
Imagine his surprise when someone pointed out that a notam had just been issued that closed the airfield for the next three days to all but military and emergency services.
I questioned some of the commercial operators, and neither had been contacted by airport "management".
It seems that the Army was bringing in two Chinook Choppers and wanted the strip closed so as they did not have to mix it with amatuers.
Just a tad precious me thinks, but I guess military self importance no no bounds.
The next aerodrome meeting will be most interesting.
Mick
Mostly choppers, but a few fixed wing king airs and a pilatus.
A pilot friend of mine was trying to coordinate the return of his grandkids to their parents via plane as so many of the roads and bridges closed.
Imagine his surprise when someone pointed out that a notam had just been issued that closed the airfield for the next three days to all but military and emergency services.
I questioned some of the commercial operators, and neither had been contacted by airport "management".
It seems that the Army was bringing in two Chinook Choppers and wanted the strip closed so as they did not have to mix it with amatuers.
Just a tad precious me thinks, but I guess military self importance no no bounds.
The next aerodrome meeting will be most interesting.
Mick
The problem is, the Chinook did not land at YSHT, it landed at the showgrounds, so kinda negated the whole deal.
As to the downwash, standard ops for larger egg beaters like sikorsky S76 and skycrane seems to be to land on the runway and then taxi to hardstands
Most of the chopper airwork has been between off airport landings in this area.
Been coming over my house at all times of the day or night to land at local footy ovals.
Fortunately for my mate, he negotiated to land at a private airfield, so job was done.
Mick
As to the downwash, standard ops for larger egg beaters like sikorsky S76 and skycrane seems to be to land on the runway and then taxi to hardstands
Most of the chopper airwork has been between off airport landings in this area.
Been coming over my house at all times of the day or night to land at local footy ovals.
Fortunately for my mate, he negotiated to land at a private airfield, so job was done.
Mick
Which side of the levee is YKER on? Webcam indicates the strip has not been inundated. Could be a particularly important piece of infrastructure for Kerang in the next few days.
(The NOTAM 'closing' YSHT to all but military and emergency operations is unnecessary overkill and probably invalid. At most it should have been ops allowed only after coordination with whoever purported to be 'in charge', or just one runway or part of the manoeuvring area closed to all but military or emergency operations. But who's going to challenge it.)
(The NOTAM 'closing' YSHT to all but military and emergency operations is unnecessary overkill and probably invalid. At most it should have been ops allowed only after coordination with whoever purported to be 'in charge', or just one runway or part of the manoeuvring area closed to all but military or emergency operations. But who's going to challenge it.)
You really do have it in for aerodromes, don't you TIER? Perhaps some traumatic experience as a child or during your career?
it should be apparent that Country airstrips should be jealously guarded from local Councils, NIMBYS, Greens and property developers. Will the Federal Government act to protect these vital resources?
Thread Starter
I didnt mean to start an argument among ppruners, just to note that local and regional airports have a vital role to play in disaster relief.
It's time this was recognized and the airports treated as a valued resource, not a cash cow or property ploy.
Initial response at Shep, so I heard, included 7 police air wing. Now the army are in place, the Bushmasters are doing a great job now the water has receded on the causeway a little. The focus is now on downstream. I'm told the planners are trying to get the response in place two days ahead of the water.
It's time this was recognized and the airports treated as a valued resource, not a cash cow or property ploy.
Initial response at Shep, so I heard, included 7 police air wing. Now the army are in place, the Bushmasters are doing a great job now the water has receded on the causeway a little. The focus is now on downstream. I'm told the planners are trying to get the response in place two days ahead of the water.
the notam from Ymmm gives the impression that noncoordinated flights are to remain clear of the triangle created by the four airports of Ysht, bendigo st arnoud and kerang. When I rang the 1300 number to ask what we needed to get approval via a coordinated flight, I was told it was to make sure that pilots flying from private and non controlled airstrips were making calls on area frequency about their movements and to make sure that the choppers and others knew where these private strips actually were as the chopper pilots, generally operating at low levels would not be aware of these strips or where they actually were.
was a bit messy, but we managed to avoid having any mid airs.
mick
