Huge Willy Airspace
 

The following is OzRunways’ depiction of the active Williamtown airspace last night at 9:30pm. Are there experts who can advise why so much airspace is required to be active, especially when it acts as a road block on one of our busiest air routes?

Also, I noticed that at times on weekends, when there’s a military stand down, there is still an enormous amount of airspace active, is there a reason for that?

http://rosiereunion.com/file/hugewillyairspace.jpg

How do you know that they're stood down for the weekend? Do you have access to the FLYPRO?

Looking at flightaware for last nights flights from Brisbane to Sydney they were taking the normal route, so not really acting as a 'roadblock on one of our busiest air routes'. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story, ey?

It has been about 12 months since your last rant about this so was probably due again.

Try telling a low hour (most vulnerable) pilot all that red isn't a road block!

I can't understand why either.

If they're flying around there at 9:30 at night, you'd hope they'd have the knowledge and skills to ask for a clearance.

True, however there is more active airspace during the day than at night.

Red = Roadblock.

Maybe because? .. Flying Operations - Royal Australian Air Force

Or maybe ADF training in NSW coastal and Canberra areas - Australian Army

p.s. this post took longer to write than googling that info... :ugh:

Wishi. What about the low level traffic similar to MDX. Why would they be on flight aware ?

Why do they sterilise so much airspace. Don't they have to train to look out for other aircraft . In a time of war they would be called " the enemy"

I reckon we could have another MDX type accident as aircraft are still diverting around Williamtown. Even at LAX they are encouraged go over the top where the risk is lowest.

The RAAF can't seem to move out of the 1950s. I bet morale must be low as it should be with no proper leadership.

Because the bureaucrats at AsA constantly say this is one of the busiest air routes.

And I reckon this is probably so!

I guess you're about 30 years ahead of the RAAF, but still living 35 years in the past...

The MDX incident had absolutely nothing to do with RAAF airspace.

Could you imagine the media beat up if a heli or fast jet was flying around tactically in areas where Joe general public was beating around in his light aircraft?

I think all the comments here already prove that air traffic was not diverted around it. If a pilot is unable to read and interpret a NOTAM and simply looks at an electronic device and sees red and says "Computer says no! Red, danger Will Robinson" then I for one am glad they're on the ground because I'd prefer not to be flying around while someone with that level of knowledge and training is airborne...

Was all this for one FA 18?

I would love to fly lower hunter valley, but being low experience level and not rich to waste fuel going all over the place in a roundabout way to my destination, I am not confident about all that over tiger country diversions. So I don't fly there...great outcome! Would love to go to fly ins down that way.

I believe it is because Fly Pelican & Rex "need" the extra airspace to climb out to the west when heading for SYD via MONDO or LOWEP.:ugh:

So it's for civilian operations- not military?

Still looks very 1950 ish to me!

How did the RAAF ever move from Vampires and Dakotas?

One FA 18 required that amount of restricted roadblock airspace? How did it get through the dangerous non red bit between Richmond and Willy?

"How did it get through the dangerous non red bit between Richmond and Willy?"
More than likely inverted while showing all of you the birdie......:E

Dick,

Most of the airspace you've depicted is restricted airspace associated with the ATZ. It's both civilian and military just like any class C/D centre. If a lighty would like to fly through, maybe Instead of bumbling along with their radio and transponder off they should exercise some good airmanship and be proactive, try talking to Willy ATC! I flown multiple times VFR through that part of the world and they're more then willing to get you where you need to go.

The only RA3 airspace is a small chunk of the overland airspace to the north near Bulahdelah valley and Forster (which most civilian airlines fly over the top of in class A) and overwater > 1nm off the coast.

MDX was 30 years ago, lessons were learnt. Move on mate.

BBC

Huge Willy Dick ?

That map did not look like I expected !!!

"The RAAF can't seem to move out of the 1950s. I bet morale must be low as it should be with no proper leadership."


That's not what I'm hearing from two young RAAFies that I know well.


(Unlike the low morale of shop staff of the 'Dick Smith Holdings' stores, who don't know whether they will receive their next pay. Yes, I do realise that Dick has no financial relationship with that business. But the Dick Smith Electronics business always added to his public profile even after he sold out of it in the early 1980's.)


P.S. Dick. Please keep in mind that the RAAF is currently operating in the Middle East in a war zone.

You're clearly dreaming!

When you run as an independent in the seat of Mackellar Dick - you are running, aren't you Dick? - will your policies include changes to the Williamtown airspace arrangements?

Gerry. DSE problems similar to the RAAF. They failed to copy the best proven systems from all around the world.

It's called incompetent leadership.

I am very concerned about those young personnel operating overseas considering their leadership does not have the commonsense to copy the best from everywhere.

I even offered to fund RAAF personnel to travel overseas and see how the North American military can efficiently handle civilian traffic without constant holding.

But it has never happened- they are too insecure to ask advice and copy the best .