Australia - Student VFR Entry to ADL CTR
 

Student VFR Entry to ADL CTR I am a solicitor for a community group in a planning appeal against a windfarm. Their Ambidgi expert, Ian Jennings, has given evidence that an alternate route from Parafield to Murray Bridge is available which tracks over the top of ADL and that the student at straight and level flight or first NAV level can transit the area by issuing a general broadcast call without pre-clearance. It sounds bizarre to me but I have not witness to put up against it.

I don't have ERSA in front of me. But the Notes for Adelaide have always said (in a round about way) that ATC are very reluctant to issue a clearance coastal or over the top unless you can transit above 6000'. So I'd say good luck getting a clearance (which you must get, a general broadcast would be frowned upon) for a student to conduct "Straight and Level" lessons on your way to YMBD.

Why don't they want helicopters to fly over the windfarm??

The downwash might be handy to help the power output...

Everyone knows windfarms put the chooks off the lay, give you terrible chronic illnesses and kill endangered species. Not only that, but they're particularly hard to see when you're low flying because a forest of bloody huge fans on sticks can blend in with the surrounding countryside, no really.

Citations needed.

717 Tech - Thank you for the on-topic response which accords with my information. My client is looking for someone who knows these things to be a witness. Any pointers for example to an ATC personnel who might be willing to do that at fairly short notice/timeframe?

Honest question, Suastiastu - it appears you are planning to use an argument based on the idea that windfarms are a hazard to air navigation. Do you really believe that can be the case?

yeah, easy choice, have an engine failure and land in between highrise building pedestrians and traffic, or on a relatively windy open field with just a few bloody big fans to easily dodge..

Its not a mater of what I believe - its a matter of what teh expert evidence says - The evidence before the Court is that it will have a significant impact on air safety between May and October for VFR pilots and students when the tunnel for VFR movement between Parafield and Murray Bridge over the Mt Lofty Ranges will be significantly constrained by the usual cloud height and additional obstacle height of 540 ft.

What open field? You mean treed mountain ranges and gullies with 103 540ft turbines on sticks on top of the Mt Lofty Ranges?

Wrong assumption. Its a development application so its not about "wind farms in general" its about a specific windfarm development proposal.

I'd wager you'd find the Adelaide ATC boys 6 nights out of 7 parked in front of the bar at the morphett arms hotel.

You're welcome.

Pity they don't place these windfarms outside lawyers' offices to take advantage of all the hot air :)

Let me get this right...you're advocating against investment in renewable infrastructure in a world which is being raped and pillaged towards destruction, and you're argument depends on GA transit between Murray Bridge and Parafield?

Why do you believe GA aircraft need to transit between Murray Bridge and Parafield for training flights? They don't. There's any number of other options available. Hell, aircraft at Murray Bridge don't even need to access Parafield or Adelaide controlled airspace at all - CASA allows the entire training syllabus up to CPL to be completed using simulated CTA.

A student pilot at Murray Bridge has no requirement to ever access Parafield or Adelaide controlled airspace for the entirety of their training, and vice versa. If you're argument is hinging on the need for aircraft to fly between those two destinations for training purposes then prepare to get demolished in court.

It would help me to understand the ramifications if I knew where the proposed wind farm is to be located.

The only times I have flown in and out of Parafield I have used the VFR lanes to Warren and South Para Reservoirs. Your reference to a "tunnel" Parafield-Murray Bridge is a little confusing unless you are perhaps referring to the VFR lane over the city to the south-east leading out to the Hope Valley lane which is all within Adelaide CTR.

If you are quoting the "expert evidence" regarding clearances for students correctly, it sounds very unlikely to be credible to me. Perhaps a school CFI from Parafield would have sufficient interest to assist?

Kaz

Expert evidence was given by a person who has held pilots licenses since 1979 and Professional Pilotingqualifications since 1986. He was a member of the CASA Flight Training Panelwhich developed policy on behalf of CASA from 2008 through 2011. He was a ChiefFlight Instructor from 1999 through 2012 and delegate of the Minister forAviation under the Civil Aviation Act from 2000 through 2014. Hewas a CASA approved flight testing officer from 1999 through 2014. Approvalsheld included multi-engine aircraft, under both VFR and IFR, initial issue andrenewals for Commercial Pilots and instrument ratings.


Sorry "tunnel" was my word for the area under the cloud and above the windfarm when transiting Palmer over the ranges.

No need to be rude, mate. if you think its a joke no need to contribute. who said I believe anything? That's the expert evidence. I'm sure if people can do the flight training syllabus in a simulator they have no need to come to a flight school at Parafield.The fact is they do use the area as a VFR Nav training route (that evidence was agreed) and there are some people that believe that actual flying is better training than simulation.

Thanks! :ok:

Let's hope that they never build a windfarm on the VFR route to YPPF from the North East.
Particularly, on that hill in front that you fly over after passing Warren reservoir (WRR) and Damwall (DMW).

"General broadcast call without pre-clearance" sounds like complete garbage to me.
I would imagine at most times of a weekday you would have 3 chances of getting a clearance. None, Buckley's and bugger all. Is it pretty quiet there on the weekends?

103 turbines seems a pretty big project, and they usually string them out along the high ground. What are the dimensions?

Mustn't be any orange bellied parrots extant in SA.

As much as I admire the idea of using the argument "risk to navigation"...and as much as I hate the meme used to promote these monstrosities, I think the case will draw a very long bow that will, inevitably, be doomed to failure.

Tilting at windmills...would you not be better served by arguing the premise behind the need for all this development is a croc..argue the legislation enabling the RET is unconstitutional?