CASA to Conduct Flight Safety Audits at Regional Queensland Airports

The Gladstone Observer newspaper reports that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will conduct special flight safety checks at 16 regional Queensland airports during August.

A series of low-level flights will be undertaken at each airport to check flight paths and to ensure navigation aids are operational and not suffering interference.  The flights will also be looking for any new obstacles that could be a danger to aviation safety.

Airports that will be undergoing safety checks include Bundaberg, Chinchilla, Clermont, Emerald, Gayndah, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Kingaroy, Mackay, Maryborough, Moranbah, Rockhampton, Roma, Sunshine Coast, Taroom and Thangool.

A CASA spokesman said a twin-engine Cessna Conquest aircraft will be used to carry out the safety checks within a 35 kilometre radius of the airport.  He said low-level flying was an essential part of the safety exercise which could see aircraft as low as several hundred feet.

Local residents may notice an uncommon flying pattern, but this is to make sure obstacles are accurately marked on charts and no new obstacles exist.