Horn Island Post Implementation Review

Overview

During 2017 the Office of Airspace Regulation (OAR) undertook an airspace review of Horn Island.

Background

As a result of the review, the OAR determined that the current airspace architecture is fit for purpose, but local area charting needed to be introduced for the Torres Strait areas to assist with operating into and out of Horn Island. Stakeholder feedback focussed on the need to add/improve charting in the area, better range required from the transmitter for the Automatic Weather Information Service (AWIS), as well as better targeted education for new pilots to the region regarding local flying operations.

During the review the following airspace issues were raised:

1. CASA Aviation Safety Advisors and Airservices Australia (Airservices) provide additional education to local operators at Horn Island in relation to operating in the airspace dealing with frequency and traffic congestion in the region. 
2. Airservices to produce a Visual Navigation Chart for Horn Island to improve safety and situational awareness for pilots in the region. Airservices will publish the VNC for Horn Island for the May 2019 AIRAC date.
3. Airservices to include Coconut Island on the Enroute chart, low 6 (ERC L6) to assist pilot situational awareness.
4. Local based and regular transient operators should conduct a six monthly workshop in order to discuss pertinent operating issues associated with the region.
5. Torres Shire Council to reposition the automatic weather information service (AWIS) aerial to a higher position at the airport.

Extract of the ERC LOW6

Why your views matter

Why we are consulting
We are seeking feedback to determine whether the recommendations from the 2017 airspace review were beneficial to airspace users. These changes were implemented 18 months after the review.

What happens next

If you would like to provide further feedback, please email OAR@casa.gov.au. Feedback submitted by email will be considered but cannot be published publicly. 

Further information about airspace regulation and the airspace change process are available on the CASA website.

Once the consultation has closed, we will register and review each submission received through the online response form. We will make all submissions publicly available on the Consultation Hub, unless you request that your submission remain confidential. We will also publish the final report on our website.

Information about how we consult and how to make a confidential submission is available on the CASA website.

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