Par Avion’s Shannon Wells not happy with Airservices Australia proposal for Hobart airspace

Light aircraft could potentially fly uncontrolled over one of the fastest growing airports in the country under proposed changes to Hobart airspace.

Light aircraft on the tarmac at te base of Airlines of Tasmania in Cambridge. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

LIGHT aircraft could potentially fly uncontrolled over one of the fastest growing airports in the country under proposed changes to Hobart airspace.

Airservices Australia recently announced it was considering reclassifying Hobart and Launceston airspace from Class C to E.

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The changes would mean aircraft operating to visual flight rules — such as light planes, helicopters and hot air balloons — could fly above 4500ft and below 12,500ft without air traffic control clearance.

The reclassification potentially creates a hazard for light aircraft with controllers no longer assuring separation from jets operating to instrument flight rules in the increasingly crowded sky around the capital’s airport in Cambridge.

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Par Avion, the largest user of VFR aircraft in Tasmania, are strongly against the introduction of Class E over Hobart Airport.

Par Avion managing director Shannon Wells at Cambridge airport near Hobart. Picture: Peter Mathew

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority also recently assessed Hobart Airport as “high risk” after planes twice flew too close to each other and nine other departing flights failed to stick to height restrictions in 2017 and 2018.

Documents released under Freedom of Information laws, seen by the Mercury, show CASA lowered Hobart’s “risk assessment rating” from 10, which is “high risk” to a “medium risk” score of eight once temporary local control measures were introduced.

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A spokesman said CASA were currently completing a “routine” review to ensure Hobart had a safe and efficient airspace. It is due to be completed in the second half of this year.

The last review in February 2017 stated Hobart Airport’s annual public passenger movements of 2.3 million continued to exceed the threshold of 1 million to upgrade from regional airport Class D controlled airspace to major airport Class C.

Concerns have been raised over the proposed reclassification of airspace above Hobart Airport. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Par Avion managing director Shannon Wells said the timing of the proposal was “puzzling”.

He said he had no idea what benefit Class E airspace would offer for Hobart.

“I don’t know what Airservices are playing with at the moment in general aviation,” Mr Wells said.

“It means our aircraft could essentially fly above 4500ft uncontrolled over one of the fastest growing airports in the country.”

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An Airservices spokeswoman said a similar proposal was put on hold last year.

She said it was part of a national modernisation program to improve safety and access to airspace for the nation’s aviation community and was not restricted to Tasmania.

“The proposed change allows pilots and air traffic controllers to take full advantage of Tasmania’s existing radar-like surveillance technologies such as Automatic Dependence Surveillance Broadcast,” she said.

Mr Wells said: “I don’t understand how Airservices can say lowering an airspace category is increasing safety.”

Documents show Airservices advised the Tasmanian regional airspace and procedures advisory committee in November last year it did not intend to place Class E over Class D, before changing their mind this month.

Stakeholders can provide feedback on the proposal until May 24.

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