Safety in the vicinity of non-towered aerodromes - Australian ...

4.1.2 In the air
Another common type of conflict was where a reduced margin of separation between
two aircraft was reported on final approach and landing. Thirty-two incidents
involved aircraft coming close to each other when both were on final approach,
aircraft turning early off base leg and cutting in front of other aircraft on final
approach, or landing on the runway at the same time after approaching from
reciprocal runway ends.
Also common were circuit separation issues, where aircraft came too close in the
circuit, or an aircraft entered a circuit incorrectly and caused a reduced margin of
separation safety with other aircraft already in the circuit (30 incidents). Circuit
conflicts related to broadcasting are discussed further in section 6.1.
Over two-thirds of conflicts between two aircraft involved at least one aircraft
operating under IFR. However, the proportion of conflicts between two VFR aircraft
was greater than the proportion of conflicts between two IFR aircraft (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Operating rules for conflicting aircraft at non-towered aerodromes,
2003 to 2008
4.2 Aircraft/ground vehicle conflicts
In 15 occurrences, one or more aircraft conflicted with ground personnel or vehicles.
The majority involved passenger transport operations. In most cases, a vehicle was
occupying the runway strip or surface while an aircraft was on final approach.
Usually, the vehicle driver was not tuned to the CTAF, and hence did not hear
broadcasts by the pilots of aircraft intending to use the runway. In one case, a radio
dead spot prevented the driver of a safety car on the runway from hearing the
broadcasts from the pilot of an approaching aircraft.
4.3 Occurrences with no conflicts
In 207 occurrences (29 per cent), a single aircraft was involved, with no direct
conflict with other aircraft or vehicles. These were usually instances where an aircraft
was witnessed (by other pilots in the circuit, or by air traffic services (ATS) or ground
personnel) departing from, or arriving at an aerodrome without the transmission of the
pilot’s intentions, but which was not in conflict with them. Other incidents involved
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