Good stuff Mike. I expect the lobbying to get stronger against the change, and I have similarly written to the local newspaper in support of the change. I suggest others do also, as the anti lobby needs to be balanced.
I note a few nay sayers within GFA. To them I would say this change has taken years and any tuning around the edges will take even more. Lets take this step, then fine tune it later. The words or my letter to the editor were In the next few days expect considerable lobbying against new airspace arrangements that should begin on 27 NOV. Airline pilots and air traffic controllers will be threatening airline passengers with increased risk and wanting more money spent on 'safety'. [Or the existing levels to continue as change is resisted.] Instrument flying aircraft will now have to look out marginally more and consider other aircraft. For years air traffic controllers have been responsible for separation of many aircraft, and that requires expensive radars on the ground, or sophisticated equipment fitted to all flying objects. In NZ the government gave equipment to all aircraft rather than to provide more ground radars. The change is marginal. Flying into Sydney, Melbourne of Canberra Cooma, Moruya or Wagga remains fundamentally unchanged. However, pilots flying into Albury will have to increase their look out. Before taking sides in the argument, I suggest readers and reporters look to the sky and count aircraft seen. Then make a pragmatic assessment of the likelihood of accident. Around Sydney several aircraft may be sighted, but these are tightly controlled. At regional airports they will seldom see an aircraft and, pragmatically, the risk of collision is miniscule. Oh, while outside, count the cars passing within meters. The risks while driving to the airport remain. Remember also pilots still have to see and avoid pelicans, ibis and other flying objects. On balance, I for one want to adopt the new airspace arrangements. Alan Wilson Canberra Gliding Club -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Mike Borgelt Sent: Thursday, 20 November 2003 8:59 PM To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring inAustralia. Subject: RE: [Aus-soaring] NAS At 11:51 AM 20/11/03 +1030, you wrote: >At 10:31 AM 19/11/03 +1100, Alan wrote: >>Support the new arrangement and lobby against those who will certainly vent >>against the change. > >There have already been some 'news items' in media by air traffic controller >and IFR operator sources announcing their belief in substantial increase in >public risk associated with changing airspace arrangements. >-- >Emilis Prelgauskas >B.ARCH ARAIA >[EMAIL PROTECTED] My information is that this is a concerted union campaign. Monday a week ago the headline in the "Chronicle" in Toowoomba was "local pilots air concerns" complete with photo of sincere looking charter pilot with VNC and the billboard ouside very newsagent in town read "pilots fear new rules". About 25% of the article (mainly at the end on page three) had Mike Smith of NASIG's reply. I phoned the reporter, informed her of my background, she said "so you know what you are talking about" and I spoke to her for 20 minutes about VFR, IFR and lookout, radar, transoponders etc and she admitted that the pilot concerned had approached her about this (why he thought raising the public's fear of flying was a good idea speaks volumes about how bright he is) and that it was difficult for her to avoid being ambushed in this way as she knew nothing about flying. She suggested I write a letter to the editor which was published in full on the Wednesday. The CFI's of the other two flying schools on the airport don't have a problem with the NAS Letter below which you are all welcome to use for ideas if you find a similar situation in your local media. I found your front page story of 10/11 alarmist and misleading. The airspace changes which come into effect on 27/11 are designed to make flying simpler and safer, allow pilots to exercise common sense and are being widely welcomed by many in the pilot community. The changes are in fact closely based on the system used in the United States but with additional safeguards and requirements such as the carriage of radar transponders in circumstances where conflict with airliners is possible. This means that the scenario "little planes could literally fly right through the landing of a big plane" cannot occur as the air traffic controller will see the little plane on his radar screen and alert the pilot of the large aircraft. In addition airliners are equipped with TCAS (Traffic Collision Alerting System) which, independently of the Air Traffic Control system, warns the pilots of the presence of another radar transponder equipped aircraft on a possible collision course. In Australia this has prevented quite a few possible mid air collisions between airliners when air traffic controllers have made mistakes. Furthermore, when weather conditions allow, pilots are required to use their eyes to look out and this has always been required and will not change. Australia also has a world leading radar and computer equipped air traffic control system technologically far in advance of that in the United States. It should be noted that U.S. pilots (private, commercial, airline and military) have used their similar airspace system but without our advantages to produce a safety record that is measurably better than that in Australia despite high mountains, some very poor weather with snow and ice in winter and an airspace system that on average has 7000 aircraft in the air traffic control system at any one time compared to 200 in Australia. The difference is that in the U.S. pilots are expected to exercise sound judgement and common sense instead of blindly following rules which may not be entirely appropriate in all circumstances. The public can rest easy after 27/11 despite union inspired scare campaigns. The energy would be better spent on lifting the game of their members to the professional standards shown by U.S pilots. This pilot is looking forward to flying in the new airspace system and I am certainly part of the aviation industry in Australia. Mike Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments phone Int'l + 61 746 355784 fax Int'l + 61 746 358796 cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784 Int'l + 61 429 355784 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.borgeltinstruments.com _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
