SAFA Skysailor Magazine

4 SKY SAILOR May | June 2023 Airspace Knowledge A recent incident in which a PPG pilot breached restricted airspace and flew into an RAF live firing range has highlighted the need for all SAFA pilots to maintain currency with what is taking place in any airspace they intend flying in. CASA has also previously provided feedback, based on interactions with our members, to the effect that our collective knowledge of airspace could be improved. Fortunately, the PPG pilot survived the incident, and his experience has provided a learning opportunity for us all. Airservices Australia provides a facility called the National Aeronautical Information Processing System (NAIPS). Safety Manage- ment Officer Iain Clarke has authored a User’s Guide to this system, and members can find it in the members’ area of our SAFA website. Specifically, it’s in the ‘Document’ repository under ‘User Guides’. Iain’s guide explains how to set up a NAIPS account and use the system to acquire essential and current airspace information. Using this system will improve pilot knowledge, ensure currency and improve the safety of our operations, and I encourage all members to become familiar with it. Accidents We’ve recently seen a rise in reported accidents, some of which have sadly resulted in life-changing consequences for pilots. Whilst it’s not appropriate to speculate about the causes of any accident, operational staff have expressed concerns at what appears to be a common theme related to conditions at the time of accidents and the relative skills of the pilot in command. Senior pilots have expressed concerns that some pilots appear to be flying in conditions that clearly challenge their particular skill set and aviation experience. They’ve made the point that just because someone is flying doesn’t mean that the conditions are safe for everybody to be flying. Conditions can also change during flight. They urge pilots to carefully assess the current and forecast conditions before launching and always to seek the input of other more experienced pilots and safety volunteers. Insurance We have commenced the annual insurance renewal negotiation in a market where insurance providers for our operations remain very few and where we’ve been disadvantaged by a rise in our claims experience. One recent claim, in particular, resulted in a payout of $1.8M. Insurance coverage for our aviation activities is a stay-in-business issue for SAFA, and the matter is receiving appropriate urgency and attention. Find the Airspace User Guide under Documents in the Members’ Area Menu President’s Update by Paul Green