If the radio is quiet it does not mean you are alone!
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A hypothetical designed to highlight an all too common flight safety scenario.
This story centers around Sheffield and Mount Roland in Northern Tasmania.
Three pilots are flying on this particular day to check out the biggest mountain in Northern Tasmania , Mount Roland.
First Pilot
The first Pilot is from Wynyard and knows that 'The Vale' (a private airstrip) is at the base of Mount Roland. As she approaches the area she has her radio set to 126.7 - Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) for 'The Vale'.
She broadcasts her intentions to alert traffic in the vicinity of 'The Vale' as she approaches Mount Roland.
Cloud base restricts her and the other pilot to 3000 feet above mean sea level (AMSL).
Second Pilot
Although Pilot number 2 is from Hobart, he has not flown a lot around Tasmania. He is not aware of the existence of 'The Vale' airstrip at the base of Mount Roland.
He therefore decides to maintain a listening watch on the area VHF frequency.
It is recommended for VFR flights below 5000 feet amsl to only "Listen Out" - so he listens out with his radio set on frequency 120.7
Third Pilot
Our third aviator comes from interstate and decides to stay on the CTAF for Devonport due to its proximity and is listening out and broadcasting on frequency of 126.90.
All pilots are legal and acting with best intentions.
They are all on different frequencies and all at the same level due to cloud base heading for the same area.
They are all looking at the spectacular scenery and heading for a potential mid air collision.
This scenario is real and the reason I have painted it is to reinforce one thing...
Aircraft Radios have limitations
If the radio is quiet it does not mean you are alone!
An aircraft parked at 'The Vale with Mount Roland behind
LOOKOUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!
See and Avoid - Stay Safe !
Yep – agree! This situation is quite a common potential reality – no matter where you are flying. CTAF 126.7 and Area Frequency give two possible radio groupings at a minimum within 10 mile of any “non-charted” aerodrome. The rule states being on CTAF frequency when within 10nm of any aerodrome. An aerodrome is defined as any place an aircraft takes off from or lands at (Like the ‘Vale’). Peter’s point is well made – lookout the window – particularly around active runways where aircraft concentrate. You never know – someone might be stooging on through blissfully unaware they are traversing an active circuit pattern.
I would add another comment to this discussion. I am an aeromedical retrievalist in Tasmania flying for Ambulance Tasmania. We fly extensively between a number of large and small Tasmanian aerodromes and there is another aspect of VFR separation and radio procedures that I have regularly seen cause issues, with a particularly prominent example this week. One of the most vital elements to traffic separation is a clear understanding between all parties of where each other is. This requires clear and succinct descriptions of your location that can be understood by all other pilots. This week we were flying from Launceston to Wynyard for an urgent case and there were 4 LSA or light GA aircraft flying VFR in our close vicinity. Several of them were identifying their location based on non aviation landmarks “abeam turner’s beach” “2 miles north of sulphur creek” etc. Those descriptors may mean an awful lot to a resident of the northwest coast, unfortunately they mean diddly squat to a non local pilot as ours was, a recent arrival from the northern territory who has never visited the northwest by road. They don’t appear on aviation charts and short of pulling up google maps whilst he was positioning for approach and trying to avoid 4 light aircraft they were useless descriptors to aid traffic separation. It is vital when identifying location to use aviation landmarks “4 miles E Devonport en route Georgetown” “20 miles north of Clark en route Cambridge”. Having a radio and even being on the right frequency isn’t enough if the calls you make don’t help others quickly identify your location.
Thank You for your feedback. You are correct to bring to local pilots attention this weakness in the use of radio. I will distribute your comments to the local Aero clubs and our Facebook page. Thanks again for your contribution to aviation safety.
Peter Reed
Skyflyte