Watchdog finds WA airport design possible factor in planes’ near-miss
A near-miss between two aircraft at a major regional airport in WA may have been caused by its design, Australia’s air transport safety watchdog has found.
The two aircraft took off seconds apart from Geraldton Airport, 400 kilometres north of Perth, on March 19 last year, with one overflying the other.
The aircraft had a “vertical separation” of about 90 metres, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
The ATSB found the pilots were unable to see or communicate with each other due to the placement of buildings at the airport.
The report found the pilots took off from different runways that form a “Y” shape.
Since the incident, checks by the airport found that attempts by the pilots to communicate by radio were potentially shielded by the same buildings that blocked their vision of one another.
The ATSB investigation confirmed a third pilot attempted to contact both aircraft, but had inaccurate information.
Two relevant runways at the Geraldton airport form a ‘Y’ shape. (Supplied: Australian Transport Safety Bureau)
Geraldton Airport is a non-controlled aerodrome, where pilots are responsible for communicating with and keeping their distance from other aircraft.
The report stated that just after 8am on March 19, a Fairchild Metroliner had lined up at Geraldton’s runway three to take off to the north-east, while a Beechcraft Bonanza was lined up on runway 14, to take off to the south-east.
“After reaching their respective runway thresholds and preparing for take-off, each pilot had attempted to contact the other, but they could not hear or see one another,” the report stated.
“The aircraft began their take-off rolls within three seconds of one another, and the Metroliner crossed about 400m in front of the Bonanza, with a vertical separation of about 250–300 feet (91m).“
Pilots with issues told to stop, slow down
ATSB director of transport safety Kerri Hughes said the details provided by the third pilot who attempted to assist were “incomplete”, and misinterpreted by the other pilots, contributing to their almost simultaneous take offs.
The City of Greater Geraldton, which owns and operates the airport, declined to comment.
However, the bureau’s report stated that the airport has since submitted an amendment to the En Route Supplement Australia, which is a publication used by pilots to plan flights, containing vital information on all licensed aerodromes.
Passengers wait outside Geraldton airport’s departures lounge. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Chloe Henville)
Ms Hughes said pilots at non-controlled aerodromes were responsible for staying vigilant under the principles of “alerted see-and-avoid.”
“Especially where communications and visibility are limited, it is critical for pilots to take all reasonable measures to verify the position and intentions of known traffic,”
she said.
The report stated that the operators of the two aircraft, CASAIR and Shine Aviation, had since instructed their pilots to stop or slow down during communication difficulties until they were completely assured of the situation.
