Airfield closures

[Guest burbles1]

I've started a little research on airfield closures and was compelled to write to RA-Aus with my two cents' worth. Here's my letter and the response:

 

SteveRe: RA-Aus action on airfield closures

 

You are no doubt acutely aware of the increasing number of airfields under threat of closure from local councils. You also know that the RA-Aus Board is inexplicably silent on this issue, despite the direct relevance to RA-Aus members’ interests. I am urging you to put on the agenda the subject of airfield closures that affect the viability of recreational aircraft activities.

 

RA-Aus has a long and successful history of achieving great aviation freedoms for their members, and is well placed to take on airfield closures as an essential political move to ensure members’ freedoms are maintained. I have read online and press material about threats to airfields that are a primary base for recreational flying training—in my region, Warnervale and Moruya are evidently under attack from councils, developers and community members for a variety of reasons. The loss of these airfields would be a significant setback for encouraging recreational aviation.

 

Even more tragic would be the peak organisation, RA-Aus, standing idly by and letting this happen without at least trying to intervene in some way. Every airfield’s issues differ, but many concerns seem to point to the decision-making of local councils, and the favouring of development over aviation activities.

 

I see the need for political intervention in individual cases to ensure that local aviation clubs have enough clout to fight any dissention against airfields continuing to operate. May I strongly suggest that RA-Aus considers the following issues as a priority for the newly elected Board members to pursue:

 

• assess RA-Aus capacity to provide advice and information to affected members, local councils, developers and any other interested parties on all economic, social, environmental and safety issues surrounding recreational aviation as a first step in ensuring all relevant information is taken into account

 

• assess the potential for RA-Aus to act as an intermediary in any official proceedings and meetings with the abovementioned parties

 

• provide affected members with technical and political advice on preparing development applications and other documents to strengthen their position

 

• start to gather anecdotal and documented information about airfield closures as a way of building the knowledge base

 

• widely promote recreational aviation activities in local press to educate the community and increase awareness of the benefits of recreational aviation—with the intention of gaining support from other community groups.

 

It is within the purpose and power of RA-Aus to follow through on initiatives that help to strengthen our political influence, and I feel RA-Aus has an obligation to turn their attention to airfields—for instance, the Constitution states:

 

“B.4 To safeguard the interests of recreational aircraft clubs and similar bodies or any entity involved in activities

 

connected with recreational aircraft flying in any of its branches and obtain for them such monetary or other

 

assistance as may be possible by representations to Federal or State or any other appropriate authorities,

 

persons or organisations.”

 

“C.1 Enter into any arrangement with any Government or Local Authority, or any club, any other company or

 

person which may seem conducive to such objects, and to acquire from any such Government or Authority,

 

club, company or person any charters, decrees, licences, privileges and concessions and to represent

 

Australia at meetings of international organisations.”

 

Please ensure that airfield closures are integral to the Board’s business—I would then feel that members are getting something for the greater benefit in return for their membership.

 

Regards

 

David Gardiner

 

RE: ACTION ON AIRFIELD CLOSURES letter of 21 Aug Thank you for your letter on the above subject.

We are already painfully aware of the varied issues surrounding local councils and aerodromes. These issues are not only the closure of airfields but also their use for non-aviation activities, introduction of methods to price aviators out or simply not appreciating what will cause potentially life-threatening hazards. Your letter makes several valid suggestions which will be in the agenda for discussion during the September Board Meeting.

 

Whenever RA-Aus is made conscious of impending problems at local airfields, usually through local members affected by matters, we do take whatever actions are possible in the circumstances. For example, much of a weekend was spent in conference with members who fly near Sydney, followed by a full day in court as an expert witness and another day in briefing scheduled to come shortly. We have also been involved with the Richmond Valley Council and their plans for Evans Head, and similarly for Casino and the drag racing proposals.

 

As you can see, it is not merely the closure of airfields but also the use of airfields for non- aviation activities among other things which is of concern to us. Despite our fairly limited staffing resources, we already do endeavour to represent our members’ interests where we’re aware there is a problem. Beyond those mentioned above, it is possible that the silence you allude to stems from simply not knowing of other airfields which are currently under threat.

 

Having been the inspiration for some of next month’s magazine article, I thank you again for your ideas and will ensure they are raised at the next board meeting.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Steve Tizzard

 

Chief Executive Officer

And in regard to airstrips that are used for drag racing, I'll go out on a limb to say maybe the Board should look at all aspects of accommodating occasional drag racing meets at certain airstrips - it could be one of many uses that make airstrips less liable to being shut down or redeveloped. It sounds outrageous (perhaps think about temporary closures of airstrips for TopGear Australia filming for example), but have a look at some drag racing forums that talk about airstrip racing:

 

Boostcruising - Australian Automotive Enthusiasts

 

Dry Lakes Racers Australia :: Index

 

Australian Dragstrips Directory

 

Maybe drag racing shouldn't be a "concern" to aircraft, particularly as NOTAMs can be issued for temporary closures, but rather something of "interest" to be pursued that makes airstrips more useful.

 

 

[HEON]

Use by vehicles not a good thing at airfields. Warwick allowed Volvo to test trucks. Cost more to repair than they got. Thankfully it seems the Council has realised this...until the bodies change and someone has a bright thought (again)!

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

I was watching a drag race program last weekend on SBS and they centered on the Victorian racers who do not have a drag strip to do their thing. They have to travel out of the state. maybe they should look at trying to build a drag strip on a Victorian airfield (not use a runway) maybe it would help to keep a council from putting in other unwanted developments ect.

 

 

[turboplanner]

Great response from Steve Tizzard.

 

Ozzie et al: Public Liability dictates safety barriers and catch fences between cars and spectators. These need to be heavy concrete to ensure a car doesn't just push the barrier into the crowd, so the setup and removal cost is high. Also the arrival of a big crowd to watch the racing requires car parking which is big enough and safe enough, safe ingress and egress from the highway etc. and controlled spectator areas, all of which pose issues. I know ANDRA will work with operators for Drag Racing because I got involved with a Victorian Airfield, but we certainly found a lot of incompatibility issues, none of which couldn't be solved by money, but the money did add up to a lot (buying up properties off the end of the main runway for example - top machines are doing over 500 km/hr)

 

 

[XAIRVTW]

One way to help secure your Airfield espescially if you are in a rural area is get the RFS involved they are all ways looking for air strips for their fire fighting aircraft, & it makes it very hard on the local council & Water Board Catchment authorities to close an airfield.

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

The thing is the drag mob will have to build all that safety stuff no matter where they build it. There just seems to be the lack of location and land availability to do it. Most of these country airports have the space around their airfields where it could be done. Mangalore is one such place that comes to mind. Airports when you think about it are such wastefull users of land. hundreds of acres just to put a 50 mtere wide ashphalt strip down the middle. And nothing being done with the remainder.

 

 

[turboplanner]

Ozzie the two issues I found were setting it up and breaking it down after every meet - the barriers need to be pretty much on the centre of the main runway. If set up at the side of the runway, then they are an obstacle should a runway excursion occur. If you can solve that, and the runway length (solid at one end for starts, smooth at the high speed end) then there's a possibility. A little like a tennis courty/cricket pitch match up.

 

 

[winsor68]

I am learning to fly at an Airstrip that was a Drag strip before it was an Airstrip... Phew... The Airstrip is unusable when drag meets are held.

 

There is a grass strip beside the drag strip, or alternately use the bitumen return road for takeoff... or use the drag strip itself.

 

All in all... except for the times when drag meeting are held... it seems like a good use of the land. Probably more suitable to the private aircraft owner than a commercial operation- hence the local school is planning on putting in there own Airstrip behind the speedway next to the drag strip (making sense?). There is a ready made crown of customers for TIFs and potential students when racing events are on.

 

 

[IanR]

I wonder if the day in court that is mentioned is related to the Telstra tower at The Oaks - anyone know how that went ?

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

designed as a permanent fixture of the airport obviously placed in a area of no conflict. just has to be designed by someone who can visualise this.

 

 

[Guest burbles1]

To be compatible with airfields and cost-effective, drag strip infrastructure would have to be set up as a permanent structure. And clubs could build their own strip on an airfield - they just need the land. (it'd take the hoons off the streets too)