A call has been issued to everyone in aviation to check there are no bushfires around their departure, enroute, operation and destination locations before hitting the skies this summer season.
The start of the bushfire season means blazes can break out quickly and create unique risks to flying.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority wants pilots, drone flyers, aircraft owners and air operators to think about bushfire risks throughout the fire season.
This means checking for any fires before planning flights, keeping well away from active fires and being aware of local firefighting aircraft operations.
Firefighting aircraft often operate at high speed and low altitude, and conduct abrupt changes in vertical or lateral directions. Operating a drone or aircraft to record a fire front or to check how far away an active bushfire is could endanger these aircraft and their crew and risk other lives or additional damage to property.
All aircraft not involved in firefighting activities should stay at least 5 nautical miles (9.26 kilometres) and at least 3,000 feet above ground level away from fire boundaries.
CASA CEO and Director of Aviation Safety, Pip Spence, says breaking these rules creates a number of serious safety risks.
'By steering clear of any areas with bushfires, we can all do our part to keep the skies clear of any aircraft and let firefighting aircraft have full access where they need to,' Ms Spence says.
'Just remember – if you fly, they can't – so think twice this fire season so that firefighting aircraft can do their part to keep local communities safe from bushfires.
'This also includes keeping your drone on the ground. Drones are small and hard to see, and pose a risk to aircraft and helicopters.
'In an emergency, you should follow the advice of your local fire authority.'
CASA has a comprehensive set of safety regulations that govern aerial firefighting operations.
These include specific pilot training and experience requirements, approvals for air operators to spot fires and drop water or retardant and the creation of temporary danger or restricted areas around fires.
Hundreds of aircraft are approved to be used in aerial firefighting with, on average, a total of 30,000 hours flown each year in firefighting operations across Australia.
CASA requires air operators approved to control firefighting aircraft to identify and manage safety risks such as pilot fatigue. Safety checks and audits of these operators are carried out by CASA.
During the fire season CASA is ready to respond quickly to requests for new or changed operational approvals. CASA also has processes to allow foreign pilots to be used in Australian firefighting operations.
