Safety Issue

There was no regulatory requirement for instrument approach charts to include coloured contours to depict terrain. This was required by a standard in ICAO Annex 4 in certain situations. Australia had not notified a difference to the standard.

Safety Recommendation

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority address this safety issue.

Under the Airspace Act, which received royal assent on 30 March 2007, when regulations are made under that Act, oversight responsibility for the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) will be assumed by CASA.

Airservices Australia is currently the Australian AIS provider. Airservices Australia publishes the Aeronautical information Publications which includes instrument approach charts.

When CASA has full oversight responsibility for the AIS, it will be developing oversight standards including chart and data base quality and integrity standards.

These will be included in a proposed CASR Part 175 (Aeronautical Information Services).

The ATSB notes the actions being taken by CASA to address this safety issue and has amended the status of this recommendation to 'Monitor'.

he Part 175 Notice of Proposed Rule Making has been issued for public comment. Airservices have made coloured IAP charts available on line for those locations where it is specified by ICAO. The terrain in Australia does not justify the expense of producing hard copy coloured plates for limited locations however they will be readily available for down loading effective from the November cycle. See href="/www.airservicesaustralia.com.au/publications/pending/dap/LHRGN01-121.pdf"