The reporter has raised various safety concerns in relation to insufficient taxiway and apron markings at Temora Airport.
Taxiway Papa
The reporter states, taxiway Papa is displayed on the Airservices Australia (AsA) aerodrome chart running parallel to runway 18/36 and extending for the full length of this runway. However, coming from the north, taxiway centreline markings cease in the region of taxiway Echo and resume again from taxiway Foxtrot continuing south.
The reporter advises, the section of taxiway Papa (between taxiways Echo and Foxtrot) is directly in front of the Temora Aviation Musuem's hard stand apron. This area is not defined as an apron leading to confusion to pilots not familiar with the aerodrome layout. The reporter further states, at times aircraft from the museum are parked on the asphalt to the west of the concrete hard stand apron subsequently blocking access for aircraft transiting along taxiway Papa north or south.
The reporter states, clarification is therefore required to confirm the location of taxiway Papa between taxiways Echo and Foxtrot. Once this is clarified, signage and line markings are required to provide clear instructions to pilots of taxiing aircraft indicating the path to be followed when taxiing in this area. If the taxiway is to be diverted around the museum hard stand, the limits need to be clearly defined so the museum aircraft being parked there do not present an obstruction hazard to taxiing aircraft. Furthermore, if taxiway Papa is either closed or inaccessible with parked aircraft, any departing aircraft from runway 36 will be required to enter the runway at taxiway Echo and back track which needs to be clearly communicated.
Taxiway India
The reporter states, at the threshold of runway 36 there are two taxiways shown on the aerodrome chart. One is labelled 'Hotel' and the other is not labelled. Taxiway Hotel runs directly on to the piano keys however the second taxiway runs behind them. The reporter further states, this taxiway then runs across runway 36 with no markings apart from the hold-point prior to entering the runway. On the grass glider strip, gliders routinely take off and land in the area between this taxiway and the runway gable markers. The reporter is particularly concerned when gliders are landing that they cross this taxiway at considerable speed. The requirement for gliders landing in competitions is to land as long as possible and preferably to the end of the strip. The reporter believes this could be a problem at some stage and advises it would be safer if gliders were to stop before the taxiway. Alternatively, maybe better marking is required on the taxiway.
Runway 18/36
The reporter is further concerned that runway18/36 does not have distance markers painted on the tar.
I have had some internal discussions at council and a meeting on site with the Temora Aviation Museum regarding the safety concerns raised. Council are happy to discuss this issue further (taxiway Papa) onsite to coincide with the visit from CASA on 30th April. Originally, we would have had some design work done via an airport consultancy firm prior to the construction of the taxiway for compliance. As the airport owner, we have no safety concerns with the current state of the airport while respecting the concerns that have been raised.
Further response received (below) from the aerodrome operator following the recent CASA surveillance activity:
Taxiway Papa
Temora Shire Council, through consultation with CASA and Temora Airport stakeholders, will find a solution that works best for all users of the airport and complies with the current Manual of Standards Part 139.
Taxiway India
No safety concerns raised but CASA has requested that the Taxiway centreline is extended beyond the current holding point and continued around and terminated at the threshold of runway 36.
Runway 18/36
As per the Manual of Standards 139 – chapter 8: 23, touchdown markings are only required for runways that are at least 1,500 m in length. Runway 18/36 is 1,355 m in length, so no markings are required.
We can advise that receipt of this request for information coincided with a scheduled surveillance activity which included an onsite inspection event. The surveillance process will include the issue of a report documenting the event. It is anticipated that the report will include findings about non-compliances identified on site. Items for the report specific to the REPCON include:
- Taxiway Papa – procedures are not available to advise pilots not to taxi through the apron at the location of the museum and markings have not been provided for visual taxi guidance that includes separation from parked aircraft, which is a safety concern.
- Taxiway India – procedures are not available to guide pilots for the safe use of the 18/36 glider strip at the intersection with taxiway India and taxi guidelines are required past the runway holding position on the eastern side of the movement area. It is observed that the name for this taxiway is not consistent with the installation of Movement Area Guidance Signs (MAGS) which cannot be provided with the letter ‘I’. The absence of markings and published flight procedures for this area is a safety concern.
- Runway 18/36 – the published landing distances for runways 18 and 36 are less than 1,500 m long. The Part 139 MOS recommends but does not mandate the provision of touch down zone markings for this runway. There are no specific safety concerns that CASA is aware of for not providing touch down markings on this runway.