Confidential Human Factors
Incident Reporting Programme
The Charity
Aviation
Maritime
GA1344
Initial Report
There was an [Aircraft] doing figure-of-8 patterns within the circuit over the runway at 500ft. An email had gone out to private owners declaring that the aircraft would be operating, but not that it would be in the overhead. I’m unaware if anything had been added to the PPR page on the website. A couple of other resident owners mentioned that they were somewhat surprised to see an aircraft flying in the opposite direction 300ft below whilst downwind in the circuit. Without a NOTAM in place, or someone in the Tower on radio, it seemed an unusual activity that represented ‘in my humble opinion’ an unacceptable risk should a visiting aircraft need to have ‘gone round’ and climbed into the pattern taken up by the [Aircraft]. The [Aircraft] was operating with a good radio and could be heard but, having said that, one shouldnât assume that everyoneâs radio installation is to the same standard, and there is always the opportunity for two stations to be transmitting at the same time and the message doesnât get heard.
Aerodrome Operator Comment
In addition to our website, our entry in the AIP, section AD 2.20, Local Aerodrome Regulations, provides information and a warning on possible [non-standard] activities over the airfield with aircraft possibly operating non-radio. Other publications also refer to the need to PPR via our online booking system and detail potential airfield activity. The following information was posted on the PPR webpage for those seeking to fly-in, and resident pilots were also advised.
Caution: ⊠[Aircraft] will be carrying out multiple [non-standard] flights from the aerodrome. The [Aircraft] will be operating within the immediate vicinity of the airfield carrying out figures of 8, turns and orbits at 500ft AGL. All other traffic must use the standard circuit height of 800ft AGL for de-confliction and maintain a good look out.
For operational reasons, it is not possible to prohibit arrivals/departures to accommodate the activity because the exact flight times are subject to variation on the day. For the future, we acknowledge a need for additional notification and will NOTAM accordingly. Also, wherever possible we will provide an Air Traffic Service.
CHIRP Comment
The airfield accepted that more could have been done to highlight the pleasure-flight activity by NOTAM to both resident and non-resident pilots, and that they will do so in future. Whilst it is true that the airfieldâs website PPR page warns that all aircraft wishing to use the airfield should be aware that they must stay well clear of any aircraft carrying out display practices at the airfield, and we note the airfield operatorâs comment that, âFor operational reasons, it is not possible to prohibit arrivals/departures to accommodate the activity because the exact flight times are subject to variation on the dayâ, CHIRP thinks that there is a case that, given their potential for conflict in the circuit, activities such as figure-of-8 pleasure flights over the airfield should be constrained to specified, promulgated time slots that other pilots can then plan to avoid rather than operating at ad hoc times.
Key Issues relating to this report
Dirty Dozen Human Factors
The following âDirty Dozenâ Human Factors elements were a key part of the CHIRP discussions about this report and are intended to provide food for thought when considering aspects that might be pertinent in similar circumstances.
Resources â availability of Tower/ATS during an unusual activity.
Communication â a NOTAM highlighting the activity would have been preferable.
Complacency â regular unusual activities may lead to an assumption that other pilots will be aware of the associated risks; unusual activities such as pleasure flights should be constrained to specified, promulgated time slots.