Instrument number CASA EX194/12
I, jonATHAN ALECK, Associate Director of Aviation Safety, a delegate of CASA, make this instrument under subregulation 11.160 (1) of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.
[Signed Jonathan Aleck]
Jonathan Aleck
Associate Director of Aviation Safety
14 December 2012
Exemption — operations by hang-gliders in the Forbes Flatlands Hang Gliding Championships 2012-2013
1          Duration
                 This instrument:
(a)   commences on 28 December 2012; and
(b)   stops having effect at the end of 17 January 2013.
2          Definitions
                 In this instrument:
hang-glider means a hang-glider as defined in Civil Aviation Order 95.8.
HGFA means the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia Incorporated, Aviation Reference Number 527469.
in the vicinity of has the same meaning as in subregulation 166 (2) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988).
3          Application
                      This instrument only applies to flights within a 150 nautical miles radius of Forbes aerodrome, New South Wales, that are conducted by hang-gliders in the Forbes Flatlands Hang Gliding Championships 2012-2013 (the Championships).
4          Exemption
                 For this exemption, the pilot in command of such an aircraft is exempt from complying with regulation 166E of CAR 1988.
5          Conditions
                       The exemption is subject to the conditions mentioned in Schedule 1.
Schedule 1          Conditions
        1     A ground communications station must be established at Forbes aerodrome and operate daily during the competition in order to advise other aircraft that are operating in the vicinity of Forbes aerodrome of the activities, location and direction of the participants in the HGFA competition (the HGFA fleet).
        2     Except with the permission of the championship organisers or in case of an emergency, Forbes aerodrome must be closed to all aircraft other than the HGFA fleet between 1100 hours and last light in the period commencing on 28 December 2012 up to the end of 17 January 2013.
        3     A ground communications station must be established at Parkes aerodrome on days when weather conditions make it necessary and it must advise other aircraft that are operating in the vicinity of Parkes aerodrome of the activities and direction of the HGFA fleet.
Note   Clause 3 will apply when a south-westerly wind is blowing between Forbes and Parkes.
        4     The ground communications stations must be active on both UHF frequencies and V.H.F. common traffic advisory frequencies, commencing 30 minutes before activities begin and continuing for the duration of those activities.
          5     Only hang-gliders carrying serviceable V.H.F. radios may operate in the vicinity of Parkes aerodrome for 1 hour before the scheduled arrival time, or 1 hour after the scheduled departure time, of a regular public transport aircraft.
        6     Championship organisers must ensure that the pilots of towing aircraft make the broadcasts required under regulation 166C of CAR 1988 and communicate with other aircraft in the area, advising them of the activities, location and direction of the HGFA fleet, having regard to the prevailing conditions of the day.
        7     Championship organisers must ensure that participants are briefed daily on the boundaries of the areas of activity in the competition flight zone, the requirements for operating in those areas, and the applicable procedures as published daily in NOTAMS.
        8     Pilots who do not attend a daily briefing must not be permitted to take part in the activities on that day.
        9     Hang-gliders not equipped with serviceable V.H.F. radios must remain clear of certified, registered or military aerodromes, other than the following goal aerodromes:
(a)   Forbes;
(b)   Parkes;
(c)   Lake Cargelligo;
(d)   Condobolin;
(e)   Cowra;
(f)    Young.
      10     All aerodromes referred to in clause 9 must have ground communications set up to advise air traffic of hang glider arrivals and the site must be kept open until the last competitor is on the ground.
      11     All pilots of participating hang-gliders must be members of the HGFA.
      12     Pilots of participating hang-gliders must operate in accordance with the current HGFA Operations Manual and, in particular, in accordance with its Day V.F.R. procedures.
      13     The pilot in command must hold at least a valid HGFA pilot certificate.
      14     The Championship organisers must arrange with CASA for the publication of daily NOTAMS setting out the boundaries of the areas of activity and the applicable procedures.
      15     The pilot in command must comply with the procedures published in NOTAMS applicable to the Championships.
      16     Not later than 5 working days before the commencement of this instrument, the HGFA must inform the CASA Self Administration Sport Aviation Organisation section of the procedures to be published in NOTAMS for the Championships. It must also give CASA adequate notice of the updates to be published in the daily NOTAMS.