Investigators examine Townsville airprox involving Skytrans Dash 8
Australian safety officials are looking into a serious airprox in which a Skytrans turboprop took evasive action near Townsville while a training aircraft was in the area.
Australian investigators are looking into a serious airprox over Townsville in which a Skytrans De Havilland Dash 8-100 took evasive action on approach, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau says.
The turboprop had been cleared for a visual approach to runway 07 on 1 October after arriving from Kidston. About 10nm west of the airport, an Aeroprakt A22LS, a light high-wing utility aircraft, was on a training flight.
The bureau said the Aeroprakt's pilot was told to remain outside controlled airspace and was given information about the Dash 8, with advice to sight and follow it. The pilot appears not to have seen the Dash 8 until the two aircraft were converging at the same altitude and about 0.6nm apart.
The gap narrowed to 0.3nm (1,800ft). The Dash 8 then descended rapidly after an instruction from its collision-avoidance system.
Weather data from Townsville airport indicated good visibility and no adverse conditions at the time. Neither aircraft was damaged.
The number of people on board the Dash 8, registered VH-QQF, has not been confirmed.
Sources
- flightglobal.comSkytrans Dash-8 took evasive action to avoid light aircraft on approach to Townsville