The Authorisation That Did Not Cover the Day
A council parks team hires an accredited operator to inspect 6 km of riverbank vegetation after flooding. The planned corridor runs within 2 km of a controlled aerodrome and crosses a 1.5 km section inside controlled airspace. The operator holds an authorisation to operate in that airspace, valid for the previous month only, issued for a different nearby site. On arrival the crew finds a temporary helipad marked on a sports field 400 m from the route, set up for flood-relief flights, and a crowd of 60 volunteers working below the riverbank. Wind is calm and visibility is good. The pilot suggests flying the whole corridor from a moving vehicle to save time.
1. Determine whether the existing authorisation permits this flight, and list the airspace and site constraints the pilot must resolve before launch.
Read the worked answer
The existing authorisation does not permit this flight. It is expired (valid for the previous month only) and site-specific (issued for a different nearby location). An authorisation is not a general permission to use controlled airspace anywhere; it is tied to its dates, location, and often altitude and time conditions. Flying on it would be an unauthorised entry into controlled airspace.
Constraints to resolve before launch:
- Controlled airspace. A 1.5 km section lies inside controlled airspace. The pilot needs a current authorisation covering this corridor, or must re-route to stay clear.
- Aerodrome proximity. The whole route is within 2 km of a controlled aerodrome, so even the portion outside the boundary needs care and coordination.
- Temporary helipad. A marked helipad 400 m away, active for flood relief, creates a new hazard and likely a new restricted area. The pilot must check for notices and coordinate with the relief operation.
- People below. 60 volunteers under the route means the flight would pass over people. That requires either exclusion of the area or the relevant approval, and the volunteers must be managed.
- Moving-vehicle launch. Flying from a moving vehicle degrades situational awareness and is generally not permitted without specific approval. The pilot should launch from static positions along the corridor.
The flight should be postponed until a valid, corridor-specific authorisation is in hand and the helipad and crowd are addressed.
2. The council is impatient and asks the pilot to fly only the section outside controlled airspace today. Explain how the pilot should decide, and what conditions still apply to that reduced flight.
Read the worked answer
Reducing the route is a reasonable way to salvage the day, but it does not remove every constraint. The pilot should work through the remaining conditions before agreeing:
- Airspace boundary. The pilot must be certain where the controlled airspace boundary lies and keep a margin, because GPS error and wind drift can push the aircraft across it. A pre-plotted boundary with a buffer is needed, not an estimate.
- Aerodrome proximity. Even outside the boundary, the route is within 2 km of a controlled aerodrome. The pilot must ensure the flight does not create a hazard to aircraft arriving or departing, and should monitor the relevant frequency or contact the aerodrome if procedures require it.
- Helipad. The temporary helipad 400 m away is still a factor. The pilot must confirm whether it is active during the flight window and keep clear of its approach and departure paths.
- People. The volunteers are still below. If any part of the reduced route passes over them, the flight needs the relevant approval or must be re-routed.
- Documentation. The reduced flight still needs a site risk assessment, flight log, and client agreement on the changed scope.
Decision rule: the pilot should fly only if every remaining constraint can be met with margin. Council impatience is not a safety argument, and the pilot retains the authority to decline.