ISSUE 8 December 2011

Plane & Simple

POTUS Visit Jill Holdsworth, Environment Manager NTAPL

Merry Christmas

and a SAFE and

prosperous New Year.

Lisa Cryer, Executive Assistant/Office Manager DIA

‘Air Force One’ departing Darwin – photo taken by Lisa Cryer

The President of the United States

(POTUS), The Honourable Mr

Barack Obama visited Darwin

for a short period on Thursday

17 November 2011. Whilst the

majority of activities occurred

on the RAAF

Base, Darwin

International

Airport provided

security and

operational

support.

The security of the POTUS

visit was led by the Northern

Territory Police (‘Operation

Savannah’), with the Emergency

Operations Centre (EOC) in the

Peter McAulay Centre activated

for the duration of the visit. The

Airport Coordination Centre in

the Terminal was subsequently

established as a central point for

tenant and security issues and as a feed to

the EOC with situation reports being issued

hourly to ensure situational awareness for

all necessary staff.

Although Air Force One, a Boeing VC-

25A (military B747), took pride of place

on the day, a contingent of aircraft for the

visit arrived at the airport. A C-17 arrived

several days before the POTUS visit. On

the day there was a Delta Airlines B767

chartered for the press, a C-32 (military

B757) as a backup aircraft, a B737 – the

Prime Ministers aircraft and the RAAF

Challenger. Police Chartered helicopters, a

Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and

a contingent of F/A-18s provided security

in the sky.

To ensure the safe and secure arrival for

‘Air Force One’ restrictions on airspace

were imposed. An Aeronautical Information

Supplement (AIP SUP) was produced for

the event that outlined flight procedures

during the time of the POTUS visit. The

General Aviation community was briefed

by RAAF Headquarters Joint Operations

Command the week prior to ensure

awareness of these requirements. A Notice

To Airmen (NOTAM), a document used

for flight planning, advised pilots of the

restrictions on the day which included that

non screened aircraft could fly into Darwin

between a set period and further advice on

the airspace restrictions.

On the ground additional security

measures were implemented and airfield

inspections conducted throughout the

event. DIA Operations Officers and Safety

vehicles were provided to assist the Secret

Service with security sweeps prior to and

after the President’s arrival/departure.

The airfield was therefore much quieter

than usual however the excitement could

be felt throughout the airfield but also heard

at the RAAF hangar where the party was in

full swing during the visit.

2 Plane & Simple ISSUE 8 December 2011

On the Airwaves FLGOFF Chantelle McCann

With big storms just around the

corner, we thought it best to refresh

your memory on low visibility

procedures.

Here are a couple of definitions to get

us started.

Runway Visual Range (RVR):

Visibility determined by ‘electronic

means’.

Runway Visibility (RV):

Visibility determined by a ‘ground

observer’.

Low Visibility Procedures (LVP):

Exists when

■ RVR is reported as 800m or less,

■ Cloud ceiling is 200FT or less,

■ Visibility on any part of the aerodrome

is insufficient for ATC to exercise

control over all traffic on the basis of

visual surveillance.

Some key points to remember during LVP:

■ Operations will be restricted to

RWY11/29 only.

■ Only one agency can use the runway

at any one time, including crosses.

For example; if an aircraft is crossing

the runway, no other vehicles/aircraft

are to be inside the runway strip until

the aircraft reports vacated.

■ Only those vehicles with an

operational requirement are permitted

on the movement area.

■ The Surface Movement Controller

(“Darwin Ground”) will limit control

to no more than three aircraft on

the movement area. To achieve this,

pilots must listen out for the following

broadcast on the ATIS prior to

starting engines:

‘LOW VISIBILITY PROCEDURES IN

PROGRESS, START CLEARANCE

REQUIRED’.

■ Aircraft are to only use lit taxiways.

■ A DIA Safety Officer is available as a

‘Follow Me’ vehicle.

■ Pilots/vehicles are to report when

they have vacated taxiways.

(FYI, in normal operations, after

completing an instruction to cross an

active runway, there is no requirement

to report vacated).

■ Pilots are also required to report

when they have reached and are

established at a holding point. Even if

you are not ‘READY’.

■ As the Tower controller cannot

conduct a visual check to ensure

that the runway is clear, the following

radiotelephony will be used in lieu of

a clearance:

“(Callsign), … TAKE-OFF/LANDING

AT PILOT DISCRETION, REPORT

AIRBORNE/RUNWAY VACATED”.

NOTE: In the instance where a pilot

departs in less than minima conditions

(i.e. VFR in non-VMC conditions),

ATC are obligated to notify CASA with

the aircraft details.

Everyone at Darwin ATC would like to wish you a

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

The Good Looking Bunch – Air Traffic Controllers Meagan Venhuizen, Timothy Blatt, Adrian Houldey, Marcus Lisle & Andrew McWatters

The summer months present a number

of issues to contend with and if you

find yourself in need of information

on preparing for and getting through

emergency situations in the Northern

Territory the NT Government have

developed an excellent web site –

www.securent.gov.au. Also a reminder

that TIO have a new service available to

NT Airports would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year.

the community. TIO can advise you via

email, text or landline of cyclone, storm

surge and tsunami alerts. If you wish

to receive such alerts, please register

with TIO via www.tiofi.com.au.

There is also a number of operational

and health safety issues at the airport

and this edition of ‘Plane and Simple’

serves to remind people of those.

With the Christmas party season upon

us and the associated cheer, Safety

Sensitive Aviation Activity (SSAA)

personnel are reminded of their

obligations under company Drug and

Alcohol Management Plans (DAMPs).

Remember also that some prescription or therapeutic drugs may result in a positive drug test under the testing regime.

SSAA personnel should always seek doctor or pharmacist advice before using any medications.

3

Everyone at Darwin ATC would like to wish you a

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

The Darwin area is naturally prone

to Tropical Cyclones and may

experience other severe weather

events potentially affecting the

region between November and April

each year.

A Tropical Cyclone Watch is normally

issued when the onset of gales (34

kts or more) is expected within 48

hours, but not within 24 hours; and a

Tropical Cyclone Warning is issued

when the onset of gales is expected

within 24 hours, or may already be

occurring.

As well as having preparations and

procedures in place to respond to

cyclone warnings all airport operators

and tenants should have procedures

and plans for responding to other severe

weather warnings.

In addition to weather warnings that

may be issued for a Tropical Cyclone,

the Bureau of Meterology (BoM) issues

Airport warnings for severe weather that

may include thunderstorm activity and

strong winds i.e. sustained winds of 63

km/h (34 kts) or more; or with gusts of 76

km/h (41 kts) or more; or heavy rainfall

that may include flooding.

These storms may occur at short notice

and can potentially be as damaging as

a cyclone and is a constant danger to all

industries that have outdoor activities.

The aviation industry is particulary

affected because of the open areas of

Airports.

It is important that all staff working on

the airside are prepared and aware that

strong winds bring the risk of Ground

Servicing Equipment (GSE) and other

items moving about with the wind. GSE

must be properly secured and stored.

This could include high lift vehicles

lowered and stabilisers deployed,

mobile stairs and other equipment jacks

deployed, and in some cases could be

laid on their side or tied together, Rolling

stock (e.g. dollies & baggage trolleys)

must have brakes applied and should be

either chocked or connected in train.

Containers should be adequately

restrained, whether a strong wind

warning has been issued or not e.g. on

container racking, stored (locked) on

dollies, if on the ground secure together.

All empty containers must have the

container flap closed and locked.

Equipment not properly restrained

or removed can become mobile in

strong winds and may result in injury or

damage.

Aircraft should be effectively chocked

and additional chocks used if required;

stairs/aerobridges and ground

equipment may be required to be

removed from around the aircraft to

prevent damage if the aircraft was to

move in strong winds.

Staff should be extra vigilant to prevent

the accumulation of FOD and to ensure

that loose items are removed or safely

stowed. Plastic wrap and sheeting are

a particular threat for engine ingestion.

All rubbish bins and skips shouild have

theirlids securely fastened.

Thunderstorm alerts are also issued for

the airport and the RPT Apron area has

a warning system installed by Qantas to

advise airport staff working on the apron

area of impending storms:

• 10nm Alert – White strobes +

repeating horn for 15 seconds:

Normal Ramp activity may continue,

though staff should be prepared for

the likelihood of a 5nm Thunderstorm

Alert

• 5nm Alert – Blue Strobes +

continuous repeating horn:

The blue lights are activated when

advice is received that thunderstorms

are within 5nm of the airport and it is

recommended that airport operators

shut down operations during the 5nm

Thunderstorm Alert and staff should

seek shelter. It is recommended that

shelter be taken inside buildings; or in

a hard top fully enclosed vehicle.

Further information on Cyclone and

severe weather information and

education is available on the Bureau of

Meteorolgy website http://www.bom.gov.au

and the Australasian Aviation Ground

Safety Council (AAGSC) publishes

Recommended Industry Practices

(RIP) that can be used by operators as

guidelines for developing procedures for

strong wind and thunderstorm conditions

http://www.aagsc.org/rips.htm

A storm developing over Darwin Airport.

Cyclone and Storm Season Preparedness Mike Clancy, DIA Senior Airport Duty Manager

Firefighters have entered a building and are proceeding to extinguish the fire.

Firefighters in Breathing apparatus being demonstrated the evolution of an internal building fire.

Firefighters in breathing apparatus approaching a pressurised fuel fire using water to protect them so they can close supply valves.

4 Plane & Simple ISSUE 8 December 2011

ARFF Darwin and Northern Territory Fire Rescue Service joint Training Activities Craig Cousins, Station Commander, Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service Darwin

The Northern Territory Fire and

Rescue Service and the Airservices

Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting

(ARFF) Service have entered into

a joint training venture that has

seen the NTFRS Compartment

Fire Behaviour Training containers

located to the Airport Fire Station.

Approval has been sought and

given by DIA and the relevant

building authorities.

Worldwide, firefighters are often

injured and unfortunately killed as a

result of not understanding some fire

reactions within buildings.

The Australian Fire industry has

developed a training package and

training aids to allow firefighters to be

safely demonstrated the evolution and

steps necessary to combat these fires.

These NTFRS containers have been

modified to meet the safe working

requirements but are still able to be

used in the training.

Airservices ARFF is currently rolling this

training out to their staff at all airports

in Australia. This facility will be used to

complete the training for Darwin staff.

The NTFRS are training all of their

staff and have incorporated it into their

recruit courses. Additionally the current

NTFRS recruit training courses are

using the ARFF liquid fuel, gas training

aids and smokehouse in their practical

hot fire training.

Cooperative training of this type allows

for both services to have an enhanced

working knowledge of each others’

procedures should the need arise.

NT Airports New OHS Advisor

Northern Territory Airports (NTAPL)

welcomes aboard Eve Somssich as

NTAPL’s OHS Advisor.

With over 25 years experience in

road transport industry and 12 years

as a Lecturer/Trainer at Charles

Darwin University specialising in

OHS, Transport & Logistics, Civil

Construction, Mining and Resources,

Eve bring a wealth of knowledge to our

airports. A member of Safety Institute

Australia and Australian Institute of

Company Directors, Eve is also an

Executive of the Chartered Institute

Logistics and Transport Australia, NT.

Eve is located at Darwin International

Airport and can be contacted on email

at eve.somssich@ntairports.com.au.

Eve enjoys

fishing and

much to the

delight of the

staff at the DIA

management

centre brings

with her culinary

skills.

Eve Somssich

5

Aerodrome Emergency Plan Field Exercise Bob Calaby, Aerodrome Safety and Standards Manager, DIA

EXERCISE HAZMAT RHINO

RAAF Base Darwin and DIA joined

forces for a joint Aerodrome

Emergency Exercise on 26 October

2011.

The scenario involved a ‘North Sun

Airways’ Airbus A320 operating Flight

NS130 to Kuala Lumpur and holding

on Taxiway E2 for take-off on Runway

29. On a short final for Runway 29 was

a ‘Republic of Australia Defence Force’

(RADF) F/A-18/F Super Hornet, known

as the Rhino.

The Rhino suffered a pelican strike

causing a double engine flameout.

The aircraft commander elected to

abandon the aircraft and she and

her Weapons Systems Officer (WSO)

safely ejected coming down in swampy

ground between the VOR and the

Runway 29 threshold.

On runway heading, the Rhino

continued towards the airfield.

Closer to the ground the Rhino, which

was carrying hazardous materials,

veered right, and impacted the ground

just west of the TACAN.

Debris showered the stationary A320,

piercing the port wing and fuel tanks

and the passenger cabin. Fire broke

out around the port engine. A number

of passengers were injured and cabin

crew deployed evacuation slides on the

starboard side of the aircraft.

In the exercise the Rhino was

represented by a mock-up aircraft and

the passengers, played by volunteers

from the Australian Air Force Cadets,

DIA and Office of Transport Security

staff, were aboard a bus representing

the A320. A smoke flare represented

fire, initiating a crash call from ATC.

ARFF responded with three Rosenbauer

fire trucks, extinguishing fires and

treating hazardous materials on both

‘aircraft’ before administering first aid

to casualties. DIA Operations and the

Australian Federal Police established

the Incident Control Point, coordinating

responses from off airport agencies

including St John Ambulance, NT Fire

and Rescue and NT Police.

A feature of the St John Ambulance

response was the use of ‘SMART TAGS’

for triage in the Casualty Processing Area,

which clearly identify treatment priority

and patient information. Medical response

also came from RAAF doctors, nurses

and service ambulances who worked well

with their civilian counterparts.

Airline handler representation was by

Menzies Aviation both in the field and

later in the Passenger Registration

phase in the Terminal alongside the

Australian Red Cross personnel who

tested the National Registration and

Inquiry System.

Following this comprehensive and

successful exercise, with many lessons

learnt, a sausage sizzle lunch was held

at the Aviation Institute. An exercise

debrief was held the following day and a

full report is in production.

DIA Volunteer Peta Jeggo getting treatment from RAAF Medical and St John Ambulance Incident Control Point

6 Plane & Simple ISSUE 8 December 2011

Making space in the GA Howard Ludgate, Operations Manager, DIA

AEP Familiarisation A380 Handling Exercise

DIA has provided an additional

area for the storage and tie down

of general aviation aircraft, in the

process freeing up an additional 80m

length of sealed pavement for local

and itinerant parking.

At this time the new parking area is for

medium term storage of unserviceable

aircraft (tow in and out).

The new area consists of new concrete

blocks weighing 1.4 tonne each and

will shortly be fitted with tie down

cables to provide greater flexibility.

The area is currently being used to

store four Beech 200 aircraft, and once

these have left Darwin the area will

be available for the storage of other

aircraft.

Another familiarisation session

for airport emergency response

personnel was conducted on 22

November 2011.

After an AEP briefing by the Operations

Manager the group travelled to the

Airport Fire Station. Representatives

from RAAF ATC, DIA and AFP explained

their roles in emergency management.

The Fire Station Manager then provided

an overview of the Rosenbauer fire

truck and the Fire Control Centre. Next

stage was to the Terminal for a tour

of the Passenger Reception Area and

Airport Control Centre.

These familiarisations have been well

received as they allow all agencies

to see all aspects of an emergency

response and it is proposed to conduct

further sessions in 2012.

Darwin International Airport is a

designated alternate for medical or

technical diversions of the Airbus A380,

in service in the region with Emirates,

Qantas and Singapore Airlines.

DIA hosted an exercise on 29 November

2011, an outcome of which is preparation

of a Standard Operating Procedure for

the Airport, in addition to the Airline

Station Directions.

Most people think of a safe work place

as being free of trip hazards, having

the right equipment for the job and

wearing PPE, but have you considered

the environmental health conditions in

your workplace?

There are a myriad of environmental

conditions that can affect health,

however the one causing debilitating

diseases such as Ross River Virus,

Barmah Forest Virus and possibly

Dengue Fever, is the mosquito.

The workplace produces a variety of

receptacles that mosquitoes thrive in.

Tyres are the most successful breeding

places, but anything that holds water

is suitable for breeding including

machinery parts, packing material and

equipment, construction material.

All receptacles capable of holding water

(tyres, tins, jars, buckets, equipment

etc) should be stored undercover and

rubbish capable of holding water should

be disposed of regularly.

Inspections and monitoring are conducted

regularly by AQIS, the Department of

Health Medical Entomology Unit and DIA

however under the Work Health Safety Act

employers have a responsibility to provide

a safe work environment.

Is your workplace SAFE?

Bob Calaby, Aerodrome Safety and Standards Manager, DIA

Bob Calaby, Aerodrome Safety and Standards Manager, DIA

Is your workplace safe? Jill Holdsworth, Environment Manager NTAPL and Louise Baume, DAFF Biosecurity (formerly AQIS)

7

Tennant Creek Airport Inspections Simon Hatfield, Manager Operations Alice Springs Airport

Tennant Creek Aerodrome is 500km

north of Alice, 1000km south of

Darwin and serves as an important

general/commuter aircraft stopover

for flights in the

Northern Territory.

Its current status as a registered

aerodrome means that inspections are

undertaken by both local staff daily and

by a support team, primarily from Alice

Springs, on a quarterly basis and as

required by the team from Darwin Airport.

Significant spending has been

undertaken by NTAPL to maintain the

infrastructure at Tennant Creek. Runways,

taxiways and terminal buildings have all

had maintenance carried out in the last 12

months. The terminal was fully refurbished

this year and maintenance is carried out

by interstate work crews on the runways

for crack sealing.

As part of our scheduled maintenance

we are reviewing resealing all runways,

taxiways and aprons. Currently an

application has been made to secure

funding from the federal government.

Light aircraft on the apron in front of the Tennant Creek terminal

Qantas National FOD Awareness Jill Holdsworth, Environment Manager NTAPL

Qantas continues to implement its

‘National Foreign Object Debris

(FOD) Awareness Drive’ and are

using quarterly FOD walks as a

means to increase awareness of FOD

management. At DIA the second FOD

walk in this campaign occurred on the

4 November 2011 and was coordinated

by Qantas Engineering.

Comparing the results of the initial FOD

walk held in June, an improvement has

been recorded of a reduction of total pieces

by 16% and a large reduction of general

rubbish.

Although focusing on its ground staff

and facility maintenance within Qantas at

Darwin, the FOD walks are also providing

on ongoing focus for FOD management

for all ramp operators. It also provides an

opportunity for stakeholders to get together.

RAAF Air Traffic Controllers took the FOD

walk as an opportunity to see the airfield

from a different perspective.

In addition to these FOD walks inspections

should be conducted as part of everyday

operation –so remember “don’t be a tosser

– pick it up’.

Some of the Qantas, Jetstar, DIA and RAAF ATC who participated in November FOD Walk.

Material category of the FOD found on 4 Nov 11

Soft Waste 34%

Paper19%

Vegetation 6%

Plastic/Rubber 6%

Concrete18%

Metal17%

Plane & Simple ISSUE 8 December 2011

8

For more information or should you have a safety or environmental initiative that you would like to share please contact:

Jill Holdsworth | Environment Manager

T 8920 1820 | E jill.holdsworth@ntairports.com.au

Bob Calaby | Aerodrome Safety and Standards Manager

T 8920 1851 | E bob.calaby@ntairports.com.au

For more information on our SAFE initiatives, please visit www.ntairports.com.au

AT ALICE SPRINGS AIRPORT Christina Bara, Business Support Manager, Alice Springs Airport

Alice Springs Airport had a full schedule

of activities as part of Safe Work Week

Australia, which included a BBQ hosted

by Qantas with gold coin donations going

to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, and a

fascinating presentation on smart eating to

maximize health and energy. Staff from the

Airport, ARFF, Security and Airline joined

together in a FOD walk along the RPT apron.

Coinciding with Safe Work Week and

Qantas’s campaign to raise awareness

of Prostate Cancer, the specially painted

Qantas Boeing 737 aircraft displaying

the distinctive blue ribbon logo of the

Foundation, made an appearance in

Alice Springs. Members of the Prostate

Cancer Foundation gave a very informative

presentation educating a room full of men

and women on early detection of this

disease.

Safe Work Week culminated with a fun trivia

and pizza afternoon tea where participants

focused on airport safety issues. The

winning team walked away with fine wine,

whilst the remaining participants will enjoy

a night at the cinema. The team is already

looking forward to next year’s events.

Contact Christina Bara 8951 1203 if there is

something you would like to see included

during Safe Work Week 2012.

AT DARWIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT By Eve Somssich, OHS Advisor, NTAPL

Darwin International Airport had great

attendance from staff for all our sessions.

The spills training sessions by Rob

Hangan seemed to be of particular interest

with feedback and comments such as

“very useful” and “invaluable”. Fane, the

explosive detection dog was also a great

hit with the crowd demonstrating the skills

of the K9 Unit. Other sessions included

noise induced hearing loss, workplace

inspections, defib presentation and our

Aerodrome Emergency Exercise.

Special thanks to all the presenters and

participants that provided their time and

feedback to make these sessions so

successful. Consideration is being given

to run more of these sessions throughout

the year to both our staff and tenants to

inform and educate everyone on Safety

in the Workplace.

AAA AIRPORT EMERGENCY WORKING GROUP – CALL FOR MEMBERSA new AAA Airport Emergency Working

Group will be launched towards the

end of this year to replace the National

Airport Emergency Planning Advisory

Group (NAEPAG). This group will create a

platform for members to discuss Airport

Emergency matters and associated issues

and will be chaired by Bob Calaby from

Darwin Airport. The first meeting will be

held in Canberra on Monday 12 December

from 11.00am – 3.00pm. To register your

interest to attend or to suggest items

for discussion please contact Salomon

Kloppers at SKloppers@airports.asn.au.

Leon Schulz, AFP Leading Senior Constable and Fane, explosive detection dog

FOD Walk participants at Alice Springs Airport

Alice Springs staff and the crew of the Qantas Prostate Cancer campaign aircraft.

Safe Work Australia Week wrap up