1. 42 FLIGHT SAFETY AUSTRALIA MAY–JUNE 2006
FLYING OPERATIONS
POINTS
Hundreds have lost their lives as a result of
pressurisation problems. John McGhie explains the
basics of how the pressure system works and what to
do when there is a problem.
I
t’s about the fastest a human can move
without direct aid from a machine. Of
course, you generally need an aircraft
to get you up there, but from a drop height
of 14,000ft a parachutist can reach a ter-
minal velocity of 200km/hr. They usually
open their parachute canopies between
4,000ft and 2,000ft AGL after which they
descend at about 1,000ft/min.
Thesportispartlyabouttheexperienceof
moving at great speed. It’s also fast growing
with over 70 parachuting clubs now active
around the country. There are around 3,000
regular members of the Australian Para-
chute Federation (APF) who jump either
socially, competitively, as instructors or at
skydiving displays around the country.
With over 70,000 people now trying
the sport for the first time each year, there
are a lot of bodies falling through the air
at high speeds! Alongside this growth in
activity comes a risk that conflict might
occur between parachuting and other
operations. It’s happened before. Fortu-
nately, in Australia so far there have been
no accidents as a result.
Pitfalls: At one airfield an inbound regu-
lar public transport (RPT) flight arrived
partway through a parachuting drop.
Although there is a requirement for
parachute operations to cease when RPT
flights are due, this one had arrived early.
Once on the ground, the crew of the RPT
discussed the conflict with the parachut-
ists. Part of the problem was the flight
crew’s radio procedures. They switched
to the CTAF to make their inbound call
and immediately switched back to the
company frequency – without waiting
for any response from other traffic that
may have been in the area.
Conflicts with private flights can also
occur. At a fly-in being held at a small
regional aerodrome, a skydiving display
was scheduled and publicised as part of
the day’s activities. Following the drop a
very stressed pilot approached the para-
chutists and expressed his anger that he
hadn’t been aware of their presence, and
had come dangerously close to them.
The parachutists explained that the
pilot of the jump aircraft had made a
series of radio calls on the local frequency
to announce the jumps. That didn’t go
down well with the inbound pilot – he
didn’t have a radio. In this case, the pilot
should have taken some steps to find out
what the situation at the fly-in was likely
to be when he arrived.
The parachute symbol is used on
enroute and area charts (ERC-low and
AC), VNCs and VTCs to show the loca-
tion of regular parachuting operations
that are notified to authorities by the
APF. ERSA will also note aerodromes
where parachuting operations are com-
mon. However, operations that have only
recently been set up, or are conducted
on an infrequent basis, may not be rep-
With the growing number of
parachuting operations, pilots
need to take care to avoid
conflict, writes Greg Cox.
NOTAMs are no longer issued
unless parachuting operations
involve over 100 descents a day or
more than one aircraft.
During a drop, parachutists are nor-
mally required to remain clear of
cloud and in sight of the drop target
throughout the descent. There is no min-
imum distance from cloud required. So
if there is cloud and you are approaching
ornearaparachutedropzone,makesure
you listen out for radio announcements
of any intended parachuting drop.
Operators can apply to CASA to carry
out drops through cloud. In this case
they must be clear of cloud for the last
1,000ft before their planned canopy
opening height (at least 2,000ft AGL,
higher for some tandem, training or spe-
cialised jumps). Approval for parachut-
ing through cloud has been granted to
operators using drop zones near:
• Nagambie, Victoria.
• Wilton, NSW.
• Wollongong, NSW.
• Canberra, ACT.
• Cairns, Queensland.
• Toogoolawah, Queensland.
Details are at www.casa.gov.au/rules/
miscinst/index.htm – all are marked by
chart symbols and some of them also
have a danger area established. Jump-
ing through cloud may be approved at
other parachuting locations in the future.
P
PARACHUTING THROUGH CLOUD
Istockphoto

2. FLYING OPERATIONS
resented by a symbol on charts and may
not rate a mention in ERSA. There are
also display sites where parachutists jump
that may not be identified on aeronautical
charts and are only notified by real-time
radio broadcast.
NOTAMs are no longer issued for
casual jumps unless parachuting opera-
tions involve over 100 descents a day or
more than one aircraft. Generally this will
only occur at large parachuting events.
While parachuting has long been consid-
ered a VMC operation, it is now possible
to legally parachute through cloud in cer-
tain circumstances (see box). The opera-
tion requires the operator to follow agreed
procedures to maintain safety.
Risk reduction: To reduce the risk of con-
flict with parachuting operations, pilots
need to understand the procedures used,
and take a few simple precautions. In
CTAF areas the jump pilot will normally
broadcast the intention to drop a para-
chutist, on the CTAF, at least two minutes
before the drop. In CTAF-R environments
pilots of parachute aircraft will broad-
cast their intentions four minutes prior
to dropping. The parachutists will drop
upwind of their target, with this distance
dictated by the strength of the wind. Gen-
erally they drop around one mile upwind
of the target; however, this can be up to
three miles upwind depending on the
height of the drop. Parachute operations
in controlled airspace need to request a
“drop clearance” from ATC at least five
minutes before the drop, and receive the
clearance before dropping.
Preparation helps. Check your charts
and exercise caution when operating near
areas marked with the parachute symbol.
Use your radio on the appropriate fre-
quency if you are flying near areas where
parachute operations occur and request
details of any activity. Listen out, know
where you are, and be prepared to adjust
your track if necessary to allow for para-
chutists. Beware if you are flying into or
out from an airfield where parachuting
is in progress as the potential for conflict
peaks as everyone converges on the same
area – avoid the area upwind of the target.
The pilot of the jump aircraft will be
listening and watching out for conflict-
ing traffic and the jumpmaster (who is
responsible for ensuring the parachut-
ists exit over the correct spot) does the
same, with a visual scan of the airspace
below before the jump. The jump pilot
will also broadcast advice on where the
parachutists left the aircraft, and can
usually advise when all parachutists are
on the ground.
At airfields where parachuting is a reg-
ular occurrence, there is usually an oper-
ating procedure agreed between users
of the airfield to ensure that everyone is
aware of safety procedures.
Greg Cox is training manager for the Australian
Parachute Federation.
The Australian Parachute Federation controls
skydiving and parachuting at nearly all civilian
operations in Australia. With the approval of
the CASA it sets the standards of operation,
conducts competitions, issues licences and in-
structor ratings, conducts exams and publishes
a magazine and newsletter to keep its members
informed of current events and safety standards.
Visit the APF website (www.apf.asn.au).
THE JOB OF JUMP PILOT
Parachute pilots are required to
hold at least a private pilots li-
cence (PPL) with 200 hours total time.
One hundred of these hours are to be
as pilot-in-command with 10 hours
on type. Many are commercial pilots.
Although there is no formal endorse-
ment for parachute flying, jump pilots
are trained by either the APF club se-
nior pilot, the club chief (parachute)
instructor and sometimes both.
This training covers aspects of flight
specific to parachuting; efficient climb
and descent profiles, flight with the
door off or open and, of course, flying
along with all your passengers jump-
ing outside! Parachute pilots are not
required to make a jump themselves,
although many do.
PARACHUTE OPS SYMBOL
Watch out: When you see this symbol on a chart it
means that parachute drops occur in this area. Take
precautions by either avoiding the area or taking care
to listen out on the appropriate frequency. Parachute
drops can occur up to 14,000ft.
MAY–JUNE 2006 FLIGHT SAFETY AUSTRALIA 43
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