Beware of low aircraft

SOUTHERN Downs residents may notice aircraft flying strangely around Warwick and Stanthorpe aerodromes next week as special flight safety checks are carried out between 22 February and 1 March.
The checks are being conducted at 10 aerodromes across Queensland for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to make sure flight paths at the aerodromes continue to be safe.
Low level flights using a twin-engine Cessna Conquest aircraft will be undertaken at each aerodrome to check flight paths within an area of up to 35 kilometres from the aerodromes.
The checks will ensure navigation aids are operational and not suffering interference, as well as looking for any new obstacles that could be a danger to aviation safety.
Low-level flying is an essential part of the safety exercise, with the aircraft down as low as several hundred feet at times, a CASA spokesperson said.
CASA requires aerodrome flight path safety checks to be carried out every three years to maintain a high level of air safety at all aerodromes.
CASA has contracted the operation of the special check flights out to Corporate Air, one of Australia’s largest and longest established aviation services providers.