FARM FLYING OPERATIONS
KNOW THE DANGERS! T
hroughout the past few years RAAus members have had a number of serious and fatal accidents whilst carrying out low level or utility flying. Utility operations do not necessarily involve low flying and can include mustering operations, farm flying, including water trough and fence line inspections and stock spotting operations. All of these activities may be carried out above 500’ Above Ground Level (AGL) yet still require pilots to be trained in specialised skills for safe operations. RAAus continues to focus on working with industry as well as local communities to educate pastoralists and farmers of the risks involved in these operations, and urge any member carrying out these types of flights to research additional training and skills to complete these operations safely. Safety is everyone’s responsibility and if you know of someone else conducting these operations then a friendly reminder that additional training is available may also improve their safety – These operations are often very unforgiving due to the altitude, micrometeorology, low airspeeds and distractions present whilst conducting these operations. Why are farm flying, mustering or spotting (Utility) operations dangerous? Utility operations require specialised skills and additional training in order to be completed safely. The very nature of these operations often involves flying an aircraft at slow speeds, focused on a location on the ground, at a height of 1500’ AGL or less and often in a turn. These factors, or small changes in local weather conditions, make it easy for the pilot to become distracted. This may result in changes in aircraft pitch or roll which may go unnoticed, leaving the aircraft potentially slow and/ or unbalanced. Combine this situation with an increased stall speed from operating the aircraft in a turn, and pilots can often be caught out, resulting in a stall/spin event with insufficient altitude to recover. What additional training is available to keep me and others safe? RAAus has a number of training elements available to members to improve safety when operating within a pastoral, farming or low level environment. The Utility endorsement has been
developed to equip pilots with the necessary skills for farm operations, including trough or stock inspections, stock spotting and mustering, even if the flights are to be conducted above 500’ AGL. Additional training available includes stall recovery, slow flight, and constant radius turns, all which may be essential when carrying out farm flying operations. This training is commenced at a safe altitude to prove to the instructor you can manage the aircraft safely, then move progressively lower. The lower you go, the less time you have to identify a potentially dangerous condition, and then recover!
If you intend on carrying out any type of farm flying operation or low level flying, please talk to a local instructor about some additional training to understand the risks involved - It may just save your life! Can I legally conduct mustering or farm work in an RAAus aircraft? An RAAus aircraft may only be permitted to be used for non-hire or reward operations and may only be operated below 500’ AGL if the pilot holds the appropriate endorsements (Low Level & Utility) and has land owner permission. RAAus strongly recommends that all pilots conducting any form of farm flying carry out additional training with an instructor, even if the flights are to be carried out more than 500’ AGL. The most common accident in farm flying are stall/spin accidents which may require more than 1500’ AGL in altitude for recovery. An RAAus aircraft must not be used for hire or reward in any circumstances, including by farm workers utilising an aircraft within their farming role. Essentially, if payment or reward of any form is taking place then an RAAus aircraft must not be used in completion of the job.
11
