Feedback has been received, please refer to the below.
Gympie Aerodrome (YGYM) Working Party – a subcommittee of the QLD AvSEF, C/O Gympie Regional Council, PO Box 155, Gympie QLD 4570
On 22 January 2025, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s AvSEF secretariat published the public consultation documentation at www.avsef.gov.au/consultations/proposed-change-aeronautical-frequency-use-gympie-aerodrome including an attachment of an extract from the Visual Terminal Chart for Sunshine Coast and an extract highlighting aeronautical features ‘in the vicinity’ of the Gympie Aerodrome (YGYM).
To provide ample opportunity for public interaction during the consultation period, the engagement by AvSEF representatives included:
- More than 800 subscribers to CASA’s Queensland AvSEF email notification list;
- More than 85 recreational, general aviation and commercial pilots, including aircraft owners and operators, through user-group meetings at YGYM;
- Onforwarding consultation details to members of:
- the Gympie Aero Club,
- the Sunshine Coast Gliding Club, and
- the Australian Parachute Federation;
- Emailing a database of 36 aerodrome Lessees, aviators and holders of Air Operator’s Certificates;
- Sharing consultation details with ARO’s at 2 adjacent airports; and
- 1 regional council.
By the end of the public consultation period of 33 days:
- 4 email submissions had been received; and
- no requests for accepting late submissions had been notified, and no requests to extend the formal consultation period had been received.
Summary of consultation
Clear views expressed
Of the four (4) airspace users and stakeholders who responded or whose comments were noted, the following viewpoints were clearly expressed:
Frequency Congestion
- 3 mentioned how busy 126.70 MHz is.
- 3 mentioned congestion on 126.70 MHz.
- 1 mentioned having his radio broadcast cut off by an aircraft flying circuits at YGYM when he was 85nm away from YGYM.
- 1 mentioned the current congestion is confusing for students and low hour pilots.
- 1 mentioned the increased congestion during emergency operations during fire or flood events. He also noted that YGYM is a registered fire and SES airbase and that during a fire, flood or other emergency, YGYM will be very busy with helicopters and fixed wing aircraft using the CTAF.
Changing the Frequency
- 3 of the 4 supported changing from 126.70 MHz to a discreet frequency.
- The fourth mentioned changing to a discreet frequency will not directly affect his flight training operation.
New VFR Waypoints
- No suggestions by any of the submitters.
Viable Variations
- No suggestions by any of the submitters.
Conclusions
The Gympie broadcast area provides a single VHF frequency with defined boundaries. This frequency (126.70 MHz) is shared with the following aerodromes within 50nm of YGYM:
- Cherry Venture YCHV, 28NM northeast – WAC 3340 Brisbane
- Cooloola Cove (no Y-code), 25NM to the northeast – WAC 3340 Brisbane
- Kilcoy YKCY, 42NM south-southwest – WAC 3340 Brisbane, VTC Sunshine Coast, VNC Bundaberg, TAC-1 Brisbane
- Landsborough YLAB, 36NM southeast – WAC 3340 Brisbane, VTC Sunshine Coast, VNC Bundaberg
- Manumbar YMUB, 15NM to the southwest – WAC 3340 Brisbane, VTC Sunshine Coast, VNC Bundaberg
- Murgon YMRG, 42NM west – WAC 3340 Brisbane, VNC Bundaberg, ERC L4, TAC-1 Brisbane
- Nanango YNAN, 46NM to the west-southwest – WAC 3340 Brisbane, VNC Bundaberg, ERC L4, TAC-1 Brisbane
- Noosa YNSH, 21NM to the east – WAC 3340 Brisbane, VTC Sunshine Coast
- Rainbow Beach YRBB, 32NM northeast – WAC 3340 Brisbane, VNC Bundaberg, ERC L4
- Wondai YWND, 45NM west – WAC 3340 Brisbane, VNC Bundaberg, ERC L4, TAC-1 Brisbane
Further, CASA-approved Electronic Flight Bag software shows the following helipads and aerodromes are also located within 50nm of YGYM:
- Boreen Point airstrip (no Y-code), 14NM east
- Kilkwana hospital helipad YXKL, 28NM to the west-northwest
- Nambour hospital helipad YXNA, 24NM southeast
- Noosa hospital helipad YXNO, 20NM east-southeast
- Noosa North Shore/Teewah airstrip (no Y-code), 18NM to the east.
For the YGYM broadcast area consultation, it can be concluded that:
- Many of the airspace users who responded reported congestion and/or how busy the generic CTAF 126.70 MHz currently is.
- Most of the airspace users who responded expressed support for changing the broadcast area CTAF from the generic 126.70 MHz to a unique (discrete) frequency.
- None of the airspace users who responded opposed the proposal to change the broadcast area CTAF from the generic 126.70 MHz to a unique (discrete) frequency.
Recommendations
All the submissions made on this topic have been carefully considered. To enhance the safety benefits of a new VHF Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) for use by all aircraft in the Gympie broadcast area, the subcommittee of the Queensland AvSEF makes two recommendations hereafter:
- The frequency of the Gympie broadcast area should be changed from the generic 126.70 MHz to a unique (discrete) frequency.
- The new frequency would be used whenever an aircraft is “in the vicinity” of the aerodrome, as defined in the regulations and AIP; and
- A new frequency that ends with 00 kHz or 50 kHz would be compatible with older VHF radios that have 50 kHz (not 25 kHz) channel spacing, noting: it is uncertain how many older VHF radios remain in service.
- The boundaries of the existing broadcast area should remain unchanged and maintain the standard CTAF dimensions.