Launceston Airport will get a new control step out to the Tasmanian coast under a new proposal currently being considered.
The proposal will created a control step with a base of 6500 feet between 30 and 36 DME north, covering the coast and the CTAFs at Georgetown and Bridport, including Barnbougle Dunes. The CTA base there under the existing airspace design is 8500 feet.
The step will arc from just east of Port Sorell around to a point on the coast near Big Waterhouse Lake.
The proposal comes after CASA's Office of Airspace Regulation conducted a review into the airspace design that found it increased workload for both pilots and ATC for aircraft arriving onto runway 14 from the mainland.
"Data provided to the [OAR] confirmed stakeholder information with regard to aircraft profiles arriving from over Bass Strait onto runway 14 at Launceston," the OAR review concluded.
"Also, aircraft arriving along the Flinders Island-Launceston route leave and re-enter CTA during descent. During both instances there is an increased workload for pilots and air traffic control (ATC) during the critical phase of flight.
"The types of aircraft include jet and turbo-prop aircraft that transport the largest number of passengers at Launceston."
According to the OAR, the new airspace architecture will improve the situation particularly in the presence of tailwinds.
"The primary reason is to increase the aircraft efficiencies, particularly for aircraft on approach to runway 14 at Launceston," the consultation document states. "Currently aircraft arriving from over Bass Strait can experience considerable tail winds resulting in aircraft descending with these tailwinds.
"Pilots experience an increased workload reducing aircraft speed, maintaining an optimal descent profile while monitoring to remain in controlled airspace."
CASA currently has the proposal out for consultation until 12 May, with an online survey that can be accessed through the CASA consultation hub.