Flying to Goolwa Airport

PLEASE READ!

RA-AUS AIRCRAFT MUST OBTAIN PRIOR PERMISSION BEFORE CONDUCTING OPERATIONS!

This has been brought on because RA-Aus are no longer passing on landing fee invoices.

For Example: If you conduct a Touch & Go and we do not know who you are then we cannot invoice you for using our airfield. This is unfair to the GA registered aircraft and those RA-Aus aircraft that do the right thing. A simple phone call or just do a full stop and have a word with us and there will be no problem.

PRIOR PERMISSION REQUIRED - PPR

As an uncertified ALA, YGWA cannot issue NOTAMS, therefore any operation that would require you to check NOTAMS for YWGA will require you to obtain prior permission, so that any operational information regarding YGWA can be disclosed. If you do not require any airfield specific information and are capable of going to an alternate airfield then you do not need to call, except for training operations, see below.

TRAINING OPERATIONS

Any operation that is considered training, including touch & go’s, irrespective of wether you are with a flight training facility or private, requires prior permission. All training operations will attract a fee.

MAPS

Goolwa Airport can be located on the following charts;

WAC 3458, 3459, Adelaide VTC and VNC, ERC L7 and L2 and ERC H3 South

Notes:

Please read the current ERSA entry carefully noting that there are no midfield crosswind joins.
Please take note of the parachute symbol - do not overfly the airfield as parachute operations can take place at any time. See CAAP 166-1(1) Section 5.4.4
Please observe the Fly Neighbourly agreement (FN13) marked on the Adelaide VNC to the south west of Goolwa. Information on this area can be found in ERSA under Special Procedures.

RADIO PROCEDURES

You do not need a radio to fly into Goolwa Airport, however if your aircraft is fitted with a radio then it must be used and used correctly. Goolwa Airport can be very busy at times and too many transmissions can be more dangerous than not enough. Please read the information in the following link.

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION - CLICK HERE TO READ

NOTE: If your aircraft does not have a radio fitted then we strongly advise that when you call us on the phone prior to coming into Goolwa that you clearly state that you do not have a radio.

Helicopter Operations

Helicopters are to be mindful of downwash, especially near hangars and the residential Airpark areas. Please avoid taxiways near hangars and gravel areas. Helicopters are NOT to directly overfly any structures. Please approach on the appropriate runway or grassed area. For refuelling, please proceed as directly as possible to the refuelling area taking note to avoid dusty or gravelled areas, parked aircraft and open hangars.

CIRCUIT PROCEDURES

As noted in ERSA we do not allow mid-field, cross-wind joins. Also, there are Right Hand circuits on 01, 09 and 34. To ascertain wind direction the preferred method is to fly to the right of the centreline of 01 so that the main windsock is on your left at or above 1600’ (500 above circuit height). Goolwa Unicom is also available on 126.95 to advise on the current active runway.

The preferred runway is 01. In calm or light wind conditions then 01 will be the duty runway. Aircraft may take off on 19 in these conditions provided that there are no other aircraft in the circuit and no aircraft taxiing for 01.

Skydivers will always operate to the WEST or NORTH of the active runway. While all circuits are to the EAST or SOUTH. Aircraft should continue normal entry and circuit procedures whilst skydive operations are active.

DANGER!

Aircraft should never execute an orbit whilst in the circuit, either extend the current leg or do a go-round.

Also avoid doing orbits over the township as this is a busy entry point into Goolwa Airport.

WARNING!

Aerobatics are not permitted in the circuit area.

When you arrive…

GROUND OPERATIONS

Runway 01/19 has two sections of bitumen, the “old” runway is 20m wide and constitutes the northern end. The “new” section is 12m wide and constitutes the southern end. No aircraft is allowed to conduct 180° turn on the “new” bitumen. There is a turn node at the southern end. If an aircraft HAS to backtrack then the turn node must be used.
All runways have an associated taxiway with various hold/exit points. Aircraft should always exit the runway as soon as possible onto a taxiway. If an aircraft needs to backtrack either due to wet weather or other limitations then please check with Goolwa Unicom first.
Aircraft should always stop and look before crossing a runway. Hold points are marked by double yellow cones. There are some positions on the airfield where it may be difficult to see if the runway is clear - DO NOT CROSS IF YOU CANNOT VERIFY 100%. Remember that aircraft may be operating without a radio. Check with Goolwa Unicom or taxi to a location where you can be sure the runway is clear.
See the link above for a copy of the Airport Map.

PARKING

There are six parking bays on the grass opposite the refuelling area marked with orange cones. Aircraft should park facing west towards the taxiway.
Larger aircraft or those not wishing to tie down can park on the sealed apron towards the office. Aircraft should park facing east with their tails as close to the grass bank as possible.

THE OFFICE

All pilots should report to the flight office (or if unattended, call the number on the office door) after landing as fees may apply.
Pilots visiting other businesses or individuals on the airfield (i.e. GRFS, CAC etc) should still contact the office as landing fees may apply.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Due to the increase in aircraft near misses and runway incursions at Goolwa Airport, it is imperative that all pilots are familiar with the requirements for radio broadcasts at non-towered aerodromes.

Pilots using Goolwa Airport must make only the required minimum broadcasts as per CAR 166C and maintain a listening watch as per CAR 243.

Un-necessary broadcasts will not be tolerated at Goolwa Airport.

Please read CAAP 166-1(1), Section 6

In times of high activity it is more important to listen than it is to talk, the longer you spend on the radio the greater the chance of stopping or blocking other transmissions. If you do not listen and just make calls then you greatly increase your risk of a collision. Listen for the expected minimum calls and respond only if there is a reasonable risk of collision, do not make a call if there is no need, each time you make an unnecessary call you stop someone else from making an important call.

In short, VFR pilots should make the following expected calls;

Intention to take off: Immediately before or during taxi. There is no need to give taxi calls if taxiing to the run-up bay, or across the airfield (see note 1). “Goolwa Traffic, Cessna 172 ABC taxiing to runway 01 for departure to the east, Goolwa”
Entering a runway: Immediately before entering a runway. “Goolwa Traffic, ABC entering and rolling runway 01, Goolwa.”
Inbound: At 10nm or sooner depending on performance. “Goolwa Traffic. Cessna 172 ABC is 10 miles to the East, 2500 feet, inbound, on descent, expect circuit at time 25, Goolwa.”
Joining the circuit: Immediately before joining the circuit. “Goolwa Traffic, Cessna 172 ABC joining downwind for 01, Goolwa.”
Straight in or Base leg join: On final before 3nm from threshold, or prior to joining base. “Goolwa Traffic, Cessna 172 ABC is established on final for straight in approach runway 01 full stop, Goolwa.”
Flying through the vicinity: NOTE: Due to skydive operations, if aircraft do not intend to land at Goolwa then they should not overfly, i.e. remain outside the area to avoid conflict. See CAAP 166-1(1) section 5.4.4

CIRCUITS

If you are flying circuits, you do not need to make any calls, you only need to respond to the above expected calls. If you feel the need to call then a base call with intentions is all that is needed. “Goolwa Airport, Cessna 172 ABC turning base, runway 01 for a touch and go, Goolwa.”

EXAMPLES

Good: “Goolwa Traffic, Cessna 172 ABC is taxiing for runway 01 for circuits, Goolwa.” Response: “Goolwa Traffic, Jabiru 7654 is 4 miles to the east, 1100 feet about to join downwind for runway 01, Goolwa.” The Cessna now knows an aircraft may be joining downwind just as they are turning downwind and can elect to delay takeoff or extend the upwind leg.

Bad: “Goolwa Traffic, Cessna 172 ABC is 10 miles to the east, 3500 feet, inbound, on descent, expect circuit at time 45, Goolwa”. Response: “Goolwa Traffic, Jabiru 7654 is coastal abeam the airfield at 3500 feet, tracking west for Victor Harbor, Goolwa”. This response in unnecessary as there is no risk of conflict.

Bad: “Goolwa Traffic, Cessna 172 ABC is taxiing for run up bay, Goolwa.”, “Goolwa Traffic, Cessna 172 ABC is taxiing for runway 01, Goolwa.”, “Goolwa Traffic, Cessna 172 ABC is entering runway 01, Goolwa.”, “Goolwa Traffic, Cessna 172 ABC is rolling runway 01, Goolwa.” “Goolwa Traffic, Cessna 172 ABC is turning downwind, Goolwa.”, “Goolwa Traffic, Cessna 172 ABC is departing downwind runway 01, on climb to 2500, Goolwa.”, “Goolwa Traffic, Cessna 172 ABC is now 5 miles to the north at 2500 feet, Goolwa.”, etc. etc

General Information