Airservices Australia is extending and expanding the  trial Unicom service until October 2008. 
The current trials at Dubbo and Wagga Wagga will continue and three additional trial sites; Port Macquarie, Karratha and Hervey Bay will start in July.
The Unicom Services concept  involves  a skilled Unicom station operator providing the following information:

• Advisory traffic information in the immediate terminal airspace and movement area
• Meteorological information such as factual statements about the weather
• Emergency services alerting
• Other aerodrome information as requested by pilots which could include runway surface conditions and availability of fuel services

The service will be provided on the existing CTAF/R frequency and the operating hours of the trial will generally be determined by Regular Public Transport schedules.

Background

The locations have been selected following airspace risk assessments, the Unicom service seeks  to address possible safety concerns with respect to the traffic density and the mix of aircraft operating at those locations. During the trial period, Airservices will fund the costs of establishing and operating the Unicom service, also creating new jobs in regional NSW and Queensland.

The Unicom Services concept is not a replacement for Directed Traffic Information (DTI) in Class G.

Subject to the trial results, the future plan is to roll out Unicom services at similar regional airports around Australia..

Hervey Bay Industry Briefing

All pilots, technicians, engineers, airport, aviation staff and other interested parties are invited to attend a public information briefing on the upcoming Unicom trial at Hervey Bay Airport.

Availability of a Unicom provides an enhanced level of traffic, weather and aerodrome information to airport users.

Peter Risby ATS Specialist Airservices Australia will be on hand to outline details of the Unicom proposal and the requirements for a local operator to provide the service.

Particularly encouraged to attend are regional operators in Hervey Bay and surrounding areas, including aero clubs, flying schools, charter companies, airports and airlines.  

When: Wednesday 21 May 2008
Where: Peppers Pier Resort , The Esplanade, Urangan Hervey Bay
Time: 1800 - 1900

We hope you are able to join us and we look forward to your participation in the briefing. 

Any questions about the briefing, including if you are unable to attend but are interested in receiving further information - contact: Andrew Richards at Airservices Australia on (02) 6268 4068 or via email: unicom@airservicesaustralia.com.

Pilot Briefing Sheet

Related links

• Unicom Safety and Performance Review (9kb)
• Media Release - Aviation safety trial expanded in regional Australia - 16 April 2008
• Unicom Safety and Performance Review - 15 April 2008 (6.22Mb)
• Airservices progresses Unicom trial - 12 November 2007 (22Kb)
• Airservices meets with local industry to discuss Unicom Trial - 25 September 2007 (28Kb)
• Ministerial Media Release - Improved aviation safety communication trails to commence in regional NSW - 31 August 2007

 

Further Information

For further information, please contact unicom@airservicesaustralia.com