Dragster threat to Casino airport.
Casino’s aviation community is outraged at a bid to close their airport for up to twelve days a year to allow drag racing events.
Two dragster sessions already held by the “Summerland Drag Racers” have left the tarmac melted in parts under the heat of the spinning tyres, and airport users fear that more such usage would soon damage runways, taxiways and aprons so badly that they would be useless to aircraft – and probably also eventually to dragsters.
Although the damage so far has been caused by souped-up production cars, they are now alarmed that vehicles like the “Bandag Bullet,” billed as the world’s fastest truck at 305 kph, is being promoted as an attraction a dragster meet scheduled at Casino on July 31. This 8 tonne monster is powered by two inter-coupled V8 diesel engines, with two superchargers and four turbo chargers. These deliver a total of 2,200 hp with some 5,600 ft/lb of torque on tap. This could expected quickly to demolish essential aviation assets beyond economical repair.
As well, one airport user warns: “They want to park 1,000 cars on the grass runways and taxiways. They’re not stipulating dates [beyond July 31] but they want to operate at least four times a year and are planning on about 4,000 spectators. It’s huge, and aviation businesses would be severely affected by it. We have helicopter maintenance here, two flight training facilities, two agricultural operators with their own hangars, and all these guys are going to be severely affected if the airport is further downgraded. As well there are already four new hangars here and by the end of the year it looks like another five. Even the Rural Fire Services has secured a block and they’ll be putting in a big permanent air base here. Council in the past has fostered the development of aviation industries but now these things are conflicting.
“One of the councillors has a drag race car, and this makes matters worse for the aviators because his fellow councillors seem more inclined to support him than aviation use. The Council has deregistered the airport at Casino, but it still shows as an airport in many GPS databases. The Council never issues notams [notices to airmen] about airport closure.”
Dragsters on the runway and a housing development on final approach
De-registering an airport also ensures that there will be no CASA safety standards oversight, nor will NOTAMs (notices to airmen) be published to warn arriving aircraft on days when the dragsters have taken over.
There is now growing concern all over Australia over the future of airports as local government airport operators allow such non-aviation incursions, apparently in breach of contracts called deeds of transfer, between operators and the Commonwealth Government signed in 1992 as part of the government’s airport local ownership plan (ALOP.)
The contracts, all of which are understood to be based on the same pro forma, typically require the aircraft operator to (paraphrased):
(a) Operate the aerodrome, open to public use, in compliance with (the regulations and standards) for the type and category of aircraft operations at the aerodrome and shall permit access to the aerodrome access to the aerodrome to (authorised persons)
(b) Be solely responsible for operating and maintaining the aerodrome and its equipment to (Civil Aviation Authority standards.)
(c) Permit open, unrestricted and non-discriminatory access to the aerodrome by (airline and aircraft operators…..)
(d) Allow, where applicable, all operations and aircraft movements that are in pursuance of (international aviation rights.)
(e) Be responsible for the safety of the aerodrome in accordance with (the relevant Acts and Regulations.)
(f) Bear the same responsibilities for airport security.
(g) Take such action as is within its power to prevent the restriction of aircraft operations to and from the aerodrome by objects such as buildings, other structures, trees or other natural objects (acting as obstacles to aircraft movement)
The deeds also require councils to exercise their land zoning authority to prevent residential and other incompatible development in areas which may be affected by aircraft noise, to prevent hazards to aircraft, and prevent developments that might be incompatible with air navigation and communications facilities.
Aviation tenants at a large number of ALOP airports are now complaining that local government airport operators and transport bureaucrats are deliberately ignoring these contractual obligations and that apparently no moves have ever been made by government to monitor compliance.
According to documents provided to AviationAdvertiser:
- On December 18 2001 the council considered an approach by the Campervan and Motorhome Club (CMC) of Australia to allow it to purchase “an area of land,” requesting that the negotiations be “commercial in confidence.”
- The Council voted to exclude the press from its deliberations “until negotiations are completed.”
- The sale of the Casino airport land never went out to tender.
- On 19 December 2001 Council’s General Manager wrote to DOTRS seeking approval to sell the land to the Motorhome Club of Australia to establish a “home-base”, citing economic reasons and community benefits.
- At this point both the Council and the Department of Transport was aware that the Council intended to sell all or part of the airport in December 2001 but the public was still not aware of that intent.
- The Council sold 122.49 hectares of Casino airport (including a terminal building worth $800,000) to a Casino Village Limited, a private developer, for $660,000.
- The sale terms provided for a deposit of $160,000 including GST, and five annual payments each of $100,000 interest free.
- One month after the completion of the sale contract the land was revalued for almost three times the sale price, freehold land being valued at $1.2 million and buildings at $500,000.
- The submission by Council to DOTARS failed to state that the true purpose of the sale was the establishment of a residential development, citing economic benefits to the region arising from local materials and construction. This did not eventuate because the buildings were prefabricated and transported in on trucks.
The Richmond Valley Council has never explained to the aviation or general communities exactly what benefits accrued to ratepayers or airport users from these transactions, nor has it explained who in fact did benefit.
There is now a housing development off the end of the main runway, which is in breach of the Council’s contracted obligations and will ultimately be the basis for noise complaints and all the implications that follow from that.
The air ambulance regularly calls in to Casino to pick up patients. Twice a medical specialist from Sydney has been unable to land his aircraft at Casino and has had to divert because of the drag racing. When the drag races are on, the airport is closed for three days.
The grass runway beside the sealed runway now has large ruts in it which could easily cause a glider or light aircraft to nose over and crash.
Tenants and other airport users believe the airport remains an essential community asset, and that it is high time the responsible Minister and his department took assertive action to demand compliance with the deed of transfer.
Local Govmnent YUK
Come on all you flying Lawers why can’t we put a “CAVEAT” or whatever Australia wide to stop this rot permanently
AN OPEN LETTER TO MINISTER ALBANESE
Minister Albanese, if you enjoy taking a holiday by air to faraway places, have you ever thought about how the plane gets you there? Discount air travel is within the reach of most nowadays and is much in demand. However there is still a grave shortage of qualified airline pilots.
Taking a peep through the cockpit window as you board a jumbo, you see a couple of men in uniform sitting in front of numerous instruments, dials and gauges preparing flight plans, checking radio frequencies, assessing weight and balance sheets, assessing fuel upload and so on. You stare in wonder at these amazing sky jockeys.
Maybe you’re boarding an airliner to whisk you away to Bali or Bangkok or to some important conference in London or Moscow? These airplane drivers, or pilots as they are called, are highly experienced and must get you safely to your destination through all sorts of weather. Their competency comes from extensive training which costs literally millions of dollars.
Starting at the beginning, the student pilot must do about 40 hours of circuits and bumps, stalls, effects of controls, steep turns, glide and powered approaches, and a multitude of other things. It is a very big learning curve. The student pilot needs a quiet environment where he can concentrate on the job of flying the aeroplane until it becomes second nature before he launches out into navigation, instrument flying and a thousand or so more hours of intensive training to become an airline pilot.
Since 1992 things have changed. That was the year the Commonwealth of Australia handed over about 250 airports to local Councils under a deed of transfer, which spelled out restrictions on the aerodromes being only used for aviation related business.
However, the local Councils, having been given these freebies, decided the aerodromes were vast tracts of land which did not earn them much income. Progressively the land around has been eye’d off for housing by Councils in contravention of the deed, or utilised for some other activity. One airport comes to mind – Casino Airport. This airport is presently under threat by drag racers being promoted on a local radio station to “come and rip up the runway”. The radio presenter is none other than the drag racing promoter himself!
Casino is a brilliant pilot training airport and the very reason why country airports exist. Presently student pilots are trained by the local flying instructors at Casino and other students are brought down from the Gold Coast. With only a couple of hours circuit time allocated to training at the Gold Coast each day, the pilots have limited training time available in the circuit, so have to go elsewhere. As you know, the Gold Coast is a busy place with airliners landing and taking off with great frequency. Casino is close in air time, is a quiet location, and just perfect to get the student pilots going on their way to becoming the airline pilots of the future.
The Richmond Valley Council seems to think otherwise, and you as Minister appear to be pretty lax about the deed of transfer. The drag racers receive a $5000 Council grant, then are charged $1000 a day to hold races on the runway at Casino Airport. Yes, they are subsidised by ratepayers money! The real outcome does not become clear until several days of drag races have been held – the airport runway which trains pilots has been ruined. The sealed runway has ruts and bumps in it, and melted tarmac with gravel showing through big cracks, and the grass airstrip and taxiways have deep ruts across them rendering them dangerous for potential prop strikes. And Richmond Valley Council has to potentially find over $100,000 to get Casino airport back to aviation related business, because it stupidly let the drag racers in on airport land.
If you want to experience a holiday by the new Dreamliner to a faraway place, remember that it needs pilots who fly aeroplanes to get you there, not drivers of drag cars! Please can you therefore look into the Casino airport matter of drag race cars and heavy drag race trucks ripping up the tarmac. Thank you. Submissions close on 16th July 2010 for Jukebox Inc’s DA.2010/420 for drag races at Casino Airport. Contact Richmond Valley Council now on 0266600300. Your attention to this matter is much appreciated. A 30 page development application is available from the RVC.
Margaret Howes
320 Moylans Lane
Empire Vale 2478
0428-878-505
Margaret,
Well said! Mr Albanese might also need a heads up on the costs incurred to pilots in gaining the appropriate qualifications, so he can enjoy jet setting around the world in safety.
I am personally one of these people, down about $65,000 and still not yet ready for any airline jobs without spending at least another $20 to $30,000 out of my own pocket. Then I might be lucky to earn $40,000 a year as a first officer, if I am fortunate enough to even get a job.
Such a vast country should be encouraging a boom in the aviation industry. Instead, the opposite is happening and the government is killing off an already struggling industry, slowly but surely!
Politicians are no longer in it for the best interests of the nation, they are in it for their extraordinary pension schemes and benefits, and anything that will win them the next election. No thought is given to the needs of the nation, and they are ALL as bad as each other.
Pi$$ed off aviator!
Hi,
I am thinking that there is a great potential for a legal case against both the local councils in question and possibly the Commonwealth. Anyone interested in funding the case?
Having for many years tried to interest politicians in general aviation (GA) reform measures, I can safely say that we have a hugely steep and rocky road ahead. GA is suffering from severe bureaucratic sclerosis and, increasingly, lack of infrastructure. Compared to all the other problems, we should give major weight to the loss of airports, without which there is no GA.
Already the lack of activity has meant that fuel companies have taken away many re-fuelling facilities, which reduces safety and efficiency. Instructors and LAMES are heavily restricted compared to their USA counterparts, again raising costs and raising the level of dis-incentives throughout. The Commonwealth could could cause the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act to encompass GA as well as the heavy segment (mainly the airlines), thus providing some competition between regulators.
The only way forward is to make our parliamentary represenatives aware. Now is the time to talk to your MP.
If any country is in need of a healthy GA industry surely it is Australia. The advances in technology, like synthetic vision, automatic traffic management(dubbed free flight in the USA), weather and fuel managed flight with integrated auto pilot are just on the threshold of low cost availability. These advances will bring GA into contention for mainstream transport, thus taking appreciable numbers of the roads.
The airport at Casino is yet another airport that has had to make way for motor sport/entertainment, I notice that Top Gear Australia spend a load of time tearing up Camden (Class D) airport just outside Sydney.
Snowy River Shire Council sold (gave away) Cooma airport, which under Councils own valuation was worth $3,000,000 for $500,000 with 5 to 10 years to pay interest free, there seems to be a common theme of incompetence running through NSW councils.
Very few Councils have an ability to operate an airport, Bega Valley Council has a madcap idea to lengthen Merimbula airport in the hope that one day someone will want to operate a 737 to there.
Councillors around the country seem to believe that their little airport should have an RPT jet service.
Anyone who believes talking to politicians will save airport and aviation is dreaming, they are the ones who have gotten us into the current predicament.
ICAC may be the way to go?
You have to be kidding me?….4-12 days a year out of 365 to give up an airstrip that is decommissioned…
4-12 days from 365 that could potentially save a life of a car enthusiasts (or others) that chooses to use the safe strip environment rather then our local streets???
…its the same people above that hop straight on the band wagon the second any type of hoon conversation is raised…..but then still want it your own way when your hobby it threatened
4-12 days…support it and work with the organisers to make sure the facility does not get destroyed ….but dont be so selfish as to try and stop 4000+ people from enjoying motorsport in a safe environment
Please get your facts straight re the above story
ladies and gentlemen
you all have failed to notice that the communities, via their councils, own outright the aerodromes.
accordingly, the communities,via their councils, make the decisions about their property.
aviators are a minority within the community – you are not as important as you tell each other.
motor sport fans are a majority.they will win any war you may wage.
get a life – all of you
Len Sandler
How dare Margaret Howes complain that Ratepayers are subsidising the Drag racing on Casino Airport.It is only for a few days of the year,whereas you Biggles and Berties get the heavily subsidised ratepayer facility for the remaining 360 days for next to nothing.
Len if motor sport is so important and there are so many of you go and build your own facility. And by the way when you do expect us pilots to demand that we have access to it for our use.
While the councils may own the airfields they got them with conditions that had to be met. On the face of it some of the deals look dodgy to say the least and the community should be asking whose pockets got lined.
kym why dont you accept the fact its owned by the council. So just as you told len to build his own facility. Why dont you build one and then you dont have to worry about the rest of the community using it for 4 times a year to drag race.
Len,
Next time you want an overseas holiday, drive your car there!!!!! You need to see this for what it is.
The aviation community is entitled to have facilities available to them. It’s a free world, live and let live. No one is saying don’t have drag races, just go do it where you aren’t impacting the freedoms and rights of other people.
Whether the aviation community is a minority is irrelevant and EVERYONE in Australia has the right to participate in any activity they choose without being shot down by bozos who think their activities take priority over everyone else.
As long as you are content, who gives a stuff about other people hey!
Pretty selfish.
Anthony,
exactly right,you say “everyone has the right to participate in any activity they choose without……..taking priority over everyone else etc”but isn’t that what the aviators want over drag racing enthusiasts?
How many airports do you want exclusivity for the small group you support in this area..you have Casino,Lismore,Evans Head,Ballina,Grafton……
the drags people,representing a much bigger group, just want access to one,and for only a few days a year!
and at $1500 per day rental paid to the community,pay far more than your group pay per capita in a full year !
I have been watching and reading comments with interest,
the aerial photo that is supplied shows great detail of the drags.
I am curious, how far are these dragsters actually racing?
According to their website (Summerland Drags)they are only racing an 1/8 of a mile from a standing start.
How long is the airstrip?
Who has the proof of the damage of the melted tarmac from the drag racers?
How many drag racing cars participate?
The summerland drag site mainly shows street cars entered!
So who is right and who is wrong, someone is certainly missing some
facts.
Anthony,
The Casino airport is owned by the Council, thus making it a public owned asset, correct?
If so, the aviation community don’t own it, and neither do the drag racers, therefore it is up to our elected councillors to make a decision on how to use and manage that asset in the best interests of the community.
Therefore your ” Whether the aviation community is a minority is irrelevant and EVERYONE in Australia has the right to participate in any activity they choose without being shot down by bozos who think their activities take priority over everyone else” is 100% correct, and giving drag racers 12 days use of the facility and the aviators 353 days use of the facility seems like a fair compromise to me!
Re Dan’s comments;
1. “give up an airstrip that is decommissioned…”, it is merely uncertified not unused.
2. May be in another life I’ve cut to many car enthusiasts out of their cars.
3. Apart from the enthusiasts not many people are into driving more than a couple hundred kms.
Anthony
Name calling will get you no were us “bozos” arnt trying to shut you down we simply want to use it 4 weekends a year. Why dont you buy it off the casion council so you dont have to share it with rest of us. ” No one is saying don’t have drag races, just go do it where you aren’t impacting the freedoms and rights of other people.” Oh so you meen the local streets?
PWM
I doubt you would have cut genuine car enthusiasts out of cars….your thinking about local drunks and hoons…not genuine car enthusiasts. How far away is the next cloest airport to casino? Im sure its closer then willowbank race way at ipswitch.
The aviation community have had the De-registered airpot to themseleves for so many years now you dont want to share with anyone else. As long as you are content, who gives a stuff about other people hey!
Pretty selfish.”
PWM you write
“maybe in another life I have cut to many car enthusiasts out of their cars”
Well don’t you think having somewhere for these people to race their cars is a great thing instead of on the roads where your or my family may be driving.
People can’t fly everywhere,I have just returned from Sydney on holidays and I can tell you lots of people drove their vehicles for their holiday.
Not everyone shares your flying enthusiam.
Kym
If we did have a Drag Racing Strip which had been built with public rates and taxes,of course we would be happy to share it with you Aviators.
but hey,only 12 days a year and you would have to pay $1500 per day landing fees.
because ,after all,it would not be an airport anymore,just a community owned paddock with a tar road down the middle.