Can anyone tell me if you are to overfly an aerodrome, at what height AGL that you do not need to give an overfly call.
G'day,
There is no rulle (as far as I am aware) which states "above xxxx ft AGL you do not need to make a call". It is all about collision avoidance and that depends on the type of operations occurring at the aerodrome, your track relative to arrival and departure paths for the aerodrome, as well as the presence of an IFR approach procedure which may commence several thousand feet above the aerodrome.
My personal preference is below 3000ft AGL, make an overfly call. Above 3000ft, keep a listening watch and if you are relevant traffic, make yourself known.
Cheers,
Rich
If I may add a comment to Rich's thoughts. Please do check the charts for parachuting operations. These can extend up to quite high levels .. certainly above 10,000 ft amsl. The jump pilot will be listening out and you really don't want to waltz through the zone unannounced and then find yourself in the midst of a dozen or more free falling jumpers. Have seen that happen .. no fun at all ... Add to that the jump plane which will be coming down at a very steep angle and probably well outside your routine scan arcs.
Similar comments apply for gliding operations where the gliders operate a bit differently to the typical lightie. Again, you will do yourself a big favour letting the local folks know that you are in their patch ..
Engineering specialist in aircraft performance and weight control.
Also it is interesting to note that when CTAFs were first introduced, they were marked on ERC charts as defined areas with lateral boundaries surrounding an aerodrome. This was discontinued when CASA agreed that a CTAF is a frequency - not a defined area. A CTAF is a frequency to be used for pilot-to-pilot communication in the vicinity of an aerodrome. It is not a piece of airspace and does not have lateral or vertical boundaries. It is up to the pilot to decide when to broadcast his/her intentions. The AIP says that a broadcast should be made no later than 10nm inbound or during taxi outbound. Some students are left with the incorrect impression that 10nm is some kind of lateral limit to the 'boundary' of the CTAF. Phrases such as 'an aircraft being inside the CTAF' don't help. You can't be 'inside' a CTAF - you can't be inside a frequency!
