Cairns Scenic Flights and Circuit Training
Scenic flights
Light aircraft and helicopters conduct scenic flights in the Cairns region. Light aircraft operate from Cairns Airport and helicopters operate from both Cairns Airport and the Cairns Esplanade Helipad. The scenic flights are mainly to the Great Barrier Reef, with immediate turns or tracking towards the reef on departure. On return, light aircraft may require a long or short approach to the runway, depending on the conditions. Helicopters will either fly directly back to the helipad or may continue the scenic flight inland taking in sights such as the Kuranda Scenic Rail, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, the Barron Falls and Barron River.
Circuit Training
Light aircraft and helicopters conduct pilot training at Cairns Airport including circuit training.
Circuit training is the first stage of practical pilot training focused on take-offs and landings. It involves the pilot making approaches to the runway or helipad, touching down and then applying power to take off again. This is undertaken in accordance with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Regulations which are consistent with international practices.
How circuits are conducted
A training circuit consists of five legs – take-off, crosswind, downwind, base and final approach to the runway.
Aircraft take off into the wind, climb to 500 feet and then turn onto the crosswind leg. They continue to ascend to 1000 feet and turn onto the downwind leg. Having turned onto the base leg the descent commences. After turning onto the final leg and lining up with the runway the aircraft will touch down and take off again.
Helicopters circuit inside the fixed wing circuit at a lower altitude.
Aircraft usually conduct left hand circuits however at Cairns Airport, for noise abatement, when the runway is used in a northerly direction the aircraft will make a right turn so most of the circuit is over water.
A simplified representation of a left-hand circuit is shown at right. The take off and final stage of the circuit is flown into the wind, as this is the safest way for an aircraft to operate. The aircraft symbols and dotted lines indicate recommended ways for an aircraft to join the circuit pattern. Click the image to enlarge it, and use your browser “Back” button to return to this page.
Between 10.00 pm and 7.00 am, circuit training by jet aircraft (and other aircraft exceeding 5700 kilograms maximum take-off weight) is not permitted.
More information about circuit training is found here.
Flight tracks of scenic flights and circuit training is found in the Cairns Airport Flight Paths page.