We regularly receive calls about unusual or irregular aircraft activity or airport operations.

Aircraft may not fly on the published flight path for a number of reasons. You can learn more on our Do planes have to stay on flight paths? page.

Some other common reasons we are contacted are:

Circuit Training

At major general aviation airports around the country including Bankstown (NSW), Archerfield (Qld), Moorabbin (Vic), Parafield (SA) and Jandakot (WA), flight training schools regularly conduct circuit training. Circuit training sees aircraft, usually small single engine propeller aircraft, fly over the surrounding suburbs at a height of approximately 1,000 ft (305 metres).

Low level flights

Occasionally, aircraft and helicopters fly at low levels for reasons including law enforcement, rescue and military operations, aerobatic or air show displays.

More information is available on our What are the rules about helicopters? page and What are the rules about altitudes? page.

Equipment testing & calibration

We are responsible for conducting regular flight calibration inspections on around 500 navigational aids nationwide.

This involves a specially-equipped aircraft conducting numerous ‘missed approaches’ to test and calibrate equipment usually at low level. In order to fully check the equipment several passes are required and the aircraft may remain in the area for an extended period of time.

Whilst we take measures to reduce the impact of these inspections, they are required to maintain safety of the entire aviation system and on occasion we may need to undertake these at sensitive times.

Smoke and flames from an airport

We regularly conduct training exercises around the country for aviation fire fighters which involve the creation of large amounts of smoke and flames. There may also be an unusually high number of emergency vehicle movements. The appearance of smoke and flames at an airport does not mean there has been an accident or that there is any concern for aircraft safety.

The amount of light aircraft and helicopters flying at any given time will vary.

Weather

Helicopters and light aircraft often fly Visual Flight Rules (VFR) where the pilot uses visual references to the ground or water and does not fly on a set flight path. This means that when the weather is poor, for example when low cloud or fog hampers visibility, these aircraft cannot fly and you will notice a significant drop in the amount of this type of traffic.

Weekends and holidays

Pilots who fly solely for their own recreation generally have weekday jobs and therefore will fly on weekends and holidays when the weather is good. This can contribute to an increase in light aircraft traffic on weekends and some holiday periods.

Time of day

As most recreational pilots are not licenced to fly at night, recreational traffic generally ceases at sunset.

Flying courses

Flying courses have a number of different stages in which students cover theory, then begin circuit training and then progress to flying to training areas and other locations with their instructor. Some courses include night flying training. As students progress through these different stages you may notice variation in the frequency and/or location of light aircraft and helicopter traffic. During periods in-between courses, or during holiday breaks within courses, you may notice a drop in traffic.