Residents of Townsville may see an aircraft flying unusually low tomorrow as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) carries out flight path safety checks at Townsville Airport.
CASA is conducting the checks to validate temporary instrument approach procedures to support ongoing runway extension works.
The checks ensure the approach procedures operate safely and are planned for the afternoon of Thursday 28 May.
A twin-engine Beechcraft Baron will be used to carry out the safety checks within an area near Magnetic Island and Rowes Bay and up to 10 kilometres north-west of Townsville aerodrome.
Low-level flying is an essential part of the safety exercise, with the aircraft down as low as several hundred feet at times.
Local residents may notice an uncommon flying pattern, but this is to make sure obstacles are accurately marked on charts and no new obstacles exist. Obstacles can be towers, trees, masts or buildings that can be a danger to aircraft.
If poor weather or other factors do not allow the safety checks to go ahead on the planned day, they will be carried out as soon as possible.
