Microlighters

I was participating in a shooting competition this morning at the SANDF Goede Hoop shooting range near Atlantis, and my ears pricked up when I overheard the Army Range Manager complaining about aircraft flying over the range when it is being used. I had a word with him about this afterwards and it seems that the incidence of microlights and other aircraft flying over the "live" range is becoming something of a problem. (never mind the potential Darwin Award nomination for a wannabe moving target pilot!)

He did acknowledge the "microlights and helicopters" were not the only culprits and that the Delta 200 parachute club aircraft were also at fault, and that despite previous requests to them from the SANDF, the situation had become such that the SANDF is now looking into the possibility of having that section of the Delta 200 declared a FAP / FAR to 2500ft.

The Range Manager was quite reasonable, saying that he personally had no problem if guys flew behind the shooting positions (i.e behind the club house buildings or along the railway line) - but to PLEASE not fly over the live firing range when the large red flags were flying as this interrupts all shooting practices and competitions as the Range Officers have to call for a "cease fire" until the aircraft has moved safely away.

It would be a pity to have yet another FAR or FAP slapped into our airspace so please guys, lets use some common sense on this one and keep clear when the hot lead is flying and the red flags are flapping.

Please could you circulate this request to others why fly in and around the Delta 200 so that we can preserve some of our ever shrinking airspace.

Thanks

It's not on the aviation maps, I have no clue of where it is, it is in a General Flying Area which is used for student flight training. The pilot has full right to be there as long as he is within the boundaries of the FAD (Ground to 4000ft) You therefore cannot expect pilots to know when they can or cannot fly over the area. Do they publish notams?

It would be better then to create a FAR as with Koeberg if the range is being used on a daily basis

To equate the potential of injury to a pilot with Darwin Award nominations where the pilot is completely within his right is ridiculous. The range and it's range officer doesn't have a leg to stand on.

Do you have the position of this range plus the times and dates that the range operates in so I can notify other pilots on Microlihters and within WCMC.

Good points Morph... My intention here is not get get into a "who has right of way" debate - but, as per ostrich, chicken farms or dairies - simply draw attention to the situation - and hope that a little common sense and courtesy by us pilots can alleviate the threat of an imposed airspace restriction. Not every problem has to have a legislated unhappy ending.

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Thanks Learjet

If we can get times and days when the shooting range is open then I will ensure there is enough coverage here and at the monthly WCMC meetings.

?? "and that the Delta 200 parachute club aircraft were also at fault,"

I don't know who the range manager is, but there are only a few pilots at Skydive Cape Town and we all avoid the range at all times and have done so for the last couple of years as requested by the SANDF.

The sand dunes are like a magnet for students in the GF and many of them fly over the range and or operate in its vicinity. Aircraft that offend are often assumed to be from the DELTA 200.

The SANDF should contact the flying schools in the area and ask them to incorporate the rifle range in their GF briefings as we did with parachute operations over the DELTA 200.

How easy is it to see the red flags from the air? My perception would be that it might be difficult to spot red against dark green foliage especially under certain light conditions? Anybody had a look at that?

Hell I find it difficult to spot the windsock sometimes from a 1000 feet up! And yes I am wearing my glasses when flying!

Hey CW,
I would have to say that for you all the way out in OZ, it would be impossible to see those flags!

In addition to this shooting range there is also the Koeberg shooting range.

This is opposite the Atlantis Dunes, see pic. I believe it has been replaced by the new big one but it seems to have all its infrastructure there so might still be in use.

My usual routing is past here as you either sneak through along the west coast road or over the brickworks to avoid the meatbombers operating out of D200.

Yes, there should be NOTAM to the effect that the range operates between certain times. But identifying dangers should be part of your situational awareness. Especially if flying low.

Additionally there is no way that you can hear any of the gunfire through the headsets and the noise of the engine.

Learjet said on AVCOM wrote:pilots should just assume that the range is active on weekdays and Saturdays.

Let's avoid this area completely guys

Having spent two years in brown clothing.
Found myself flying on the safe side anyway. Will communicate with the Wintervogel bunch, as we seen to be over the range and dunes most frequently.
Maintaining free flight is in all of our interest “kort brook” is doing his utmost to ban everything besides breathing and wanking in public!
Thanks for the recommendation.
Fly safely.
Graham.