In March 2026, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) completed a targeted review of Flight Information Services in the Pilbara, examining operations around six aerodromes identified by industry as areas of concern.
While the review found a low number of reportable safety incidents, industry feedback highlighted other important considerations.
The Pilbara supports significant aviation activity associated with mining, charter and other operations, with multiple aerodromes operating within a shared regional environment. In these circumstances, aviation safety is influenced not only by the operation of individual aerodromes, but by the interaction between aircraft movements, airspace, communication and surveillance services, traffic information and pilot workload.
CASA’s review considered the effectiveness of existing Flight Information Services as a control measure for aircraft operating outside controlled airspace, including communication and surveillance infrastructure and current traffic-management practices.
As aviation activity grows, changes such as new aerodromes, increased aircraft movements or changing operational patterns can introduce cumulative complexity. Understanding these interactions early can help identify emerging constraints and determine whether existing airspace arrangements, procedures and risk controls remain appropriate.
For regional and resource-sector aviation in particular, proactive airspace and operational assessment can support continued growth while maintaining safe and efficient operations. By considering the wider aviation environment early, potential conflicts and operational risks can be identified before they become constraints on future development.
At Aviation Projects, we support airports, aircraft operators, developers and other stakeholders with aviation safety and risk management, airspace assessments, airport planning, procedure design and impact assessments.
Tags: Aviation Projects, Airspace Regulations, Western Australia, Pilbara, Aviation Safeguarding
