A GROUP of model aircraft enthusiasts will need to find a new location to hold major competitions after Gannawarra Shire Council acted on complaints made regarding aircraft being flown dangerously.
Cohuna Model Flying Club has held events at the town’s airstrip for the past 32 years without incident, with the Civil Aviation and Safety Authority giving the group unrestricted height space above the Chuggs Road facility.
The site hosts regular club events, as well as State and national competitions that regularly attract more than 80 people to the area.
However, council received several complaints regarding model aircraft being flown dangerously near landing and/or departing aircraft.
In one known incident that club management witnessed, an aircraft took off from the airstrip’s runway when a State competition was occurring, with the pilot allegedly proceeding to fly over the competition space at a low level whilst several model aircraft were in the air.
The contest director ordered all model aircraft to land as soon as possible to ensure there was no damage.
“In a competition sense we use the whole flyspace,” Cohuna Model Flying Club president, Lyndon Clifford said.
“Some of the model aircraft fly up to 350 kilometres per hour and weight two and a half kilograms, and the aircraft would tear straight through a Cessna (passenger aircraft).”
“We do have a little radio to listen to pilots as they request to land. The pilots are required to identify their approach when they are 10 miles out, but most of the time we only know when an aircraft is landing when they are making their last approach.”
Council passed the complaints onto the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which referred the matters back to the shire for consideration.
“Any interference with aircraft is frowned upon, as far a council is concerned,” Mr Clifford said.
“We asked council if we could put signage up regarding usage of the area, but we need the whole space for competition.”
Council’s decision to stop the club from hosting major competitions at the airstrip means all of the group’s planned events for the year are cancelled, which impacts on accommodation bookings and the influx of tourists to the area.
This includes the antique club meeting planned for September 17 and 18, as well as the club’s annual pylon race meet that was to occur on the weekend of October 15 and 16.
The group is in discussions with council regarding finding a new home, with the financial cost the greatest hurdle.
“We have been offered a property down the highway that would cost $100,000 to relocate to,” Mr Clifford said.
“The new location also needs to be more than three nautical miles away from the airstrip.”
