Salt Ash Weapons Range: Flight Movements

Mr Baldwin asked the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, in writing, on 29 October 2009:

1. What constitutes a flight movement, specifically concerning flight time, number of participating aircraft, and types of activities/training/manoeuvres undertaken.
2. As at 29 October 2009, on average, how many flight movements by (a) F/A-18 Hornet, (b) Hawk 127, and (c) other military aircraft, involve the use of the Salt Ash Weapons Range (SAWR) between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. each calendar year.
3. On average, how many flight movements by (a) F/A-18 Hornet, (b) Hawk 127, (c) F-35 JSF, and (d) other military aircraft, will involve the use of the SAWR between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. each calendar year during the phased introduction of the F-35 JSF.
4. On average, how many flight movements by (a) F-35 JSF, (b) Hawk 127, and (c) other military aircraft, will involve the use of the SAWR between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. each calendar year once the F-35 JSF is fully introduced into service.
5. What types of manoeuvres/activities will the F-35 JSF undertake at the SAWR and what percentage of engine power will be used during these manoeuvrers /activities.
6. Has a study been conducted regarding the impact of F/A-18 Hornet noise on residents directly under the flight path to the SAWR and areas surrounding the SAWR; if not why not.
7. At what distance from the SAWR do aircraft crew arm their weapons.
8. At what height do aircraft crew fire their weapons when using the SAWR.
9. How often does materiel relating to the firing or release of munitions (inert or otherwise) travel beyond the gazetted SAWR boundary and what distance does ricochet material travel or impact beyond the gazetted SAWR boundary.
10. Does his department have a duty of care for residents surrounding the SAWR; if so, how is it upheld.

Mr Combet - The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

1. A flight movement is normally defined as the arrival or departure of an aircraft from an airfield.   Additionally, for aircraft conducting ‘touch and goes’ at an airfield, each circuit flown is counted as an individual flight movement.   For Salt Ash Air Weapons Range (SAAWR), however, a flight movement is defined as the flight of a single aircraft conducting a single weapons delivery pass on a target at SAAWR as part of a training mission involving from one to four aircraft.
2. Please refer to table below.
   

   Current Annual Flight Movements Involving Use of SAAWR (by Aircraft Type)

   Aircraft Type	7:00 am – 6:00 pm 1	6:00 pm – 7:00 am 2
   F/A-18	5,008	Nil
   Hawk 127	7,308	120 movements
   Other Military (PC-9A)	675	Nil
   Notes: Generally scheduled to commence at 8:30 am Generally scheduled to be completed by 10:00 pm in the Winter months and by 11:00 pm in the Summer months.

3. Please refer to table below.

   Annual Movements Involving Use of SAAWR (by Aircraft Type) During Phased
   Introduction of the F-35 JSF into Service.

   	TIME	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
   F/A – 18	7 am – 6 pm	1,250	500	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
   	6 pm – 7am	250	100	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
   Hawk 127	7 am – 6 pm	7,300	7,300	7,300	7,300	7,300	7,300	7,300	7,300	7,300
   	6 pm – 7am	120	120	120	120	120	120	120	120	120
   F-35 JSF	7 am – 6 pm	100	700	1,400	2,000	2,350	2,300	2,350	2,400	2,400
   	6 pm – 7am	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
   Pilot Training Aircraft (AIR 5428)	7 am – 6 pm	700	700	700	700	700	700	700	700	700
   	6 pm – 7am	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

4. Please refer to table below.

   Annual Movements Involving Use of SAAWR (by Aircraft Type) Upon Full Introduction of the F-35 JSF into Service

   Aircraft Type	Movements 7:00 am – 6:00 pm	Movements 6:00 pm – 7:00 am
   F-35 JSF	2,400	Nil
   Hawk 127	7,300	120
   AIR 5428	700	Nil

5. It is unlikely that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) will conduct practice bombing at SAAWR.   However, strafing activity is planned to be conducted at SAAWR. The F-35 uses a thrust that is considered to be approximately 67 per cent of the maximum thrust available to the F-35 during these manoeuvres.  
6. Yes.  Noise impact on Salt Ash residents from current F/A-18 operations was included in the draft Public Environment Report commissioned by Defence on the potential environmental impact from the introduction of the F-35 JSF Sections 6.4.1.2 to 6.4.3.3 of the Public Environment Report, which is available on www.nextairgeneration.com.au (This link is no longer available) , refers to this information. 
7. Weapons are armed inside the Designated Danger Area. The Designated Danger Area has a Gazetted boundary to ensure that all weapon releases fall within the range, including ricochets.
8. Between 11,000 feet and 500 feet.
9. No material, fired, released or ricocheted travels beyond the gazetted SAAWR boundary.
10. Yes.  The duty of care ensures that aircraft operations are conducted in a safe manner, with appropriately qualified crews undertaking flying tasks.  The safety and integrity of aircraft and their associated weapon systems is ensured through a rigorous airworthiness program, which includes annual audits of technical and operational airworthiness compliance. On the ground at SAAWR, a team of safety personnel, which includes a qualified range safety officer, ensure the range is clear of any obstructions which may inhibit safe aircraft operations, and also that the range is clear of any personnel or equipment (military or civilian) which may be inside the gazetted range boundary. The SAAWR is bounded by a fence and appropriate signs to warn members of the public of the dangers of incursions. Warning flags are hoisted at boundary entry points and gates as a further visual signal that weapon training is underway.  A telephone is located at the entry point to the range, connecting to the range safety officer, for all visitors to seek clearance to enter the range.  If required, personnel are positioned as range sentries to ensure no trespassing onto the range during range practices.  These sentries have direct radio communication to the range safety officer who will call a halt to aircraft operations should a conflict arise.  Pilot competency is assured through a thorough and rigorous training regime with suitably experienced and qualified instructors to undertake the training.  Further, in the actual conduct of flying operations at SAAWR each formation of aircraft will have at least one experienced pilot (normally the flight leader of the formation) whose responsibility is to ensure all aircraft are flying the correct patterns and are undertaking weapons training in a safe manner.  If required, the flight leader will call a halt to operations if he is not satisfied with any aspect of the training.

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