Runway works and displaced threshold incidents
AusALPA has participated in CASA WG activities to progress this important safety issue. Too many aircraft at various airports with temporarily displaced thresholds were back tracking too far due to unclear information about what was the usable RWY.
We have advocated for clearer information, with pictorial diagrams to help prevent these issues. Also, we are supporting ideas to install visual markings and or signs adjacent to where the usable RWY commences. We’ll provide more information to members when it’s decided what type of ways and marking is decided upon to display the temporary runway ends.
Also refer to ATSB reports on near collisions with ground equipment on YMML RWY with displaced threshold. https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2025/report/ao-2023-043
Airport Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) Changes
The AusALPA has been involved in responding to international (ICAO) consultations via CASA and IFALPA’s inputs to ICAO. These proposed changes are progressing, and CASA is planning to establish a Technical Working Group (TWG).
The role of the TWG is to provide recommendations, which will inform CASA and be considered by the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) before being presented to the CASA DAS for a final decision.
CASA had been involved with the ICAO OLS WG with an aim to guide these SARPS to be supported by practical guidance material. The ICAO local working groups are working towards the implementation date of November 2030, and there will be more meetings planned for 2026. AusALPA has been and will continue to advocate to ensure practical airport airspace safeguarding is included in considerations and outcomes.
Airport and Local Runway Safety Team (LRST) meetings
National Runway Safety Group (NRSG)
AusALPA has been advocating for the operation and procedures for Stop Bars (SBs) at RWY holding points need to be consistent, no matter what modes the runways are in. Some airports and Airservices have had differing opinions, our positions are about creating consistency of expectation so that complacency doesn’t set in. Other stakeholders at the NRSG subgroup for this issue also provided broad support for the operation of SBs during periods of RWY works too.
The main NRSG meeting is being held the same day as the AFAP Executive. Further updates available in the coming weeks.