4 It's against aviation law to fly less than 500 ft off the ground in a populated area not on approach to an airport.
5 Since september 11 2001, people have been a bit sensitive to unusual aircraft airborne movements around heavily populated cities, such as in this case. (even if it is a 4 seat Cessna single prop)
6 This is Sydney Harbour bridge, an Icon for all of Australia. Not only that but it doesn't have 6 lanes of traffic, it has
8 traffic lanes, 2 railway lines and a pedestrian footpath. Literaly a thousand (or more) people can be on the bridge at any given moment.
7 Finally the airspace is known as the "R405" for Restricted Area 405. Restricted areas have special procedures, as outlined in the ERSA (EnRoute Suppliment Ammendment) and for the 405, you must be at 500ft when west of the harbour bridge, and between 500ft and 1000ft when east of it. THe south shore of the harbour is inside controlled airspace and you must contact (and recieve clearance from) Sydney Approach frequency before flying south of the south shore. All aircraft inside the R405 must monitor Sydney Radar, and make radio calls whenever 1: Entering the airspace, by giving position, and intentions. ie "Sydney Radar and all stations Romeo 405, Cessna Mike Hotel Golf overhead Parramatta, tracking Ryde Bridge descending to 500ft, for entry into the Romeo 405 to cross Harbour Bridge for the Middle Harbour." The controller manning the Sydney Radar position will then plot you on his radar screen and may give you advice such as "Mike Hotel Golf, traffic is a Piper tracking westbound on Romeo 405 500ft, Enter Romeo 405, remain OCTA" Respond "Copy Traffic, will report visual, Mike Hotel Golf" and then fly to the north of the south coast, but as far to the :right: as possible of the track, keeping an eye out for the aircraft flying at the same altitude opposite direction, maintaining 500ft preferably over water, and will be looking to pass the opposite direction traffic to the right of him. (so he will be north of you) There may also be a 747-400 flying only 1000ft above you as you pass Gladesville bridge
. once you pass Over the top of the harbour bridge (always keeping to the right (tracking just north of the south shore) and keeping a good lookout ahead and to the left) you then start to ease your plane upwards away from 500ft to somewhere between 500 and 1000, unless your planning on following "Victor 1" down the coast in which case you stay at 500.
The guy yesterday was just being a dickhead...
Hopefully we can still use this airspace in the future, But you can't guarrentee that even today there may have been something like this happen thismorning
"Sydney Radar and All stations Romeo 405, Cessna Charlie Lima Sierra overhead Parramatta, tracking Ryde Bridge descending to 500ft, for entry into the Romeo 405 to cross Harbour Bridge for the Middle Harbour."
"Charlie Lima Sierra, This is Sydney Radar, remain clear of the Restricted airspace, Entry into the Romeo 405 not approved, Track northwest and remain OCTA"
