THE Civil Aviation Safety Authority will carry out flight safety checks at the Horsham and Stawell aerodromes next week.
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The authority will conduct routine checks of 16 Victorian aerodromes from Monday to Sunday.
Checks will be done in Horsham on Tuesday.
A CASA spokesman said safety checks were done every three years to ensure instrument flight paths were accurate and work in practice, as well as to ensure there were no new obstacles.
"It's all about preventing accidents," he said.
A twin-engine Cessna Conquest aircraft will be used to carry out the checks within an area up to 35 kilometres from the aerodromes.
"During the inspection period people may notice unusual flying patterns such as crossing between flight paths and some lower than usual flights," he said.
The checks will be postponed and then carried out as soon as possible in the event of poor weather or other factors.
Horsham Rural City Council director of infrastructure John Martin said the checks would ensure the aerodrome could continue to be used for essential services, as well as recreational activities.
"There's been a significant increase in use by Air Ambulance Victoria in recent years," he said.
Mr Martin said Horsham aerodrome was used in conjunction with Stawell aerodrome for regional fire bombers and fire spotter planes.
He said the aerodrome also hosted lots of amateur flyers and a very active gliding club.
Mr Martin said the council would consider recommendations to the Horsham Aerodrome Master Plan draft at a future meeting to ensure the facility can accommodate demand - especially from bigger planes.
"It's odd that a regional centre doesn't have an all-purpose aerodrome," he said.
A Northern Grampians Shire Council spokeswoman said Stawell aerodrome was also used by a local charter and sight-seeing flight operators, an aircraft maintenance and repair operator, crop spraying aircraft, and tourism operators such as Grampians Helicopters.
She said the aerodrome accommodates police and ambulance helicopters and Powercor line inspection helicopters with many visiting pilots and charter aircraft, pilot training services and more.
"There are upwards of 5000 aircraft movements per year from the Stawell Airport," she said.
"Council is preparing to apply for a Federal Government Regional Airports Fund grant to complete the perimeter vermin-proof fence and carry out an upgrade to the taxiways and apron areas."
"Other future works we are looking at are an extension of hangar and aircraft parking areas, additional service upgrades and extra navigational aids."
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