Flying Training

Circuit Arrival and Departure Procedures

Non-towered Operations

Departure procedures (by day in VMC)

Depart the Control Zone on upwind, crosswind or downwind by extending the relevant leg of the circuit, then track clear of the designated GAAP approach point. Depart the MBZ not above 1300 feet. (Inbound traffic should not be lower than 1800 feet.)

Arrival procedures

Inbound reporting points: The Oaks, Picton, Menagle, Bringelly, Mayfield.

Track via a designated GAAP approach point and broadcast intentions. At least 3 legs of the circuit must be flown (although with tower permission you can make a straight-in approach. CTAF procedures also now allow straight-in approaches, with restrictions (distance, calls, give way to traffic in circuit).

Overfly the aerodrome not below 2300 feet and determine runway direction in use. Descend to 1800 feet north of the aerodrome and join the circuit at 1800 ft. Any turns should be made in the circuit direction (lucky I did that at The Oaks). Descend on upwind to 1300 and join the circuit on crosswind.

If the runway direction is known, descend to 1300 ft outside the MBZ and join downwind (check CTAF).

GAAP Operations

Departure procedures (by day in VMC)

As for non-towered operations, aircraft shall depart the Control Zone on upwind, crosswind or downwind by extending the relevant leg of the circuit, then tracking clear of the GAAP approach points and associated routes. Aircraft shall depart the Camden Control Zone at 1300 ft on Camden QNH. If ATC "cancels the Camden climb restriction" you may climb above 1300 ft, but you must remain below the CTA steps. Inbound traffic should not be lower than 1800 feet.)

Arrival procedures

Arriving aircraft shall track via, and report at, one of the following approach points:

• The Oaks (6nm WSW of Camden) Caution: ALA beneath, elevation 880 ft
• Mayfield (6nm NW of Camden). Gorge on dog-leg of Nepean River
• Bringelly (7nm NNE of Camden)
• Menangle (6nm SE of Camden). Note: Outside the training area.
• Picton (9nm SSW of Camden). Right on the border of the training area.

Enter the Control Zone at 1800 ft on Camden QNH and report at the distance instructed by ATC, normally 2nm. Remain at 1800ft until given a sequence by ATC. For more detail, see the Radio Procedures below.

Radio Procedures

Non-towered Operations

Departure

Arrival

GAAP Operations

These are the procedures when the tower is operating, 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday. (Also public holidays when they fall on a Monday, but not Christmas Day.)

Let's set the example of a departure to the north, a flight down the western boundary of the training area and an inbound track from Mayfield.

Departure

Use the ATIS to get the runway in use, the wind and the QNH. Note the ATIS code and decide from which leg of the circuit you will make your departure (upwind, crosswind or downwind).

Taxi to the run-up bay and make the pre-takeoff checks.

Taxi to the holding point and call ATC, eg: "Camden Tower, Citabria Romeo Romeo Whisky, ready runway 06 for crosswind departure to the training area with Hotel."

The tower will respond according to whether other traffic takes precedence. Here are some examples, courtesy of Camden ATC's document:

Arrival

Training Area Boundaries

G Limits

From the Pilot's Operating Handbook, Section 1 - Operating limitations

p1-4: positive load +5.0G; negative load -2.0G maximum.

All Citabria models are approved in the normal and aerobatic flight category.

So I presume there are no restrictions on angle of bank. But watch stall speeds in the turn:

7GCBC (flaps up):

Never exceed: 162 mph (140 kts) CAS - maximum safe airspeed, not to be exceeded at any time

Maneuvering (VA): 120 mph (104 kts) - no full or abrupt control movements allowed above this airspeed

Weight and balance limits

CoG distance aft of datum line which is wing leading edge.

7GCBC

1650 lbs maximum: normal 14.2" to 19.2"; acrobatic 14.2" = 16.3"

1325 lbs maximum: normal 10.5" to 19.2"; acrobatic 10.5" = 16.3"

See Section V.

I decided to try a loading example just for practice:

How much fuel can you take with an 80kg pilot and a somewhat heavier passenger?

Pilot: 80kg (176 lb):
Rear passenger: 120kg (264) - off the scale! Try 90kg (198 lb)
Baggage: nil

Item            Weight (lb) Moment (in-lb)
Empty weight:   1153        14067
Oil:              15         -540
Pilot:           176         2100
Rear passenger:  200         8400
                ----        -----
Total:          1544        24027

Limit:          1650        29000 at 1544 lb
-               1544        24027
                ----        -----
Fuel             106         4973
At 6 lb/gallon:   17 gal     2700
                            -----
                            26727 - within limits

36 gal = 136 litres (3.78 litres/gal), so 17 gal = 64 litres. You'd want to be sure the aircraft wasn't filled up. And you wouldn't be doing aerobatics at this weight.