Flight Testing on Rwy 07?

[Philip Argy]

ATIS is showing "Flight Testing on Runway 07" - is that ILS testing or something else?

[Grahame Hutchison]

Looks like ILS calibration on Runway 07 Philip, as there is a Beech 200 with Flight Number ADA01 tracking all around the airport at this time on Webtrack.

[Philip Argy]

Does rain attenutation affect the calibration?

[Nigel C]

Err...one would hope not. ILS approaches affected by rain wouldn't be much use.

However, if the cloud is too low, then for testing that's another matter.

ATIS is currently quoting 900ft cloud base, and I note the calibration isn't mentioned.

[Philip Argy]

I appreciate that ILS is of most utility in bad weather - I assumed that calibration would be conducted under optimal conditions?

[Mark D]

Doesn't have to be too 'optimal' - the flight check aircraft has to be visual below lowest safe altitude, depending on the runway between 1500' & 2100' cloud base. That's only for terrain separation, the flight checking operation doesn't require it.
A few years ago the flight check used visual checking, there used to be a message on the ATIS that said something like" flight checking in progress, do not use landing lights on final"
weatherwise the only thing that can really stuff up an ILS is too much standing water around the antenna.

[Philip Argy]

Recent weather has left standing water in a lot of places - so hopefully not at YSSY's ILS antenna!

[Nigel C]

Thankfully the flood prone areas are behind the ILS gear, not in front of it.