Safety checks are to be carried out at the Groote Eylandt aerodrome.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority will test whether the flight paths to the runway operate safely.

Other aerodromes being tested are Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Tindal, Jabiru, Maningrida, Milingimbi, Elcho Island and Gove, Ngukurr and McArthur River Mine.

A twin-engine Cessna Conquest aircraft will be used to carry out the safety checks within an area up to 35 kilometres from the aerodromes.

Low-level flying is an essential part of the safety exercise, with the aircraft down as low as several hundred feet at times.

Residents may notice an uncommon flying pattern, but this is to make sure obstacles are accurately marked on charts and no new obstacles exist.

Obstacles can be towers, trees, masts or buildings that can be a danger to aircraft. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority requires aerodrome flight path safety checks to be carried out every three years to maintain a high level of air safety at all aerodromes.