The administration of Australian-administered airspace shall give priority to the safety of air navigation. In addition, application of this AAPS shall:
be in Australia’s national interest, consistent with broader government policy;
take into account national security requirements;
consider the current and future needs of the Australian aviation industry, which includes civil aviation and military capabilities, and crewed and uncrewed aircraft;
consider cost implications for all airspace users;
consider adopting elements of international airspace systems adapted to benefit Australia’s aviation;
as far as is practicable, ensure the environment is protected from the effects of the operation and use of aircraft;
take into account the need to provide equitable access to airspace for all users;
consider flexible use airspace wherever practicable; and
take advantage of advances in technology wherever practicable.
Airspace Classification used in Australian-administered Airspace
Airspace administration in Australia is generally aligned with the ICAO prescribed airspace classes and associated levels of service as set out in Annex 11 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944) (Chicago Convention). Differences to the ICAO classes of airspace in Australia are notified to ICAO and listed in the Australian Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).
The airspace classification system to be used in Australia is specified below:
Class A: Instrument flight rules (IFR) flights only are permitted; all flights are provided with an Air Traffic Control (ATC) service and are separated from each other.
Class B: IFR and visual flight rules (VFR) flights are permitted, all flights are provided with ATC service and are separated from each other.
Class C: IFR and VFR flights are permitted, all flights are provided with ATC service and IFR flights are separated from other IFR flights and from VFR flights. VFR flights are separated from IFR flights and receive traffic information in respect of other VFR flights.
Class D: IFR and VFR flights are permitted, and all flights are provided with an ATC service. IFR flights are separated from other IFR flights and receive traffic information in respect of VFR flights, VFR flights receive traffic information in respect of all other flights.
Class E: IFR and VFR flights are permitted, IFR flights are provided with an ATC service and are separated from other IFR flights. All flights receive traffic information as far as is practicable. Class E shall not be used for control zones.
Class F: IFR and VFR flights are permitted, all participating IFR flights receive an air traffic advisory service, and all flights receive a flight information service if requested.
Class G: IFR and VFR flights are permitted and receive a flight information service if requested.
Note: North of 65°S IFR flights are considered to have an ongoing flight information request and receive traffic information on other IFR flights and known VFR flights.
Special Use Airspace
Australia has adopted the ICAO designations described in Annex 11 of the Chicago Convention for describing the designation to be used for the purposes of restricting access to or warning about access to airspace where there are activities that may be incompatible with routine flying operations.
The designations to be used in Australia shall be in accordance with the principles of the Chicago Convention and are specified below:
Prohibited Area: An airspace of defined dimensions, above the land areas or territorial waters of Australia, within which the flight of aircraft is prohibited.
Restricted Area: An airspace of defined dimensions, above the land areas or territorial waters of Australia, within which the flight of aircraft is restricted in accordance with certain specified conditions.
Danger Area: An airspace of defined dimensions within which activities dangerous to the flight of aircraft may exist at specified times. CASA may specify different subsets of Danger Areas, such as Military Operating Areas, and, where permissible, place conditions on the use of those Danger Areas.
Consistent with ICAO Procedures for Air Navigation Services – Aeronautical Information Management, CASA may publish airspace of defined dimensions where military training or exercises take place at regular intervals. CASA may also establish procedures to permit relevant airspace users to have safe access to such airspace in consultation with the controlling authority.
Consistent with ICAO Annex 11, flexible use airspace, and in order to provide added airspace capacity and to improve efficiency and flexibility of aircraft operations, airspace of defined dimensions may be reserved for military or other special activities.
The Government acknowledges that CASA may need to publish airspace of defined dimensions to ensure the safety of future airspace users and expects CASA to review the need for airspace changes consistent with government policy objectives.
Review and Change of Airspace Classifications, Services and Facilities
25. CASA’s review process must be risk and evidence-based, using both quantitative and qualitative data sources. CASA’s risk management framework should be in accordance with ICAO guidance and SARPs. The risk methodology should include all current and future airspace users.
26. CASA will monitor changes to aircraft and passenger movement data on an ongoing basis. The sources for this data will include, but not be limited to the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics, Airservices and aerodrome operators. CASA will review Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Airservices safety occurrence data on an ongoing basis. CASA will assess all available data to identify current or emerging aviation safety risks that may require airspace solutions or other mitigation to achieve an acceptable level of safety for all airspace users.
27. An airspace risk assessment should be informed by traffic types, complexity and density; the wider operating environment; present and emerging airspace risks; public, industry and government agency comments; government policy objectives; and planned future activity. It should also consider the effectiveness of any risk controls already in place or planned for the volume of airspace.
28. CASA will use the outcomes of the airspace risk assessment and any other sources of information and intelligence as appropriate, to identify any residual airspace risk requiring further analysis and examination within an aeronautical risk review.
29. If CASA has completed a review of airspace risks in the previous year then it may choose to update that existing review if circumstances or new information indicate that a further review is warranted.
30. CASA shall publish its findings and proposals, as required, on the overall safety and suitability of a particular airspace classification, designation or level of service or facilities. These findings may include proposals to: (a) change the classification or designation of airspace; (b) not change a classification or designation, but make other proposals to improve or enhance airspace arrangements, including level of service or facilities, or conditions placed on airspace users; or (c) recommend a continuation of current airspace arrangements without additional controls. CASA will provide these findings and/or proposals to Airservices, Defence and the public for comment and, after considering these comments, make a determination to be implemented by the relevant parties, should such action be required.
31. Any determination must be taken in consultation with Airservices, and Defence where relevant, given the responsibilities of these agencies for the introduction of new or changed air traffic services and facilities arising from such CASA determinations.
32. Following a decision to change the classification of a volume of airspace, services or facilities required, CASA must progress the change in accordance with its published procedures. That change must be formalised as a legislative instrument, endorsed by the relevant delegate, and published on the Federal Register of Legislation and then through the Australian AIP.
33. Following a decision to change the classification of a volume of airspace, services, or facilities by CASA, Airservices shall work collaboratively with CASA to bring effect to that decision in a reasonable timeframe acceptable to CASA.
34. There may be times when urgent decisions are required to meet a safety, national security, or other imperatives, in accordance with the Airspace Regulations, and it may not be practicable to comply with parts of this process.
Australia’s Future Airspace Framework
35. In line with the Airspace Act 2007, the Airspace Regulations 2007 and consistent with government policy objectives and the Minister’s Statement of Expectations, CASA shall develop the AFAF. The AFAF will include a long-term strategic airspace plan to support implementation.
36. CASA shall work collaboratively with Airservices, Defence and the Department to develop the AFAF. CASA shall also consult with industry stakeholders and other government agencies to ensure that the needs of all airspace users and service providers are properly considered in the development and maintenance of the AFAF.
The AFAF will be risk-based, leveraging CASA’s Airspace Risk Modelling System (ARMS), to inform evidence-based decision making, supported by robust data analysis and the results of the consultation process, in determining Australia’s future airspace needs.
CASA shall leverage, where practicable, digital transformation of regulatory application and assessment processes to improve the collection of data for evidence-based decision making, and continue to provide cost effective regulatory services in the face of growing application volumes.
The AFAF should support the implementation of advanced ATM and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) traffic management (UTM) technology solutions consistent with government policy directions, and should take into account new technology that may be applied to achieve favourable safety outcomes and broader government policy.
The AFAF will contain the design principles for airspace architecture, but will not pre-determine the adoption of a particular classification of airspace. The determination of the classification of airspace should reflect the most appropriate safety and efficiency outcome, as determined by CASA, after completion of a review and having regard to the AFAF, national security requirements and the government’s policy objectives.
ICAO SARPs also provide an important basis for airspace administration. The Government requires any deviations from ICAO SARPs to be well justified, documented, and formally notified to ICAO as a difference.
The long-term strategic airspace plan is to be proactive and consistent with the review requirements of the Airspace Act 2007 and Airspace Regulations 2007. The plan will also provide transparency to the aviation industry, to allow clear insight into the way in which airspace administrative decisions will be determined and implemented, including through industry consultation.
The long-term strategic airspace plan will require ongoing review based on the identification of risks to aviation safety using both quantitative and qualitative analysis, and ultimately the safety judgment of CASA as the airspace regulator.
CASA shall ensure that the AFAF and any associated guidance material are maintained and available to a proponent of an airspace change.
Reporting Obligations under the AAPS
CASA will provide advice on the major initiatives and priorities of the OAR in its corporate plan including those covering the government’s policy objectives outlined in Paragraphs 9 to 16.
CASA will publish, and consult on, a Strategic Workplan for the OAR, at least annually, outlining key initiatives and timelines for anticipated reviews and other relevant activities.
CASA will include a report on the progress of delivery of all priorities and initiatives under the AAPS as part of broader quarterly reporting to the Minister.
CASA will report to the Minister bi-annually on all locations where the residual airspace risk requires further analysis and examination, including the outcome of completed airspace risk reviews.
CASA will advise the Minister if it becomes known that the government’s policy objectives outlined in Paragraphs 9 to 16 will not be met during the period of 3 years after this statement was made.