Commonwealth legislation

CASA 142/10 – Directions and determinations – Class D airspace

In ForceCTH

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Commonwealth

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legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

3/10 complexity

Requires pilots in or transiting Class D airspace to establish and maintain two‑way radio communication with the relevant ATC tower, obtain tower clearance to land, take off or use manoeuvring areas when the tower is operating, and observe a 200 KT speed limit within 4 NM and at or below 2,500 ft unless the tower permits otherwise (Schedule 1 cl.2.1–2.5; cl.3).

Pilots carry the compliance burden; relevant ATC towers hold operational discretion to grant exceptions or instruct otherwise. The instrument replaces CASA 330/09 and CASA 597/09 (cl.2).

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CASA 142/10 – Directions and determinations – Class D airspace

Instrument number CASA 142/10

I, john francis McCORMICK, Director of Aviation Safety, on behalf of CASA, make this instrument under subregulations 92 (2) and 99AA (5) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.

[Signed John F. McCormick]

John F. McCormick
Director of Aviation Safety

25 May 2010

Directions and determinations — Class D airspace

1 Commencement

This instrument commences on 3 June 2010.

2 Revocation

The following instruments are revoked:

(a) CASA 330/09;

(b) CASA 597/09.

3 Application

This instrument applies to:

(a) each pilot operating an aircraft in Class D airspace; and

(b) each pilot operating an aircraft into, or out of, an aerodrome in Class D airspace.

4 Directions and determinations

I give the directions, and make the determinations, contained in Schedule 1.

Schedule 1 Directions and determinations

1 Definition

In this instrument:

relevant ATC tower means the air traffic control tower or other facility that provides air traffic services for a particular Class D control zone (CTR) or its associated Class D airspace.

2 Communications

Arrival or through flight

2.1 Before entering Class D airspace, the pilot must establish 2-way radio communication with the relevant ATC tower.

2.2 While within Class D airspace, the pilot must maintain 2-way radio communication with the relevant ATC tower.

Clearance for landing, take-off and manoeuvring area

2.3 When a relevant ATC tower is in operation at an aerodrome, the pilot may only land at, take off from, or operate on the manoeuvring area of, that aerodrome if he or she has appropriate clearance from the tower.

Note Manoeuvring area is defined in the Air Services Regulations 1995 as any part of an aerodrome that is used for the take-off and landing of aircraft and for the movement of aircraft in association with take-off and landing, but does not include any apron.

Departing flight

2.4 When a relevant ATC tower is in operation at an aerodrome, the pilot must:

(a) before entering the manoeuvring area of the aerodrome, establish 2-way radio communication with the tower; and

(b) maintain that communication while on the manoeuvring area or within the Class D airspace, unless the tower instructs otherwise.

2.5 At a non-towered aerodrome in a Class D CTR, the pilot must:

(a) before departing, establish 2-way radio communication with the relevant ATC tower; and

(b) maintain that communication while within the Class D airspace, unless the relevant tower instructs otherwise.

3 Airspeed limit below 2 500 ft

Unless otherwise permitted by the relevant ATC tower, the pilot in Class D airspace must not exceed an airspeed limit of 200 KT if he or she is:

(a) within 4 nautical miles of the tower; and

(b) flying at or below 2 500 ft above the ground.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 CASA 142/10 – Directions and determinations – Class D airspace