Div 21

Division 21.1 Use of certain frequencies — radio qualifications required

21.01 Purpose

For subparagraph 91.625 (1) (a) (iv), the following kinds of radio frequencies are prescribed:

(a) the CTAF for a non-controlled aerodrome;

(b) the frequency for an MBA.

Division 21.2 Use of radio — broadcasts and reports

21.02 Purpose

For paragraph 91.630 (1) (b), this Division prescribes broadcasts and reports relating to a flight that the pilot in command of an aircraft fitted with or carrying a radio must ensure are made during the flight.

Note Regulation 91.675 (Pilot in command to report hazards to air navigation) also requires the pilot in command to make certain reports to different persons (ATS or aerodrome operators) including, for example, meteorological conditions that are hazardous to flight or defects in airways facilities or at aerodromes.

21.03 Prescribed broadcasts and reports — general

(1) The broadcasts and reports required under this Division must be made on the relevant published radio frequency, unless the air traffic service agrees to the use of a different frequency for special flight circumstances.

Note For example, descent from controlled to uncontrolled airspace, formation flights, SAR operations, and police and security operations. The pilot in command may initiate a request for the air traffic service to agree to a changed radio frequency for special flight circumstances.

Note: (2)

For subsection (1), published radio frequency is taken to include the use of a relevant datalink, ADS-C, CPDLC, or SATCOM voice communication.

21.04 Non-controlled aerodromes — prescribed broadcasts

(1) The pilot in command of an aircraft must ensure that broadcasts on the CTAF are made for a non-controlled aerodrome in accordance with Table 21.04 (1) if:

(a) the aircraft is operating at, or in the vicinity of, a non-controlled aerodrome (including a certified or military aerodrome when non-controlled); and

(b) the aircraft is equipped with an operative VHF radio; and

(c) the pilot is qualified to use the radio.

Note 1 For the definition of in the vicinity of a non-controlled aerodrome — see section 1.07.

Note 2 For a pilot qualified to use the radio — see regulation 91.625.

Note 3 For an aircraft that must be equipped with an operative VHF radio — see Chapter 26.

Note 4 Additional requirements apply for a non-controlled aerodrome in a mandatory broadcast area — see section 21.09.

(2) For Table 21.04 (1), for an item in the Table, the pilot in command in the situation mentioned for an item in column 1 must ensure the broadcast mentioned for the item in column 2 is made.

Table 21.04 (1) – Non-controlled aerodromes – broadcasts

21.05 Controlled aerodromes and controlled airspace — prescribed reports

(1) The pilot in command of 1 of the following:

(a) an aircraft on the ground at a controlled aerodrome;

(b) an aircraft in Class A, B, C or D airspace;

(c) an IFR aircraft in Class E airspace;

must:

(d) subject to subsections (1A), (1B) and (1C), ensure that reports to the ATC service are made in accordance with Table 21.05 (1); and

(e) ensure that reports and broadcasts are made in accordance with the other applicable provisions of this Chapter.

(1A) Despite paragraph (1) (d), for item 10 of Table 21.05 (1), to ensure that separation with any aircraft operating near the base of controlled airspace is not compromised, the required report is to be made to the air traffic service for the Class G airspace volume that the aircraft will descend into after leaving controlled airspace.

(1B) Despite paragraph (1) (d), for item 5 of Table 21.05 (1), a report to correct a previously reported incorrect position estimate (a previous estimate) is not required if an aircraft’s position is being automatically reported by an ADS-C system, unless the previous estimate was:

(a) from a flight crew member and not the ADS-C; or

(b) due to a flight crew member initiated action.

Note An example of a flight crew member initiated action is a manually initiated speed change.

(1C) Despite paragraph (1) (d), for item 11 of Table 21.05 (1), a report to cancel SARWATCH is not required if an aircraft has arrived at a controlled aerodrome during tower hours.

Note SARWATCH is automatically cancelled by ATC without the need to report to ATC.

(2) For Table 21.05 (1), for an item in the Table, the pilot in command in the situation mentioned for the item in column 1 must ensure that the report mentioned for the item in column 2 is made.

Table 21.05 (1) – An aircraft at a controlled aerodrome, or in Class A, B, C or D airspace, or an IFR aircraft in Class E airspace – reports

Note AIP ENR 1.1, Appendix 1 includes the template for the AIREP SPECIAL, including Section 3, item 9 — runway braking action.

Note Item 7 pertains to degradation of aircraft performance as a result of failure or degradation of navigation, communications, altimetry (including RVSM airspace capability), flight control or other systems.

21.06 IFR aircraft in Class G airspace — prescribed reports

(1) The pilot in command of an IFR aircraft in Class G airspace must ensure that:

(a) reports are made to the air traffic service for the airspace in accordance with Table 21.06 (1); and

(b) reports and broadcasts are made in accordance with the other applicable provisions of this Chapter.

(2) Despite subsection (1), if the pilot in command of an IFR aircraft in Class G airspace is unable to make contact with the air traffic service in relation to the report required by item 1 or item 2 of Table 21.06 (1), the aircraft may taxi and take-off but only if:

(a) broadcasts are made in place of the required reports; and

(b) contact with the air traffic service is established as soon as possible after take-off; and

(c) the following conditions are complied with:

(i) where the operator of the flight is an AOC holder, aerial work certificate holder or Part 141 certificate holder — the pilot is assured of radio contact with the operator, or with a representative of the operator who has immediate access to a serviceable telephone, until contact is made with the air traffic service;

(ii) except for Part 121 operations conducted using aircraft with a MOPSC greater than 19 seats — a SARTIME for departure, that is a maximum of 30 minutes after commencing to taxi, has been established with the air traffic service.

(2A) Despite paragraph (1) (a), for item 5 of Table 21.06 (1), a report to correct a previously reported incorrect position estimate (a previous estimate) is not required if an aircraft’s position is being automatically reported by an ADS-C system, unless the previous estimate was:

(a) from a flight crew member and not the ADS-C; or

(b) due to a flight crew member initiated action.

Note An example of a flight crew member initiated action is a manually initiated speed change.

(2B) Despite paragraph (1) (a), for item 10 of Table 21.06 (1), a report to cancel SARWATCH is not required if an aircraft has arrived at a non-controlled aerodrome with an AFIS during AFIS hours.

Note 1 SARWATCH is automatically cancelled by the AFIS without the need for a specific pilot report.

Note 2 Despite the similarity in abbreviation, an AFIS and SFIS are significantly different air traffic services. Refer to the AIP for a description of these services.

(3) For Table 21.06 (1), for an item of the Table, the pilot in command in the situation mentioned for the item of column 1 must ensure that the report mentioned for the item in column 2 is made.

Table 21.06 (1) – IFR aircraft in Class G airspace – reports

21.07 VFR aircraft in Class E or G airspace — prescribed reports

(1) The pilot in command of a VFR aircraft in Class E or G airspace must ensure that:

(a) a report is made to the air traffic service for the airspace in accordance with Table 21.07 (1); and

(b) reports and broadcasts are made in accordance with the other applicable provisions of this Chapter.

(2) For Table 21.07 (1), for an item of the Table, the pilot in command in the situation mentioned for the item in column 1 must ensure that the report mentioned for the item in column 2 is made.

Table 21.07 (1) — VFR aircraft in Classes E and G airspace

21.08 Flights in RVSM airspace — prescribed reports

The pilot in command of an aircraft conducting a flight in RVSM airspace within an Australian FIR must ensure that a report is made of all FL deviations of 300 ft or more from the aircraft’s assigned level:

(a) regardless of the cause of the deviation; and

(b) in accordance with procedures published in the authorised aeronautical information.

21.09 Flights in a mandatory broadcast area — prescribed broadcasts and reports

(1) The pilot in command of an aircraft intending to operate in an MBA must:

(a) make broadcasts and reports in accordance with:

(i) if an SFIS is not active for the MBA — Table 21.09 (1); and

(ii) if an SFIS is active for the MBA — the requirements specified in the AIP, as in force from time to time for the SFIS; and

(b) ensure that, when making a broadcast or a report required by paragraph (a), the broadcast or report contains the following information, in the following order:

(i) the name of the relevant aerodrome followed by the word TRAFFIC;

(ii) the aircraft type and callsign;

(iii) for an MBA where an SFIS is not active immediately before entering the MBA:

(A) the aircraft’s present altitude (where appropriate); and

(B) the situation-based information required by Table 21.09 (1);

(iv) for an MBA where an SFIS is active immediately before to entering the MBA — the information required by the AIP for the SFIS;

(v) the name of the relevant aerodrome; and

(c) ensure that reports and broadcasts are made in accordance with the other applicable provisions of this Chapter.

Note Certain other operational requirements for MBA are contained in section 11.10A. The requirement to have a radio in an MBA is contained in section 26.18.

(2) For Table 21.09 (1), for an item of the Table, the pilot in command in the situation mentioned in column 1 of an item must ensure that the broadcast mentioned in column 2 of the same item is made.

Table 21.09 (1) – Broadcasts – in relation to a MBA