Skip to content
Aviation

Improvements to Ballina airspace to come into effect from 2025

Civil Aviation Safety Authority 2 mins read
  • Media:

Airspace around Ballina Airport will be controlled by air traffic controllers from 2025 as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Airservices Australia move to develop services to accommodate the airport’s growth.

 

The announcement follows an airspace review conducted in 2022 by CASA which included extensive feedback from industry and subsequent discussions with Airservices on timing for the establishment of controlled airspace and air traffic services.

 

CASA has issued a direction to establish controlled airspace from 2025 and will work closely with Airservices to support airspace design.

 

The first phase will see the airspace reclassified and an approach control service provided by Airservices by 12 June 2025.

 

The second phase will see the establishment of a new aerodrome control service by Airservices no later than 27 November 2025.

 

The establishment of enhanced air traffic services comes on the back of sustained growth in air traffic in the region and is part of a graduated approach to safely accommodate further growth.

 

‘When we review airspace it’s important that we look not only at what is happening today, but also to look at growth trends in recent years and what operators are predicting into the future,’ CASA Branch Manager Air Navigation, Airspace and Aerodromes Adrian Slootjes said.

 

‘We consider a range of data and information, look at incidents and occurrences and take a risk-based approach to our recommendations.

 

‘While there have been a range of incremental changes and enhancements in aviation safety in the region, we consider that these additional changes are required to ensure the safety of passenger transport operations and all airspace users in and around Ballina.’

 

Improvements already made around Ballina include changes to radio frequencies used by pilots to reduce congestion, provision of a Surveillance Flight Information Service (SFIS) to provide pilots with information about other aircraft in the area, and the introduction of an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast ground station to allow appropriately equipped aircraft to be more easily detected by air traffic control.

 

Work on an Airspace Change Proposal outlining details of the new service and aimed at ensuring it meets necessary requirements will continue throughout 2024.

 

The timing also allows CASA and Airservices to engage with aviation and community stakeholders, including the sports and recreational aviation community, about safely accessing controlled airspace.

 

Media contact:           CASA Media             1 300 773806              media@casa.gov.au

 

21 November 2023                                                                             MR5823

 

More from this category

  • Aviation
  • 18/03/2025
  • 08:00
Regional Aviation Association of Australia

REGIONAL AVIATION CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE SUPPORT

Regional and remote communities across Australia risk losing critical aviation services without urgent political and policy action. That’s the warning from the peak body representing regional aviation, which says all parties and candidates at the 2025 federal election must give commitments to supporting aviation. The Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) says without action on key issues now the future looks increasingly bleak for regional and remote aviation services. The RAAA is urging all parties and candidates to make commitments to key issues such as targeted economic support for aviation businesses, doing more to address skill shortages, removing unnecessary regulatory…

  • Aviation
  • 17/03/2025
  • 13:12
Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Royal Victorian Aero Club Safety Manager Takes Out CASA Scholarship

Flight Safety Manager Hugh McBain from the Royal Victorian Aero Club has been named a recipient of this year’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)…

  • Contains:
  • Aviation
  • 12/03/2025
  • 13:39
Civil Aviation Safety Authority

SAFETY CHECKS AT MORANBAH AND GLADSTONE AIRPORTS

Residents of Moranbah and Gladstone may see an aircraft flying unusually low next week as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) carries out important flight path safety checks. The checks are being conducted by CASA to validate amended instrument approach procedures at Moranbah and Gladstone airports and ensure they operate safely. The checks of the new approach procedures are being carried out on Tuesday, 18 March. A twin-engine Beechcraft Baron aircraft will be used to carry out the safety checks within an area up to 40 kilometres from the aerodrome. Low-level flying is an essential part of the safety exercise,…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.