Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 - proposed TRAs near Cowley Beach

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    Open consultation
    QLD
    46 days remaining
    Start 05/12/2024
    AEDT 11:00
    End 31/01/2025
    AEDT 17:00

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    ADF  Airspace
    Joint Airspace Control Cell

    2 temporary restricted areas (TRA) are proposed near Cowley Beach to safely separate civil aircraft from the military flying activities over July 2025.

    The issue

    This proposal notes the following key issues:

    • activation of TRA ‘SHADE’ and TRA ‘BANSHEE’ to support large-scale amphibious manoeuvres in the vicinity of Cowley Beach
    • airspace previously utilised in October 2024
    • airspace designed to facilitate Dunk Island access and low-level transits west of the Bruce Highway. Innisfail (YIFL) RNP Runway 32 instrument procedures will be affected by TRA ‘SHADE’ and TRA ‘BANSHEE’
    • conditional status of TRA ‘SHADE’ will be RA2; transit cannot be expected except in case of emergency
    • conditional status of TRA ‘BANSHEE’ will be RA1; clearance to transit can be expected.

    Purpose

    Defence requests feedback on 2 proposed TRAs and associated procedures for Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 (TS25), specifically to be employed at Cowley Beach during July 2025.

    Proposal

    Elements of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and partner nation militaries will be conducting TS25 during July 2025.

    TS25 is a large-scale military activity, involving a wide range of military air, sea and land activities across the Queensland coast. 2 TRAs are proposed to safely separate civil aircraft from the aforementioned military flying activities over the period 12-18 July 2025.

    This AvSEF Paper does not exhaustively cover the proposed temporary special use airspace (SUA) for TS25. Stakeholders should refer to the AvSEF website for consultation material relating to other proposals for TS25.

    Safe integration of both military and civilian aviation operations is a priority of this proposal. Military aircraft and airspace controllers will monitor, and broadcast on as necessary, designated civilian aviation frequencies (like common traffic advisory and civil air distress frequencies) at all times when the SUA is active. Aircraft may request transit clearance through the SUA via a promulgated frequency and in accordance with the Aeronautical Information Publication Supplement (AIP SUP), and transits shall be approved on a case-by-case basis where safe to do so.

    Pre-arranged SUA transit requests may also be submitted to the appointed Military Airspace Control Authority (MilACA) via promulgated contact method no later than 24 hours beforehand. Aircraft can expect a requirement to contact the MilACA airborne, prior to entering SUA. Contact details will be published by AIP SUP.

    Cowley Beach

    Two TRA are proposed to support a large-scale amphibious manoeuvre throughout the TS25 activity period. Indicative timings are listed in Table 1, with specific activation timings to be promulgated by AIP SUP and NOTAM.

    Planned activation timings for TRA 'SHADE' and 'BANSHEE'
    Airspace Date Time
    TRA 'SHADE' 12 - 18 July 2025 Up to 24 hours
    TRA 'BANSHEE' 12 - 18 July 2025 Up to 24 hours
    Diversion Routes

    TRA ‘SHADE’ is RA2 status due to the increased remotely piloted aircraft and rotary wing operations. As such, non-priority civilian aircraft should plan to avoid it. TRA ‘SHADE’ has been designed to avoid common parachute jumping areas, and facilitate Dunk Island access, with a vertical limit that facilitates transits at or above 3000 feet above mean sea level. Aircraft tracking north/south can also avoid TRA ‘SHADE’ by remaining west of the Bruce Highway.

    Access to TRA ‘SHADE’ and TRA ‘BANSHEE’

    Access to TRA ‘BANSHEE’ by non-exercise aircraft can be expected, provided the MilACA is contacted prior to TRA entry on the promulgated frequency. However, access to the airspace may be delayed while the appropriate segregation standards are established.

    Transits through TRA ‘BANSHEE’ (RA1) are expected and may be requested by contacting the military airspace control authority (MilACA) directly on an appropriate, promulgated frequency (e.g. Cassowary Coast CTAF). Expected transit levels through TRA ‘BANSHEE’ are between 3000 – 4000 feet above mean sea level, inclusive. Further details will be advised by AIP SUP.

    Non-exercise aircraft authorised for TRA transit by the MilACA will be deconflicted from all remotely piloted aircraft operations by at least 1 nautical mile laterally or 1000 feet vertically.

    During NOTAM activation periods, access to TRA ‘SHADE’ by non-exercise aircraft will not be available except in cases of a declared emergency, radio failure or participating in activities for the preservation of life and property. Clearances through TRA ‘SHADE’, when appropriate, will be provided by the contact listed in AIP SUP.

    The NOTAMs for the proposed TRAs will be as follows:

    • YBBB/TRA ‘SHADE’
      Conditional Status: RA2 
      Military Flying 
      Lateral Limits: 173823S 1460149E then along counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 50.00NM centre 165101S 1454438E (YBCS/DME) – 173029S 1461658E – 173029S 1464127E – 175140S 1464127E – 175140S 1461010E – 174412S 1461011E – 174412S 1460203E then north along the Bruce Highway – 173823S 1460149E 
      Vertical Limits: SFC-3000 AMSL 
      Hours of Activity: NOTAM 
      Controlling Authority: Department of Defence, contact details to be specified in AIP SUP
    • YBBB/TRA ‘BANSHEE’
      Conditional Status: RA1
      Military Flying 
      Lateral Limits: 173823S 1460149E then along counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 50.00NM centre 165101S 1454438E (YBCS/DME) – 173029S 1461658E – 173029S 1464127E – 175140S 1464127E – 175140S 1461010E – 174412S 1461011E – 174412S 1460203E then north along the Bruce Highway – 173823S 1460149E 
      Vertical Limits: 3000 – 6000 AMSL 
      Hours of Activity: NOTAM 
      Controlling Authority: Department of Defence, contact details to be specified in AIP SUP
       
    Figure 1: TRAs 'BANSHEE' and 'SHADE'

    AvSEF members are invited to provide feedback to Defence at adf.airspace@defence.gov.au by 31 January 2025.

    Submitted by

    Joint Airspace Control Cell RAAF
    adf.airspace@defence.gov.au