Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 - proposed restricted and military operating areas near Shoalwater Bay

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

    Submit feedback to

    SO2 Airspace Plans  Joint Airspace Control Cell
    RAAF
    adf.airspace@defence.gov.au

    Defence is proposing multiple temporary military operating areas (TMOA) and temporary restricted areas (TRA) offshore from Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland.

    The issue

    This proposal notes the following key issues:

    • request for multiple TMOA and a TRA in the vicinity of Shoalwater Bay coastline and offshore
    • civil access to TMOA/TRA limited to aircraft subject to an emergency
    • multiple air routes affected, with diversion routes to be published in an Aeronautical Information Publication Supplement (AIP SUP)
    • conditional status of the TRA will be RA2.

    Purpose

    JACC requests feedback on the proposed temporary military operating areas (TMOA), the temporary restricted area (TRA) and associated procedures for Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 2025, specifically to be employed in the Shoalwater Bay region of the QLD coast.

    Proposal

    Shoalwater Bay training area (SWBTA) offshore extension

    To facilitate the varied requirements of dynamic, high density fixed and rotary wing aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft operations and live fire activities in the vicinity of Shoalwater Bay, Defence is proposing a series of temporary lateral extensions to extant SWBTA special use airspace.

    The seven areas, labelled TMOA ‘STINGRAY ABCDEF’ and TRA ‘MANTA’, were previously proposed and approved for use during Talisman Sabre 2023. This airspace proved acceptable to both military and civilian stakeholders, with minimal impost to surrounding aerodromes and civil airspace while facilitating the large-scale military activities. As such, the same dimensions have been requested for the 2025 exercise iteration.

    Expected dates for activation will be 16 June - 28 July 2025.

    Exact activation timings will be confirmed by NOTAM and AIP SUP. Procedures and civil diversion routes will also be provided with the AIP SUP, in consultation with Airservices Australia.

    During NOTAM activation periods, access 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 TMOA ‘STINGRAY ABCDEF’ and TRA ‘MANTA’, when appropriate, will be provided by the contact listed in AIP SUP.

    The details of the proposed TMOAs and TRAs will be displayed via NOTAM as follows:

    YBBB/TMOA ‘STINGRAY A’ 
    Military Flying 
    Lateral Limits: 203000S 1500000E – 203000S 1523900E – 210300S 1523900E – 210300S 1500000E – 203000S 1500000E 
    Vertical Limits: SFC – FL320 
    Hours of Activation: NOTAM 
    Administering Authority: Department of Defence (Contact details to be provided in AIP SUP)

    YBBB/TMOA ‘STINGRAY B’ 
    Military Flying 
    Lateral Limits: 210300S 1500000E – 210300S 1523900E – 221400S 1523900E – 221400S 1510530E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 30.00NM centre 221600S 1503300E – 221500S 1500042E – 221500S 1500000E – 210300S 1500000E 
    Vertical Limits: SFC – FL320 
    Hours of Activation: NOTAM 
    Administering Authority: Department of Defence (Contact details to be provided in AIP SUP)

    YBBB/TMOA ‘STINGRAY C’ 
    Military Flying 
    Lateral Limits: 221400S 1510530E - 221400S 1523900E - 232500S 1523900E - 230709S 1520000E - 225656S 1504740E - 225400S 1503600E - 224757S 1503721E - 224922S 1504707E - 224119S 1505031E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 30.00NM centre 221600S 1503300E - 221400S 1510530E 
    Vertical Limits: SFC – FL320 
    Hours of Activation: NOTAM 
    Administering Authority: Department of Defence (Contact details to be provided in AIP SUP)

    YBBB/TMOA ‘STINGRAY D’ 
    Military Flying 
    Lateral Limits: 203000S 1523900E - 203000S 1540000E - 221400S 1540000E - 221400S 1523900E - 203000S 1523900E 
    Vertical Limits: SFC – FL320 
    Hours of Activation: NOTAM 
    Administering Authority: Department of Defence (Contact details to be provided in AIP SUP)

    YBBB/TMOA ‘STINGRAY E’ 
    Military Flying 
    Lateral Limits: 221400S 1523900E - 221400S 1540000E - 232500S 1540000E - 232500S 1523900E - 221400S 1523900E 
    Vertical Limits: SFC – FL320 
    Hours of Activation: NOTAM 
    Administering Authority: Department of Defence (Contact details to be provided in AIP SUP)

    YBBB/TMOA ‘STINGRAY F’ 
    Military Flying 
    Lateral Limits: 194730S 1511700E - 194730S 1523900E - 203000S 1523900E - 203000S 1511700E - 194730S 1511700E 
    Vertical Limits: SFC – FL320 
    Hours of Activation: NOTAM 
    Administering Authority: Department of Defence (Contact details to be provided in AIP SUP)

    YBBB/TRA ‘MANTA’ 
    Conditional Status: RA2 
    Military Flying 
    Lateral Limits: 214940S 1500000E – 221500S 1500000E – 221933S 1495410E – 220636S 1494834E – 215931S 1494828E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 60.00NM centre 211023S 1491115E (MK/DME) – 214940S 1500000E 
    Vertical Limits: SFC – FL160 
    Hours of Activation: NOTAM 
    Controlling Authority: Department of Defence (Contact details to be provided in AIP SUP)

    Figure 1: Proposed TMOA and TRA for SWBTA expansion

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

    Submitted by

    SO3 Airspace Plans Joint Airspace Control Cell
    RAAF
    adf.airspace@defence.gov.au