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Patricia
Atkinson
Joint Airspace Control Cell
2 temporary restricted areas (TRA) are proposed in the vicinity of Charters Towers to safely separate civil aircraft from military flying activities.
The issue
- Activation of TRA ‘FENRIR’ to support military remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) operating at Macrossan.
- Activation of TRA ‘ALLEY’ to support transit of RPAS to and from extant Townsville military special use airspace (SUA).
- No impact to published air routes.
- Charters Towers Required navigation performance (RNP) Runway (RWY) 06 available with missed approach segment climb to 3300 feet during airspace activation.
- Charters Towers RNP RWY 24 not available during airspace activation.
- Conditional status of both TRA will be restricted area 2 (RA); transit will not be approved except in case of emergency.
Purpose
Joint Airspace Control Cell (JACC) requests feedback on proposed TRAs and procedures for North Queensland Warfighter Exercise 2025, specifically to be employed near Charters Towers.
Proposal
Overview
Elements of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will be conducting North Queensland Warfighter Exercise during the month of May 2025.
2 TRAs are proposed in the vicinity of Charters Towers to safely separate civil aircraft from the military flying activities.
Proposal
Macrossan
The proposed airspace is a low-level TRA around Macrossan, designed to allow RPAS staging near the Townsville Field Training Area (TFTA). RPAS will be conducting non-standard manoeuvres and will be unable to comply with Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) broadcast requirements in Class G. Both TRA ’FENRIR’ and TRA ‘ALLEY’ will be activated simultaneously. The proposed activation period is:
|
Date |
Planned activation times (Local) |
| 19 May – 6 June 2025 |
To be confirmed – 24-hour periods of activation on dates to be specified within the expected date range |
Specific timings of airspace activation windows will be confirmed by AIP supplement and notice to airmen.
The Charters Towers (YCHT) instrument flight procedure will be affected by the activation of the TRA. Affected instrument flight procedures will be promulgated as ‘unavailable’ via NOTAM and AIP SUP. The minimum distance between YCHT and the TRA is in excess of 6 nautical miles.
During NOTAM activation periods, access by non-exercise aircraft through the TRA will not be available except in cases of a declared emergency, radio failure or participating in activities for the preservation of life and property (SAR, MED, POL or FFR). Transit procedures will be promulgated via AIP SUP.
The proposed NOTAMs will display as follows:
YBBB/TRA ‘FENRIR’
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 195715S 1463232E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 5.00NM centre 200100S 1462900E – 200147S 1462345E – 195715S 1463232E
Vertical Limits: SFC – 3500
Hours of activity: NOTAM
Controlling Authority: Defence, contact details to be specified in AIP SUP/NOTAM.
YBBB/TRA ‘ALLEY’
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 195028S 1462909E – 195055S 1463328E – 200330S 1463147E – 200301S 1462730E – 195028S 1462909E
Vertical Limits: 3500 – 8500
Hours of activity: NOTAM
Controlling Authority: Defence, contact details to be specified in AIP SUP/NOTAM.
AvSEF members are invited to provide feedback to JACC: adf.airspace@defence.gov.au by 10 May 2025.