Aviation State Engagement Forum
On this page
Open consultation
Submit feedback to
ADF
Airspace
Joint Airspace Control Cell
4 temporary restricted areas (TRA) are proposed near Ingham and Forrest Beach to safely separate civil aircraft from the military flying activities over May 2025.
The issue
- Activation of TRA ‘Castle AB’ and ‘Pandora AB’ support amphibious manoeuvres involving rotary wing and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operations in the vicinity of Forrest Beach and Ingham.
- Airspace designed to have segregation greater than 4 Nautical Mile (n mile) at the closest point between Ingham Airport (YIGM) and TRA Castle-AB, to facilitate Palm Island access with minimal additional track miles and to facilitate low-level transits west of the North Coast Railway.
- Anticipated that YIGM Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 23 and Palm Island (YPAM) RNP 14 instrument approach procedures (IAP) will be affected by TRA ‘CASTLE AB’ and TRA ‘PANDORA AB’.
- No impact to published routes.
- Conditional status of TRA ‘Castle AB’ and ‘Pandora AB’ will be RA2; transit cannot be expected except in case of emergency.
Purpose
Defence requests feedback on 5 proposed TRAs and associated procedures for Exercise SEA RAIDER 2025, specifically to be employed in the vicinity of Forrest Beach and Ingham.
Proposal
Elements of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will be conducting Exercise ‘SEA RAIDER 2025’ over the month of May 2025.
Exercise SEA EXPLORER 2025 forms part of the SEA Series of military exercises, involving a wide range of military air, sea and land activities across the Queensland coast.
4 TRA are proposed to safely separate civil aircraft from the military flying activities over the period 15-23 May 2025.
Safe integration of both military and civilian aviation operations is a priority of this Aviation State Engagement Forum consultation. Military aircraft and airspace controllers will monitor, and broadcast on as necessary, designated civilian aviation frequencies (e.g. CTAF and Civil Air Distress) at all times when the Special Use Airspace (SUA) is active.
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.
Forrest Beach
Four TRA are proposed to support amphibious manoeuvres throughout the Exercise SEA RAIDER 2025 activity period. Indicative timings are listed in Table 1, with specific activation timings to be promulgated by AIP SUP and NOTAM.
Airspace Date Time
| Airspace | Date | Time |
| TRA ‘CASTLE A’ and TRA ‘PANDORA A’ | 15 – 23 May 2025 | 2100Z – 0900Z Daily |
| TRA ‘CASTLE B’ and TRA ‘PANDORA B’ | 15 – 23 May 2025 | Up to 24 hours |
Diversion Routes
TRA ‘CASTLE AB’ and TRA ‘PANDORA AB’ is RA2 status due to the increased autonomous and rotary wing operations. As such, non-priority civilian aircraft should plan to avoid it. TRA ‘CASTLE AB’ and TRA ‘PANDORA AB’ has been designed to have segregation greater than 4NM at the closest point between Ingham Airport and TRA Castle-AB, to facilitate Palm Island access with minimal additional track miles. Aircraft tracking north/south can also avoid TRA ‘CASTLE AB’ by remaining to the west of the North Coast Railway.
Normal CTAF Procedures remain in place for aircraft operating at Ingham.
Access to TRA ‘CASTLE AB’ and TRA ‘PANDORA AB’
During Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) activation periods, access to TRA ‘CASTLE AB’ and TRA ‘PANDORA AB’ 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 (SAR, MED, POL or FFR). Clearances through TRA ‘CASTLE AB’ and TRA ‘PANDORA AB’, when appropriate, will be provided by the contact listed in AIP SUP.
The proposed NOTAMs will display as follows:
- YBBB/TRA-Castle A
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 184525S 1460917E then clockwise along the arc of a circle radius 45.00NM centre 191439S 1464530E (TL/DME) – 183732S 1461825E - 183732S 1462100E - 185144S 1462100E - 185144S 1461146E then along THE NORTH COAST RAILWAY - 184525S 1460917E
Vertical Limits: SFC – 3000
Controlling Authority: Department of Defence, contact details to be specified in AIP SUP - YBBB/TRA-Castle B
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 184525S 1460917E then clockwise along the arc of a circle radius 45.00NM centre 191439S 1464530E (TL/DME) – 183732S 1461825E - 183732S 1462100E - 185144S 1462100E - 185144S 1461146E then along THE NORTH COAST RAILWAY - 184525S 1460917E
Vertical Limits: 3000 – 5000
Controlling Authority: Department of Defence, contact details to be specified in AIP SUP - YBBB/TRA-Pandora A
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 183732S 1462100E – 183732S 1462722E - 185144S 1462722E - 185144S 1462100E - 183732S 1462100E
Vertical Limits: SFC – 3000
Controlling Authority: Department of Defence, contact details to be specified in AIP SUP - YBBB/TRA-Pandora B
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 183732S 1462100E – 183732S 1462722E - 185144S 1462722E - 185144S 1462100E - 183732S 1462100E
Vertical Limits: 3000 – 5000
Controlling Authority: Department of Defence, contact details to be specified in AIP SUP
Please see image below:
