Amendment to R625E Upper Limit

OVERVIEW

Defence proposes to amend the upper limit of R625E from FL310 to NOTAM to increase Amberley’s ‘domestic’ restricted airspace vertical limit, to better facilitate military training objectives. This airspace will remain classified as RA1 and the change is expected to be largely transparent to industry. Access to existing air routes is not affected and this proposed change formalises airspace release arrangements that are currently in place.

PROPOSAL

Defence is proposing to amend the upper limit of R625E from FL310 to NOTAM. The proposed change will allow Defence to activate R625E to the appropriate vertical limit to facilitate military training without relying on airspace release arrangements which result in increased coordination between ATC units.

In 2022 Defence consulted with industry on the introduction of R625E with an upper limit of FL310. The Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) to introduce R625E was subsequently approved by CASA and promulgated in June 2024. Post implementation feedback from Defence users has highlighted that while the change was successful in alleviating some of the complexity and restrictions on military training activities, the upper limit of FL310 still caused some operational limitations. To alleviate this issue Defence and Airservices Australia (Airservices) have been utilising airspace release procedures to provide Defence access to this airspace up to FL430 since late 2025.

The proposal will not change the lateral dimensions of R625E or the level of service aircraft currently receive when transiting through this area. As RA1 airspace, in accordance with AIP ENR 5.1, pilots may flight plan through R625E and, under normal circumstances, expect a clearance from ATC.

This proposal will reduce co-ordination between Amberley ATC and Brisbane Centre necessary when conducting air tests for high performance military aircraft. The proposed change should be largely transparent to industry with aircraft continuing to receive a Class C ATC service from either Brisbane Centre or Amberley ATC.

Proposed DAH Amendment

YBBB/R625E AMBERLEY (NB SERIES DESIGNATOR WILL CHANGE)
CONDITIONAL STATUS: RA1
MILITARY FLYING
LATERAL LIMITS: 

270427S 1521259E – 271325S 1524103E
274234S 1525259E – 274413S 1525155E
275324S 1524511E – 281805S 1522336E
Then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 43.00NM centre
273826S 1524243E - 270427S 1521259E

VERTICAL LIMITS: FL210 – NOTAM 
HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: FLTCDR 452SQN AMBERLEY