Exercise ARCHER 25 - east Australian exercise area (EAXA)

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    Closed consultation
    NSW
    Start 20/03/2025
    AEDT 11:00
    End 03/04/2025
    AEDT 17:00

    Submit feedback to

    SO3 Airspace Plans  Joint Airspace Control Cell
    Royal Australian Air Force

    Defence is proposing a Temporary Military Operating Area (TMOA) to extend the east Australian exercise area.

    The issue

    This proposal notes the following key issues:

    • request for TMOA to extend the Eastern Australian Exercise Airspace (EAXA) to the south-east
    • civil access to TMOA limited to aircraft subject to an emergency (see below for information regarding military operating areas)
    • military flying / non-flying.

    Purpose

    Joint Airspace Control Cell (JACC) requests feedback on the proposed TMOA 'BOUNTY' to be employed as an extension to the EAXA (M440 series) to the south-east. This TMOA will be utilised for military flying and non-flying activities.

    Proposal

    To facilitate the varied requirements of dynamic and high-speed fixed-wing aircraft access to the EAXA, defence is proposing a temporary lateral extension to extant EAXA (M440) Special Use Airspace (SUA).

    The area, labelled TMOA 'BOUNTY' has been designed to remain in excess of 16 nautical miles (n mile) away from oceanic air routes to reduce the impost to the commercial sector.

    TMOA 'BOUNTY' is expected to be active from Friday 27 June 2025 0800 local (2200Z) until Thursday 3 July 2025 1700 local (0700Z) daily, not including weekends.  Activation will be published by Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) both YMMM (Melbourne Flight Information Region (FIR)) or YBBB (Brisbane FIR) 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 search and search and rescue (SAR), medical (MED), law enforcement (POL) or firefighting (FFR) in accordance with the following guidance from designated airspace handbook (DAH).

    Military Operating Areas (MOA)

    MOA are a subset of danger areas.  They are primarily established outside Australian territory in Australian-administered airspace for use by the Australia Defence Force for military training and exercises.  Outside Australian territory, only Australian registered aircraft are restricted from entering MOA unless they have Administering Authority approval. Within Australian territory, both foreign registered and Australian registered aircraft are restricted from entering MOA unless they have administering authority approval.  It is highly recommended that foreign registered aircraft make appropriate safety contact with the relevant administering authority if they choose to enter an active MOA outside Australian territory.

    Military Flying/Non-Flying

    The proposed NOTAM will display as follows:

    Lateral Limits: 351859S 1525550E – 364021S 1542755E – 372712S 1532546E – 375925S 1505416E – 365643S 1504503E then along the counterclockwise arc of a circle radius 120.00NM centre 345700S 1503200E (NWA/TAC) – 351859S 1525550E 
    Vertical Limits: SFC – UNL
    Activation Times: NOTAM
    Controlling Authority: Department of Defence (contact details to be published in NOTAM).

    Figure 1:  Proposed TMOA 'BOUNTY' and M440

    Aviation State Engagement Form (AvSEF) members are invited to provide feedback to the JACC - adf.airspace@defence.gov.au by 3 April 2025.

    Submitted by

    SO3 Airspace Plans Joint Airspace Control Cell
    Royal Australian Air Force
    adf.airspace@defence.gov.au