Exercise PITCH BLACK 2026

Overview:

Elements of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and International Military Forces will be conducting Exercise PITCH BLACK 2026 over the period 20 Jul – 07 Aug 2026.

The activity will be conducted from Darwin and Tindal, and will incorporate large volumes of restricted and danger areas in the NT.

PBK26 Airspace:

Some of the airspace listed below has been approved for incorporation into the DAH in AIRAC 2607 (09 Jul 2026); where airspace is not currently listed in DAH 27 Nov 2025, it has been defined below.

All, or some, of the following permanent Darwin/Tindal areas will be activated, with vertical limits published by NOTAM:

YBBB/R276B DARWIN
CONDITIONAL STATUS: RA2
MILITARY FLYING/NON-FLYING
LATERAL LIMITS: 125551S 1302741E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 40.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 130328S 1304117E – 134106S 1302655E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 80.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) – 132616S 1300054E – 125551S 1302741E
VERTICAL LIMITS: NOTAM - NOTAM
HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN

YBBB/R276C DARWIN
CONDITIONAL STATUS: RA2
MILITARY FLYING/NON-FLYING
LATERAL LIMITS: 135638S 1293400E - 132616S 1300054E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 80.00NM centre
122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 134106S 1302655E - 141844S 1301230E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 120.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 135638S 1293400E
VERTICAL LIMITS: 5000 - NOTAM
HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN

YBBB/R276D DARWIN
CONDITIONAL STATUS: RA2
MILITARY FLYING/NON-FLYING
LATERAL LIMITS: 143432S 1290013E - 135638S 1293400E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 120.00NM centre
122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 141844S 1301230E - 150544S 1295421E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 170.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 143432S 1290013E
VERTICAL LIMITS: 5000 - NOTAM
HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN

YBBB/M278A DARWIN
MILITARY FLYING/NON-FLYING
LATERAL LIMITS: 120017S 1305453E - 114513S 1305433E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 40.00NM centre
122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) – 115307S 1311842E – 120513S 1310935E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 25.00NM centre
122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 120017S 1305453E
VERTICAL LIMITS: 5000 - NOTAM
HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM
ADMINISTERING AUTHORITY: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN

YBBB/M278B DARWIN
MILITARY FLYING/NON-FLYING
LATERAL LIMITS: 114513S 1305433E – 110502S 1305339E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 80.00NM centre
122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) – 112050S 1314258E - 115307S 1311842E then along the counter clockwise are of a circle radius 40.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) – 114513S 1305433E
VERTICAL LIMITS: 5000 - NOTAM
HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN

YBBB/M278C DARWIN
MILITARY FLYING/NON-FLYING
LATERAL LIMITS: 110502S 1305339E - 102452S 1305246E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 120.00NM centre
122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 104830S 1320707E  - 112050S 1314258E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 80.00NM centre - 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 110502S 1305339E
VERTICAL LIMITS: NOTAM - NOTAM
HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN

YBBB/M278D DARWIN
MILITARY FLYING/NON-FLYING
LATERAL LIMITS: 102452S 1305246E - 095444S 1305207E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 150.00NM centre
122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 102414S 1322511E - 104830S 1320707E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 120.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 102452S 1305246E
VERTICAL LIMITS: NOTAM - NOTAM
HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN

YBBB/M278E DARWIN
MILITARY FLYING/NON-FLYING
LATERAL LIMITS: 120513S 1310935E – 115307S 1311842E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 40.00NM centre
122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) – 121423S 1313341E – 121853S 1311903E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 25.00NM centre
122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 120513S 1310935E
VERTICAL LIMITS: 5000 - NOTAM
HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM
ADMINISTERING AUTHORITY: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN

YBBB/M278F DARWIN
MILITARY FLYING/NON-FLYING
LATERAL LIMITS: 115307S 1311842E – 112050S 1314258E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 80.00NM centre
122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) – 120220S 1321238E - 121423S 1313341E then along the counter clockwise are of a circle radius 40.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) – 115307S 1311842E
VERTICAL LIMITS: 5000 - NOTAM
HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN

YBBB/M278G DARWIN
MILITARY FLYING/NON-FLYING
LATERAL LIMITS: 112050S 1314258E - 104830S 1320707E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 120.00NM centre
122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 115011S 1325132E - 120220S 1321238E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 80.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 112050S 1314258E
VERTICAL LIMITS: 5000 - NOTAM
HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN

YBBB/M278H DARWIN
MILITARY FLYING/NON-FLYING
LATERAL LIMITS: 104830S 1320707E - 102414S 1322511E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 150.00NM centre
122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 114101S 1332040E - 115011S 1325132E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 120.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 104830S 1320707E
VERTICAL LIMITS: 5000 - NOTAM
HOURS OF ACTIVITY: NOTAM
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN

M277FGH PARTIAL 
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 134618S 1282100E – 124436S 1301824E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 40.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) – 125551S 1302741E – 143432S 1290013E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 170.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) – 134618S 1282100E
Vertical Limits: FL200 – NOTAM
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN

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Note: R226AB and R228AB may be activated for non-PBK26 activities however shall not be activated during PBK26 airspace activation windows.

Flight Diversion Routes:

Flight diversion routes are yet to be developed. Diversion routing will be published via AIP SUP.

Airspace Activation Windows:

The following indicative timings for activation of PBK26 airspace are as per below, Table 2. Actual timings will be confirmed via AIP SUP and NOTAM.

Access to PBK26 Airspace:

Access to PBK26 restricted areas by non-exercise aircraft is not available, with the exception of:

• Aircraft operating in the preservation of life or property (MEDEVAC, FFR, POL, SAR), and
• Aircraft with a declared emergency.

Danger Area Flight Planning:

Coolibah Corridor North and South (D236AB) and Victoria Highway Corridor (D209):

• The VFR Transit Corridors, D236AB and D209, will be available during military exercise activation periods. Victoria Highway Corridor procedures are specified in ERSA under the Tindal Flight Procedures entry.

Darwin Airspace Procedures:

Due to increased congestion, and the nature of high-density military fast-jet operations, all aircraft should anticipate some delays during exercise traffic periods.

Holding Fuel

• Aircraft > 7000kg MTOW: It is anticipated that aircraft above 7000kg MTOW planned to arrive during PBK26 airspace activation periods will be required to carry 30 minutes holding fuel in addition to normal requirements.
• Aircraft ≤ 7000kg MTOW: Aircraft with an MTOW 7000kg or less that are planned to arrive during PBK26 airspace activation periods can anticipate a requirement to carry 15 minutes of holding fuel in addition to normal requirements for traffic management.
• Confirmed holding fuel requirements shall be published via AIP SUP.

Cable engagements

• The possibility of arrestor cable engagements at Darwin on runway 11/29 is increased. Aircraft captains should be aware that runway 11/29 may be unavailable for periods up to 30 minutes following an engagement. Aircraft captains should consider the possibility of the requirement for diversion to alternate airfields following a cable engagement.

Military Priority Windows

• It is necessary that military priority be afforded for small windows to enable expeditious tactical departure from YPDN, and to minimise the impact to civil operations. Included in the priority windows table is the Mindil Beach Flypast period. Where possible, civil operations should plan to avoid these periods. Departures will be held on the ground and arrivals held outside the Darwin Control Zone or 40NM Darwin as applicable, until the display window and/or priority window has ceased.
• Outside of published military priority windows, equal priority will be afforded to all aircraft IAW extant AIP procedures.

Table 3: PBK26 Military Priority Windows at YPDN
(Insert table here)

Mindil Beach Flypast:

• The Mindil Beach Flypast is a civil community engagement event, which has also occurred in previous Pitch Blacks. The flypast involves aircraft from Australian and International military forces. The flypast route occurs over Mindil Beach, located 2NM upwind of Darwin’s main duty runway, which for safety reasons requires that no non-participating aircraft take off, land, or conduct local flying operations within the Darwin Control Zone for the duration of the flypast activity (90 minutes total). To avoid delays, operators are encouraged to review their schedules to avoid this priority window period. Aircraft unable to avoid this window will be held by either Darwin ATC or Brisbane Centre until such time as the flypast has concluded and it is safe to proceed.
• Timings of the flypast are at Table 3. Confirmation of timings and procedures shall be published in AIP SUP and NOTAM.