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Exercise WADER24-2 will occur between 16 to 31 Oct 2024. Due to the number of aircraft and UAS, Temporary Restricted Area (TRA) is requested in the area of Cowley Beach.
This proposal notes the following key issues:
JACC requests feedback on the proposed TRAs ‘Shade’, and ‘Banshee’ to support ADF Amphibious Exercise WADER 2024-2 (WADER24-2).
Elements of the Australian Regular Army (ARA), and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will be conducting Exercise ‘WADER 2024-2’ over the period 16 to 31 October 2024. Multiple ARH, UH-60, MH-60R and CH-47 helicopters, two medium-sized UAS (Scheibel S-100 and RQ-7 Shadow) and multiple small UAS (Black Hornet, MRUAS, RQ-12 Wasp and RQ-20 Puma) will be operating over land and water from ashore and RAN vessels, in the vicinity of Cowley Beach Training Area (CBTA).
There will be increased military rotary wing and UAS activity overhead and in the vicinity of CBTA for the duration of the Exercise period.
Safe integration of both military and civilian aviation operations is a priority of this Aviation State Engagement Forum. 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 WADER24-2 airspace is active. Aircraft may request transit clearance through WADER24-2 airspace via a promulgated frequency, and transits shall be approved on a case-by-case basis where safe to do so. Pre-arranged WADER24-2 airspace 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 WADER24-2 airspace. These details will be published in AIP SUP.
Airspace
TRA ‘Shade’
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 173823S 1460149E then along counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 50.00NM centre 165101S 1454438E (YBCS/DME) – 173029S 1461658E – 173029S 1464127E – 175140S 1464127E – 175140S 1461010E – 174412S 1461011E – 174412S 1460203E then north along the Bruce Highway – 173823S 1460149E
Vertical Limits: SFC-3000 AMSL
Hours of Activity: NOTAM (Expected H24)
Controlling Authority: Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), 02 6224 1968, and 02 9537 6724, and +87 0776 454 749.
TRA ‘Banshee’
Conditional Status: RA1
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 173823S 1460149E then along counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 50.00NM centre 165101S 1454438E (YBCS/DME) – 173029S 1461658E – 173029S 1464127E – 175140S 1464127E – 175140S 1461010E – 174412S 1461011E – 174412S 1460203E then north along the Bruce Highway – 173823S 1460149E
Vertical Limits: 3000-6000 AMSL@ Hours of Activity: NOTAM (Expected H24)
Controlling Authority: Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), 02 6224 1968, and 02 9537 6724, and +87 0776 454 749.
Diversion Routes
TRA-Shade is RA2 status due to the increased UAS and RW operations, so non-priority civilian aircraft should plan to avoid it. TRA-Shade has been designed to avoid common PJE areas, and facilitate Dunk Island access, with a vertical limit that facilitates transits at or above 3000FT AMSL. Aircraft tracking north/south can also avoid TRA-Shade by remaining to the west of the Bruce Highway. Refer to Figure 2 for further details.
Transits through TRA-Banshee (RA1) are expected and may be requested to the military airspace control authority (MilACA) on an appropriate, promulgated frequency (e.g. Cassowary Coast CTAF). Expected transit levels through TRA-Banshee are between 3000 – 4000FT AMSL, inclusive.
Access to WADER24-2 airspace
Access to WADER24-2 TRA-Banshee by non-exercise aircraft is expected, provided the designated MilACA is contacted prior to TRA entry on the promulgated frequency. Access to WADER24-2 TRA-Shade by non-exercise aircraft may be provided on an opportunity basis.
Traffic information will be given to all exercise and non-exercise aircraft operating within or transiting a TRA by the MilACA on the promulgated frequency in AIP SUP.
Non-exercise aircraft authorised for WADER24-2 TRA transit by the MilACA will be deconflicted from all UAS operations by at least 1NM laterally or 1000FT vertically.
The designated military airspace control authority will afford priority to the following non-exercise aircraft:
All stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on the proposal via the Joint Airspace Control Cell: adf.airspace@defence.gov.au by 08 July 2024.