Proposed Lowering the Base of Class E Airspace on the East Coast

Airservices is proposing to lower the base of Class E airspace from 8500ft to 6500ft AMSL along the east coast between Melbourne and Cairns where terrain permits.

The primary driver for this proposal is to enhance safety by reducing the collision risk between IFR aircraft through provision of separation services to IFR aircraft in greater volumes of airspace. Australia’s aviation safety system plays a vital role in ensuring a safe, efficient, and competitive aviation industry. Safety of air navigation is an integral part of airspace administration. Maintaining safety is paramount for all aircraft movements.

This proposal will ensure enhanced safety outcomes, reduced workloads for IFR pilots and greater separation assurance reducing collision risk. This change will provide greater protection to more than two million annual passengers who fly on Regular Public Transport (RPT) flights to non-towered regional aerodromes on the east coast of Australia.

Fitment of upgraded surveillance equipment for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operators will enhance safety for their operations as well as the safety of other airspace users. Applications for the ADS-B Rebate Scheme are expected to open in August 2022. Further updates on the status of the program can be found on the ADS-B Rebate program website.

The fitment of surveillance equipment may enhance the visibility of some VFR aircraft to Air Traffic Controllers which will reduce reliance on visual “see and avoid” as the primary separation mechanism. Up to 95 per cent of VFR general aviation/recreational aircraft will be unaffected by these changes.

Leveraging Airservices investment in improved surveillance coverage through the lowering of Class E airspace will reduce collision risks while allowing for industry growth across the east coast of Australia.

This proposal, if implemented, will enhance overall safety and encourage the adoption of surveillance technology which is becoming increasingly essential to operate in today’s complex airspace. We invite industry to ask questions and provide feedback on the safety and operational impact of the proposal through the Airservices Engage website by 12 August 2022.

The resulting insights from this final engagement process will be provided to CASA as part of the ACP submission. Implementation of the proposal will be subject to the outcome of CASA’s ACP review and associated regulatory process.