Proposed temporary restricted areas and temporary danger areas for MILEX ACES ALPHA & DIAMOND SHIELD 2026

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Open consultation

NSW QLD

7 days remaining

Start 27/11/2025
AEDT 11:00

End 11/12/2025
AEDT 17:00

Submit feedback to

ADF Airspace

RAAF

adf.airspace@defence.gov.au

Elements of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will be conducting Exercise ‘ACES ALPHA 2026’ and ‘DIAMOND SHIELD 2026’ between 9 - 25 March 2026.

The issue

This proposal notes the following key issues:

Conditional status of Exercise Airspace west of RAAF Amberley and north of R570ABCDEFGH will be RA2.
Multiple air routes affected. Diversion routes to be published in the Aeronautical Information Publication Supplement (AIP SUP).
Access to Temporary Restricted Area (TRAs) will be limited to exercise participants, aircraft with a declared emergency or aircraft undertaking operations for the preservation of life and/or property.

Purpose

The Joint Airspace Control Cell (JACC) requests feedback on the proposed TRAs and temporary danger areas (TDAs) and procedures for Exercise ACES ALPHA 2026 and DIAMOND SHIELD 2026.

Proposal

Seven TRAs and 5 TDAs are proposed to support exercise operations. Indicative activation timings are listed in Table 1 and Table 2, with specific timings to be promulgated by AIP SUP and Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).

9 – 20 March 2026

**Table 1. Planned activation timings for Exercise Airspace 09 – 20 March 2026**
Airspace	Time
TRA ‘NIMBUS’	NOTAM: 2 x 3.5 Hour Windows
TRA ‘STRATUS’	NOTAM: 2 x 3.5 Hour Windows
TRA ‘ALTO’	NOTAM: 2 x 3.5 Hour Windows
TRA ‘BUTTRESS’	NOTAM: 2 x 3.5 Hour Windows
TDA ‘BASALT’	NOTAM: 2 x 3.5 Hour Windows
TDA ‘SLATE’	NOTAM: 2 x 3.5 Hour Windows
TDA ‘LIMESTONE’	NOTAM: 2 x 3.5 Hour Windows
TDA ‘SANDSTONE’	NOTAM: 2 x 3.5 Hour Windows

23 – 25 March 2026

**Table 2. Planned activation timings for Exercise Airspace 23 – 25 March 2026**
Airspace	Time
TRA ‘NIMBUS’	NOTAM: Up to H24
TRA ‘STRATUS’	NOTAM: Up to H24
TRA ‘BOOMERANG’	NOTAM: Up to H24
TRA ‘PLATEAU’	NOTAM: Up to H24
TRA ‘MEADOW’	NOTAM: Up to H24
TDA ‘BASALT’	NOTAM: Up to H24
TDA ‘SLATE’	NOTAM: Up to H24
TDA ‘MARBLE’	NOTAM: Up to H24

Diversion Routes

This airspace proposal has an effect on ATS routes passing west of Brisbane, Qld and north of R570ABCDEFGH along the NSW/Qld border. Diversion routing will be required during the periods of MILEX airspace activation. Diversion routes will be developed in consultation with Airservices Australia, and shall be published in the AIP SUP.

Over the period 23-25 March 2026, TRA ‘PLATAEU’ and TRA ‘MEADOW’ will replace R570ABCDEFGH to facilitate the Y27 and Q4 route diversions. These diversion routes can expect to parallel the Q35 route to the north, transiting over TRA’MEADOW’. See Figure 1.

**Figure 1. Proposed Y27 and Q4 route Diversions**

Access to Exercise Airspace

During NOTAM activation periods, access to Exercise Airspace 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 (SAR, MED, POL or FFR).

YBBB/TRA ‘NIMBUS’
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 265722S 1485538E – 265738S 1494403E – 281000S 1494800E – 291542S 1500721E – 291523S 1492858E – 285713S 1485340E – 265722S 1485538E
Vertical Limits: 10 000 - NOTAM
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Controlling Authority: Department of Defence

YBBB/TRA ‘STRATUS’
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 265722S 1465205E – 265722S 1485538E – 285713S 1485340E – 291523S 1492858E – 291523S 1475835E – 290327S 1473641E – 274428S 1462548E – 265722S 1465205E
Vertical Limits: 10 000 - NOTAM
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Controlling Authority: Department of Defence

YBBB/TRA ‘ALTO’
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 274428S 1462548E – 290327S 1473641E – 291523S 1475835E – 292522S 1483501E – 292535S 1472309E –284106S 1464944E - 280447S 1462335E – 274800S 1462325E – 274428S 1462548E
Vertical Limits: 10 000 - NOTAM
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Controlling Authority: Department of Defence

YBBB/TRA ‘BUTTRESS’
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 291523S 1475835E – 291523S1492858E - 291542S 1500721E – 291523S 1502357E – 284432S 1512942E – 280111S 1520130E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 43.00NM centre 273826S 1524243E – 281805S 1522336E – 284953S 1513543E – 292346S 1502620E – 292522S 1483501E – 291523S 1475835E
Vertical Limits: 10 000 - NOTAM
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Controlling Authority: Department of Defence

YBBB/TRA ‘BOOMERANG’
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 274428S 1462548E – 290327S 1473641E – 291523S 1475835E – 291523S 1492858E – 291542S 1500721E – 291523S 1502357E – 284432S 1512942E – 280111S 1520130E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 43.00NM centre 273826S 1524243E – 281805S 1522336E – 284953S 1513543E – 290507S 1510446E – 304631S 1501649E – 294722S 1495900E – 294837S 1484207E – 302042S 1474543E – 284106S 1464944E – 280447S 1462335E – 274800S 1462325E – 274428S 1462548E
Vertical Limits: 10 000 - NOTAM
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Controlling Authority: Department of Defence

YBBB/TRA ‘PLATEAU
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 302042S 1474543E – 294837S 1484207E – 294722S 1495900E – 304631S 1501649E – 313151S 1492902E – 314549S 1485004E – 302042S 1474543E
Vertical Limits: 10 000 - NOTAM
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Controlling Authority: Department of Defence

YBBB/TRA ‘MEADOW’
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 314549S 1485004E – 313151S 1492902E – 304631S 1501649E – 310811S 1502326E – 314535S 1494048E – 320236S 1490547E – 315818S 1485939E – 314549S 1485004E
Vertical Limits: 10 000 – FL240
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Controlling Authority: Department of Defence

YBBB/TDA ‘BASALT’
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 265722S 1485538E – 265738S 1494403E – 281000S 1494800E – 291542S 1500721E – 291523S 1492858E – 285713S 1485340E – 265722S 1485538E
Vertical Limits: SFC – 10 000
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Contact: Department of Defence

YBBB/TDA ‘SLATE’
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 265722S 1465205E – 265722S 1485538E – 285713S 1485340E – 291523S 1492858E – 291523S 1475835E – 290327S 1473641E – 274428S 1462548E – 265722S 1465205E
Vertical Limits: SFC – 10 000
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Contact: Department of Defence

YBBB/TDA ‘LIMESTONE’
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 274428S 1462548E – 290327S 1473641E – 291523S 1475835E – 292522S 1483501E – 292535S 1472309E –284106S 1464944E - 280447S 1462335E – 274800S 1462325E – 274428S 1462548E
Vertical Limits: SFC – 10 000
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Contact: Department of Defence

YBBB/TDA ‘SANDSTONE’
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 291523S 1475835E – 291523S1492858E - 291542S 1500721E – 291523S 1502357E – 284432S 1512942E – 280111S 1520130E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 43.00NM centre 273826S 1524243E – 281805S 1522336E – 284953S 1513543E – 292346S 1502620E – 292522S 1483501E – 291523S 1475835E
Vertical Limits: SFC – 10 000
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Contact: Department of Defence

YBBB/TDA ‘MARBLE’
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 274428S 1462548E – 290327S 1473641E – 291523S 1475835E – 291523S 1492858E – 291542S 1500721E – 291523S 1502357E – 284432S 1512942E – 280111S 1520130E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 43.00NM centre 273826S 1524243E – 281805S 1522336E – 284953S 1513543E – 290507S 1510446E – 304631S 1501649E – 294722S 1495900E – 294837S 1484207E – 302042S 1474543E – 284106S 1464944E – 280447S 1462335E – 274800S 1462325E – 274428S 1462548E
Vertical Limits: SFC – 10 000
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Contact: Department of Defence

**Figure 2. Exercise Airspace 9-20 March 2026**

**Figure 3. Exercise Airspace 23-25 March 2026**

Submitted by

ADF Airspace
RAAF
adf.airspace@defence.gov.au