Aviation State Engagement Forum
Elements of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will be conducting Exercise ‘ACES BRAVO 2026’ (AB26) and ‘DIAMOND STORM 2026’ (DSM26) between 26 May - 24 June 2026.
The issue
• Increased air traffic density resulting in delays to civil aircraft at Darwin (YPDN).
• Priority departure windows for military aircraft at YPDN.
• Northern territory permanent and temporary Restricted and Danger Areas to be activated in the vicinity of YPDN and Tindal (YPTN) between 26 May - 24 June 2026
• Conditional status of Exercise Airspace south of YPTN will be RA2.
• Multiple air routes affected. Diversion routes to be published in AIP SUP.
• Darwin priority departure windows for military aircraft.
• Access to TRA is limited to exercise participants, aircraft with a declared emergency or undertaking operations in the preservation of life and/or property.
Purpose
JACC requests feedback on proposed temporary restricted area (TRA), temporary danger area (TDA) and procedures for Exercise ACES BRAVO 2026 and DIAMOND STORM 2026.
Proposal
All or some of the following NT airspace will be activated to support exercise operations in conjunction with two temporary special use airspace (SUA) areas. Indicative timings are listed in Table 2, with specific activation timings to be promulgated by AIP SUP and NOTAM.
|
AB26 and DSM26 Airspace |
||
|
IDENT |
VERTICAL LIMITS |
HOURS |
|
TDL CTR |
SFC – 2500 |
NOTAM |
|
R225ABCDEF |
9500 - FL600 |
NOTAM |
|
R232 |
SFC – NOTAM |
NOTAM |
|
R238 |
3500 – NOTAM |
NOTAM |
|
R241 |
8500 – NOTAM |
NOTAM |
|
R244 |
4000 – 9500 |
NOTAM |
|
R245 |
9500 – NOTAM |
NOTAM |
|
R247 |
4000 – 9500 |
NOTAM |
|
R248 |
4000 – 9500 |
NOTAM |
|
R249A |
1500 – 2500 |
NOTAM |
|
R249B |
2500 – NOTAM |
NOTAM |
|
R250 |
SFC – 9500 |
NOTAM |
|
R251 |
9500 – NOTAM |
NOTAM |
|
R252AB |
9500 – NOTAM |
NOTAM |
|
R253 |
8500 – NOTAM |
NOTAM |
|
R262A Partial |
8500 – NOTAM |
NOTAM |
|
R262BC Partial |
8500 – NOTAM |
NOTAM |
|
R268 |
SFC – NOTAM |
NOTAM |
|
R269 |
SFC – NOTAM |
NOTAM |
|
R270 |
SFC – NOTAM |
NOTAM |
|
M263EFG Partial |
FL200 – FL600 |
NOTAM |
|
D210 |
SFC – BCTA |
MON - FRI 2130-1330 EXC PH or as amended by NOTAM |
|
D223 |
SFC – 8500 |
NOTAM |
|
D229 |
SFC – 8500 |
NOTAM |
|
D236AB |
SFC – 3000 |
NOTAM |
|
TRA ‘DOWNPOUR’ |
10000 – FL600 |
NOTAM |
|
TDA ‘BLUSTER’ |
SFC – 10 000 |
NOTAM |
Partial Airspace
YBBB/R262A PARTIAL
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying/Non-Flying
Lateral Limits: 125549S 1302738E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 40.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 130327S 1304117E - 134106S 1302655E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 80.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 132616S 1300054E - 125549S 1302738E
Vertical Limits: 8500 – NOTAM
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Controlling Authority: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN
YBBB/M263EFG PARTIAL
Military Flying/Non-Flying
Lateral Limits: 125232S 1302413E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 40.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 125549S 1302738E - 143432S 1290013E then along the clockwise arc of a circle radius 170.00NM centre 122524S 1305423E (DN/DME) - 141552S 1284126E - 125232S 1302413E
Vertical Limits: FL200 – FL600
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Administering Authority: FLTCDR 452SQN DARWIN
Temporary Airspace
YBBB/TRA ‘DOWNPOUR’
Conditional Status: RA2
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 161640S 1285943E – 164430S 1291048E – 180000S 1313548E – 180000S 1325147E – 200000S 1325147E – 200000S 1295200E – 191500S 1285943E – 161640S 1285943E
Vertical Limits: 10 000 – FL600
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Controlling Authority: Department of Defence
YBBB/TDA ‘BLUSTER’
Military Flying
Lateral Limits: 161640S 1285943E – 164430S 1291048E – 180000S 1313548E – 180000S 1325147E – 200000S 1325147E – 200000S 1295200E – 191500S 1285943E – 161640S 1285943E
Vertical Limits: SFC – 10 000
Hours of Activity: NOTAM
Contact: Department of Defence
|
AB26/DSM26 Indicative Airspace Activation Windows |
||
|
Week One 26 – 29 May |
||
| Tues – Fri | 0900 – 1230 (local time – I/K) | 2330 – 0300Z UTC |
| 1500 – 1830 (local time – I/K) | 0530 – 0900Z UTC | |
| Week Two 01 – 05 Jun | ||
| Mon – Fri | 0900 – 1230 (local time – I/K) | 2330 – 0300Z UTC |
| 1500 – 1830 (local time – I/K) | 0530 – 0900Z UTC | |
| Week Three 09 – 12 Jun | ||
| Tues – Fri | 0900 – 1230 (local time – I/K) | 2330 – 0300Z UTC |
| 1500 – 1830 (local time – I/K) | 0530 – 0900Z UTC | |
| Week Four 15 – 19 Jun | ||
| Mon – Fri |
1300 – 1630 (local time – I/K) | 0330 – 0700 UTC |
| 1930 – 2300 (local time – I/K) | 1000 – 1330 UTC | |
| Week Five 22 – 24 Jun | ||
| Mon – Wed | 0900 – 1230 (local time – I/K) | 2330 – 0300Z UTC |
| 1500 – 1830 (local time – I/K) | 0530 – 0900Z UTC | |
Timings indicative, to be confirmed by AIP SUP.
Further activations of extant NT SUA occur outside of these windows to support further RAAF training outcomes.
Military Priority Windows and Holding Fuel – Darwin Aerodrome
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 > 7000 kg MTOW: It is anticipated that aircraft above 7000 kg MTOW planned to arrive during AB26/DSM26 airspace activation periods will be required to carry 30 minutes holding fuel in addition to normal requirements.
- Aircraft ≤ 7000kg MTOW: Aircraft with an MTOW 7000 kg or less that are planned to arrive during AB26/DSM26 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. Where possible, civil operations should plan to avoid these periods. Departures will be held on the ground and arrivals held outside YPDN Control Zone or 40NM Darwin as applicable, until the priority window has ceased.
- Outside of published military priority windows, equal priority will be afforded to all aircraft IAW extant AIP procedures.
|
AB26/DSM26 Military Priority Windows |
||
|
Week One 26 – 29 May |
||
| Tues – Fri | 0900 – 0930 (local time – I/K) | 2330 – 0000Z UTC |
| 1500 – 1530 (local time – I/K) | 0530 – 0600Z UTC | |
| Week Two 01 – 05 Jun | ||
| Mon – Fri | 0900 – 0930 (local time – I/K) | 2330 – 0000Z UTC |
| 1500 – 1530 (local time – I/K) | 0530 – 0600Z UTC | |
| Week Three 09 – 12 Jun | ||
| Tues – Fri | 0900 – 0930 (local time – I/K) | 2330 – 0000Z UTC |
| 1500 – 1530 (local time – I/K) | 0530 – 0600Z UTC | |
| Week Four 15 – 19 Jun | ||
| Mon – Fri |
Fri 1300 – 1330 (local time – I/K) | 0330 – 0400 UTC |
| 1930 – 2000 (local time – I/K) | 1000 – 1030 UTC | |
| Week Five 22 – 24 Jun | ||
| Mon – Wed | 0900 – 0930 (local time – I/K) | 2330 – 0000Z UTC |
| 1500 – 1530 (local time – I/K) | 0530 – 0600Z UTC | |
Diversion Routes
This airspace proposal has an effect on ATS routes passing across North Western Australia. Diversion routing will be required during the periods of MILEX airspace activation. Diversion routes shall be developed by Airservices Australia, and shall be published in the AIP SUP.
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).
