RAAF Aerial Gunnery NSW - TRA Vulcan

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    Closed consultation
    NSW
    Start 29/07/2024
    AEST 10:00
    End 16/08/2024
    AEST 17:00

    Submit feedback to

    SO3 Airspace Plans  JACC
    RAAF

    Establishment of Temporary Military Operating Area (TMOA) ‘VULCAN’ for live fire activities off the coast of NSW in November.

    The issue

    Establishment of Temporary Military Operating Area (TMOA) ‘Vulcan’ to safely segregate civil aircraft from military live fire activities off the coast of NSW.

    TMOA ‘Vulcan’ has the same lateral dimensions as R662A and R662B combined, however extends down to the surface, and is MILITARY FLYING/NON-FLYING in its purpose.

    TMOA ‘Vulcan’ will be activated concurrently with Evans Head Range (R638A-D).

    This airspace is expected to be activated for 2 periods a day, Monday to Friday for 2 weeks between 12 midnight to 3 am and 4 am to 7am UTC.

    Purpose

    JACC requests feedback on the proposed Temporary Military Operating Area ‘Vulcan’, to support RAAF aerial gunnery activities off the coast of NSW.

    Proposal

    OVERVIEW 

    Elements of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will be conducting Air-to-Air Gunnery (AAG) off the coast of NSW between 11 to 22 November 2024. This activity will require aircraft to tow a solid target with attached banner, which will be engaged by the 20mm cannon fitted to F/A-18F aircraft. 

    During the conduct of the AAG serials, aircraft will be required to operate between 5,000 to 25,000 feet MSL, with falling cannon rounds impacting the ocean surface, and maximum cannon round height reaching 30,000 feet AMSL, thus the airspace is required from surface to FL350. As the current dimensions of R662AB have a lower limit of 5000FT, a TMOA is required to contain this activity. 

    PROPOSAL 

    Airspace and Timings 

    TMOA Vulcan is expected to be activated for two periods each day on Monday to Friday for the two weeks between Monday 11 November and Friday 22 November 2024. Anticipated activation timings are outlined below. Timings will be promulgated in NOTAM and the airspace will be deactivated when no longer required. 

    Dates & Times

    11 to 15 November 2024:

    • 12 midnight to 3 am 
    • 4 am to 7 am

    18 to 22 November 2024:

    • 12 midnight to 3 am 
    • 4 am to 7 am

    TMOA Vulcan has the following dimensions and is graphically outlined in Figure 1 below. Operators should note that these dimensions are a complete combination of the lateral dimensions of R662A and R662B, and as such activating both volumes on EFBs will correctly display the dimensions of TMOA Vulcan laterally. 

    TMOA ‘Vulcan’ 

    Conditional Status: RA2 

    Military Flying/Non-Flying 

    Lateral Limits: 285213S 1534939E – 283215S 1535636E – 283312S 1540749E – 283347S 1540920E – 291321S 1550710E – 294816S 1555922E – 303825S 1553125E – 302810S 1542553E – 301853S 1532932E – 293923S 1533734E then along the counter clockwise arc of a circle radius 30.00NM centre 291151S 1532344E – 285213S 1534939E 

    Vertical Limits: SFC – FL350 

    Hours of Activity: NOTAM 

    Controlling Authority: FLTCDR 452SQN AMBERLEY 

    Affected Routes TMOA ‘Vulcan’ affects those routes normally affected by the activation of R662A and R662B. These routes are: 

    • B474 
    • P880 
    • T53 

    Evans Head Range (≤FL180) will also be activated concurrently with TMOA ‘Vulcan’ and as such will also affect the following routes: 

    • Y193, Y43, H252, Y54, W192, W196, W256, W446, Z33 

    Access to TMOA Vulcan 

    During activation periods, access to TMOA Vulcan by non-exercise aircraft will not be available with the exception of: 

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

    Figure 1. TMOA ‘Vulcan’ (SFC – FL350) 

    All stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on the proposal via the Joint Airspace Control Cell: adf.airspace@defence.gov.au by 14 August 2024.

    Submitted by

    SO3 Airspace Plans JACC
    RAAF
    adf.airspace@defence.gov.au

    Relevant documentation

    31 July 2024