General Aviation to benefit from RAAF airspace reform

General Aviation pilots are set to benefit from the RAAF's decision to improve civil accessibility to airspace above its air bases at Richmond and Williamtown in NSW by implementing VFR routes through the Control Zones.

The RAAF says availability of access to military Restricted Areas (RA) is now more transparent, with the net result of more equitable sharing of airspace volumes, without increasing the impact of aircraft noise on local communities underneath the flight paths.

For pilots, greater access to Restricted Areas will also mean improved transit times and the associated boundary changes should reduce the number accidental airspace incursions. Effective as of this month, the Richmond southern and eastern boundaries have been altered and are now based on Sydney radials 284 and 327, respectively.

The airspace changes are the result of close cooperation between CASA’s Office of Airspace Regulation, the RAAF, and the aviation industry.

“These changes will allow civilian aircraft to transit through the Williamtown and Richmond airspace more easily,” Deputy Director of Civil and Military Coordination, Wing Commander Steven Laredo, said.

Updated aeronautical charts will be available this month; further information about the changes to Restricted Areas can be obtained by emailing oar@casa.gov.au. Read more about these latest Richmond and Williamtown Airspace reforms.