Civil Aviation Safety Authority is seeking industry feedback on a revised proposal to introduce a one-way VFR corridor to the southeast of Bankstown Airport as part of changes to the Sydney control zone.
The preferred design would see a section of airspace south of the Bankstown CTR reclassified to Class D between 1,000 ft and 1,500 ft AMSL, with a requirement for aircraft to carry a transponder. Within that airspace, a one-way, daytime-only VFR corridor would be established for outbound traffic.
The proposal follows an earlier 2024 consultation that suggested two one-way routes in Class G airspace, but raised concerns among industry about low-level operations, mid-air collision risk and potential airspace incursions.
In response, CASA has worked with Airservices Australia to revise the design, reducing the corridor to a single one-way route and introducing controlled Class D airspace to improve communication and traffic management.
An additional volume of Class G airspace would also be established further south, extending from the surface to 1,500 ft AMSL.
CASA said the updated design aims to address key safety concerns identified during the earlier consultation, including the risk of head-on collisions, which would be eliminated by the one-way design, and nose-to-tail conflicts, which would be managed procedurally by Bankstown Tower.
The proposal also aims to reduce the risk of airspace incursions by providing greater lateral separation and ensuring aircraft are operating within controlled airspace and communicating on the correct frequency.
The airspace surrounding Bankstown is used by a wide range of operators, including flying schools, charter, freight, recreational and emergency services, and has become increasingly congested, particularly to the north and west where current VFR entry and exit routes are located.
CASA said the introduction of Western Sydney International Airport has added further complexity to the airspace, increasing the need to review how traffic flows are managed.
Feedback from operators in the Sydney area will help determine whether the proposed design adequately addresses safety concerns and whether additional risks need to be considered.
If approved, the changes would initially be implemented via an AIP Supplement ahead of chart updates in the November AIRAC cycle.
CASA is inviting feedback through its consultation hub or via email, with submissions helping inform the next stage of the airspace change process.