Ballina-Byron Gateway Airport's Surveillance Flight Information Service (SFIS) became active yesterday.
Carriage of radio and traffic calls are now mandatory at Ballina.
The SFIS amalgamates Flight Information Services (FIS) in the surrounding Class G and Surveillance Information Service (SIS) to achieve what Airservices says will be an increase in safety.
A key aspect of SFIS is a Mandatory Broadcast Area (MBA) of dimensions specific to the airport it applies to, in the case of Ballina-Byron, 15 nm from the surface to 8500 AMSL with a cut-out to the west to remove Lismore from the zone.
All aircraft operating in the SFIS during the period 0800-1800 local will be advised of traffic whether the aircraft is VFR or IFR, but will not be cleared or sequenced into or through the area. Pilots retain responsibility for complying with CTAF and Class G rules and the information in ERSA.
Another SFIS is planned to be implemented at Mangalore on 9 September, but it is believed extensive consultation is still underway due to the amount of sport aviation activity captured within the proposed SFIS border.