CASA's Office of Airspace Regulation (OAR) yesterday launched consultation over a proposal to remove Class E airspace over Avalon Airport and replace it with Class D.
The proposal follows an airspace review published in February 2020 that recommended an increased classification to replace the Class E, which doesn't require an airways clearance for transiting VFR aircraft.
The proposal will create Class D airspace from the surface to the base of the Class C at 4500 feet. Initially, the airspace review recommended upgrading Avalon to Class C.
"This proposed change will address the safety issues identified within the Airspace Review by optimising and enhancing the level of air traffic services provided at Avalon," OAR has said.
"We are seeking feedback to understand industry and community issues, observations or positions regarding the proposed airspace change."
According the February 2020 airspace review, extended CTA of either Class C or D was needed at Avalon because:
- safety would be enhanced
- the architecture would be more consistent with comparable towered airports
- Avalon ATC would have surveillance information
- Performance-based Navigation (PBN) principles could be implemented
- information in the Designated Airspace Handbook (DAH) contradicted the Avalon arrangements
- instrument flight procedures were not consistent with ICAO.
"This change is an interim step that is intended remain until further examination of the Avalon airspace architecture to align with PBN criteria has been completed," OAR states.
"Change to Avalon airspace is separate from expected airspace changes resulting from the new runway at Melbourne airport."
Removing the Class E would currently block recreational aircraft from flying through the Avalon airspace, although Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) has been in negotiation with CASA for their members to have access to CTA.
RAAus CEO Matt Bouttell told Australian Flying today that he was confident access will be granted in accordance with the Part 103 Manual of Standards (MOS), which would allow recreational pilots to access Class C and D with proper training.
When the airspace review was published in 2020, movements at Avalon Airport were nearly 10,000 per year. Since then, that figure has halved to under 5000. Currently, only Jetstar uses Avalon with new low-cost carrier Bonza to start later this year.
Avalon's only other tenant airline AirAsia recommenced international flights this year, but has started using Melbourne International instead.
Feedback to the proposal can be sent to the OAR via CASA's Consultation Hub. Consultation is open until 23 September.