Proposed MOS and CAO changes for Class D CTA around Bankstown (CD 2611OS)
CAO transponder related amendments for flights of sport and recreation aircraft in Class D CTA around Bankstown
Policy
From 9 July 2026, VFR aircraft operating within the Class D control areas (CTA) above and surrounding Bankstown aerodrome (YSBK) must have and use an appropriate transponder. VFR aircraft operating solely within the Bankstown Class D control zone (CTR) will not be required to meet this requirement.
Background
Multiple sport and recreation aircraft CAOs continue to require transponder carriage and use in accordance with the pre-December 2021 CAO 20.18 but this old CAO does not include reference to the new airspace and cannot be amended to include the new airspace.
In May 2026, amendments were made to CAOs 95.10, 95.32 and 95.55 associated with implementing an ability for Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) pilots to fly in controlled airspace. These amendments already required compliance with certain Part 91 Manual of Standards transponder rules but did not encompass this new Sydney airspace.
Contemporary transponder requirements for the new airspace are, as outlined in this consultation, being added to table 26.68 (2) of the Part 91 MOS as a new table item 3A.
The following CAO 95 documents are proposed to be amended to require compliance for the new airspace with the transponder requirements in the new item 3A of table 26.68 (2) of the Part 91 MOS.
Table 1: Amendments to various CAO 95 documents
|
|
CAO |
Applicability |
Amendment |
|
1 |
95.4 |
Sailplanes and towing aircraft |
This proposed amendment only applies to sailplanes as the existing transponder requirements in this CAO also only apply to sailplanes. Towing aircraft which are VH registered are separately required to comply with the Part 91 MOS transponder equipment rules. This proposed amendment requires compliance with the transponder requirements of item 3A of table 26.68(2) of the Part 91 Manual of Standards for flight within the new Class D CTA airspace above and surrounding YSBK, while retaining CAO 20.18 transponder requirements for all other airspace. Unlike VH registered aircraft which are required to fit Mode S transponders to aircraft manufactured on or after 6 February 2014, or aircraft modified by having their transponder installation replaced on or after 6 February 2014, this amendment allows the fitment of Mode A/C transponders. |
|
2 |
95.10 |
Microlight aeroplanes |
This proposed amendment requires compliance with the added requirements of item 3A of Table 26.68(2) of the Part 91 Manual of Standards for flight within the new Class D CTA airspace above and surrounding YSBK. This amendment is integrated with other recent changes made to this CAO relating to pilots under this CAO accessing controlled airspace. For non-controlled airspace, the existing CAO 20.18 transponder requirements are retained. Unlike VH registered aircraft which are required to fit Mode S transponders to aircraft manufactured on or after 6 February 2014, or aircraft modified by having their transponder installation replaced on or after 6 February 2014, the May 2026 amendment, which works with this amendment, allows the fitment of Mode A/C transponders. |
|
3 |
95.12 |
Gyroplanes not exceeding 250 kg |
This proposed amendment requires compliance with the transponder requirements of item 3A of table 26.68(2) of the Part 91 Manual of Standards for flight within the new Class D CTA airspace above and surrounding YSBK, while retaining CAO 20.18 transponder requirements for all other airspace. |
|
4 |
95.12.1 |
LSA Gyroplanes and ASRA-compliant Gyroplanes |
This proposed amendment requires compliance with the transponder requirements of item 3A of table 26.68(2) of the Part 91 Manual of Standards for flight within the new Class D CTA airspace above and surrounding YSBK, while retaining CAO 20.18 transponder requirements for all other airspace. |
|
5 |
95.32 |
Powered Parachutes and Weight-shift-controlled Aeroplanes |
This proposed amendment requires compliance with the added requirements of item 3A of Table 26.68(2) of the Part 91 Manual of Standards for flight within the new Class D CTA airspace above and surrounding YSBK. This amendment is integrated with other recent changes made to this CAO relating to pilots under this CAO accessing controlled airspace. For non-controlled airspace, the existing CAO 20.18 transponder requirements are retained. Unlike VH registered aircraft which are required to fit Mode S transponders to aircraft manufactured on or after 6 February 2014, or aircraft modified by having their transponder installation replaced on or after 6 February 2014, the May 2026 amendment, which works with this amendment, allows the fitment of Mode A/C transponders. |
|
6 |
95.55 |
Certain Light Sport Aircraft, Lightweight Aeroplanes and Ultralight Aeroplanes |
This proposed amendment requires compliance with the added requirements of item 3A of Table 26.68(2) of the Part 91 Manual of Standards for flight within the new Class D CTA airspace above and surrounding YSBK. This amendment is integrated with other recent changes made to this CAO relating to pilots under this CAO accessing controlled airspace. For non-controlled airspace, the existing CAO 20.18 transponder requirements are retained. Unlike VH registered aircraft which are required to fit Mode S transponders to aircraft manufactured on or after 6 February 2014, or aircraft modified by having their transponder installation replaced on or after 6 February 2014, the May 2026 amendment, which works with this amendment, allows the fitment of Mode A/C transponders. |
These amendments are intended to impose the Part 91 MOS requirements, with slight amendments as outlined in the table above, for carriage of transponders for sport and recreational operations within the new Class D CTA airspace above and surrounding Bankstown aerodrome, which includes the relevant VFR routes.
Part 91 MOS, Table 26.68(2)
Associated links
AIP Australia FAC YSBK - Sydney/Bankstown – dated 9 July 2026
Sydney VTC chart - dated 9 July 2026