CASA is seeking your comments on the draft airspace review of Ballina, New South Wales.
The review was conducted to assess current risks and propose solutions. The draft review has identified three areas of concern:
Nine recommendations to improve safety have been identified through stakeholder engagement and analysis. They are designed to adopt a graduated approach to reducing airspace risk at Ballina intended to build up to a controlled aerodrome service with an associated control zone and control area steps.
We are seeking your feedback on all aspects of the draft review, including the recommendations and timeframes.
Your feedback, together with other evidence and data, will help us continue working with stakeholders to finalise the best way to implement a graduated approach to improve safety and reduce risks.
The final timeframes will be influenced by your feedback and what is realistic for putting the final solutions in place.
The Office of Airspace Regulation applies a precautionary approach when conducting airspace reviews. The following recommendations are consistent with the CASA Board’s direction that aviation safety risks must be reduced to the lowest practical and proportionate level.
As part of our graduated approach, we have already introduced the first safety improvement measures (recommendations 1 and 2).
From 16 June new radio frequencies are being introduced to ease congestion and improve safety around Ballina, Lismore, Casino and Evans Head aerodromes. This was introduced early in response to industry feedback, including extensive engagement with stakeholders (such as local flying schools, aero clubs, airspace users, industry bodies) and a public consultation survey in November last year.
Documents for review
Please read the Draft Airspace Review of Ballina, NSW (May 2022) provided at the bottom of this page to help with your submission.
We want to hear from as many Ballina area airspace users as possible including local flying schools, aero clubs, operators and industry bodies.
We are seeking feedback on key elements of the graduated approach, including timing.
Your feedback will help us to finalise the Ballina airspace review including recommendations and timings.
Completing the survey
You can choose to comment on as many topics as you like. If you do not have enough time to complete the consultation in one go, don’t worry. You can save your input and come back later.
If you would like to provide further feedback, please email OAR@casa.gov.au. Feedback submitted by email will be considered but cannot be published publicly.
Further information about airspace regulation and the airspace change process is available on the CASA website.
What happens next
Once the consultation has closed, we will register and review each submission received through the online response form. We will make all submissions publicly available on the Consultation Hub, unless you request your submission remains confidential. We will also publish the final report and recommendations on our website.
Information about how we consult and how to make a confidential submission is available on the CASA website.
To be notified of any future consultations, subscribe to our consultation and rulemaking mailing list.
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