Office of Airspace Regulation
Airspace Change Process
The OAR has a process in place by which changes to the Australian Airspace Architecture are proposed, assessed and approved. This process is called the Airspace Change Process.
The proponent for any change should complete an Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) as the first step in requesting a change in airspace architecture. ACP forms are available here. Proponents must email or fax a completed ACP to the OAR. The OAR will acknowledge receipt of all ACPs. Contact details for the OAR are here.
A change to the airspace architecture will be undertaken in accordance with the Airspace Principles that are promulgated in the Airspace Change Manual published by the OAR.
Risk Assessment
The Australian Airspace Policy Statement (2007) refers to the Common Risk Management Framework for New and Changed Operational Requirements within Aviation (the Framework). The Framework, published in February 2007, was developed by the then Department of Transport and Regional Services (now the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government), the Department of Defence, Airservices Australia and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and provides a structured set of processes, techniques and reporting through which risks can be evaluated rigorously. The Australian Government aviation agencies would welcome comments at any time on the Framework. These may be sent to:
General Manager
Airspace Policy Branch
GPO Box 594
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Or emailed to: Airspace.reform@infrastructure.gov.au
Cost-Benefit Analysis
The Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) Methodology provides a set of practical instructions to assist with performing CBAs for the economic evaluation of airspace change proposals and other Australian Airspace Architecture proposals. The CBA Methodology has been prepared for CASA by Booz Allen Hamilton. The OAR will determine when an ACP proponent must provide a CBA.
The Standard Economic Values (SEV) Guidelines provide some standardised economic values for input into CBAs conducted for Australian ACPs and to make the process of undertaking a CBA as efficient as possible. The SEV Guidelines have been prepared for CASA by Booz Allen Hamilton. The SEV Guidelines provide information for over thirty different economic values that may be used in a CBA and should be read in conjunction with the CBA Methodology.
Information about ACPs currently being assessed
The OAR regularly publishes a list of Airspace Change Proposals under assessment. The latest version of the list was compiled on 12 November 2008.
The OAR determines, in conjunction with the proponent and on a case by case basis, the level of consultation for each proposal. For more information about an ACP, or to be included in the consultation process, please contact the OAR.
Airspace Legislative Instruments
Changes to the Australian Airspace Architecture, executed under the Airspace regulations, are 'law' under the Airspace Act 2007. The OAR is required to follow the registration requirements of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 (LIA) and the Legislative Instruments Regulations 2004 (LIR).
Some Legislative Instruments under the Airspace Act 2007 are required to be registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI). The FRLI is a comprehensive and authoritative repository of Commonwealth Legislative Instruments in electronic form. It also holds compilations of Legislative Instruments and explanatory statements for instruments made on or after 01 January 2005.
Copies of Legislative Instruments that do not require registration on the FRLI can be obtained by contacting the OAR.
Review of Airspace Change Decisions
Stakeholders may seek clarification or review of any airspace change decision by contacting the OAR.