Additional military operating areas introduced

Date

13 June 2024

Restricted areas (RAs) that lie outside (or near) the boundary of Australian territory at the following Defence bases have transitioned to MOAs:

Pearce
Stirling
Learmonth – Note that most RAs in this area transitioned on 13 June except for the R862AB series, which will transition on 28 November 2024.

A man rappelling from a helicopter, with both silhouetted against an orange sky, and the brown dirt beneath them

This follows changes to the Australian Airspace Regulations 2007 in November 2023 and the initial commencement of MOAs at Nowra, Williamtown, Cerberus, Edinburgh and East Sale. All other military RAs outside Australian territory will transition to MOAs on 28 November 2024. This will bring Australia in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements.

When seeking access to MOAs:

Australian aircraft must request an approval from the administering authority listed in the AIP and conditions of entry may be imposed.
Foreign registered aircraft can transit an MOA outside Australian territory without an approval. Within Australian territory an approval must be requested from the administering authority listed in the AIP, and conditions of entry may be imposed. It’s strongly recommended they comply with the requirements of MOAs as if they are an Australian aircraft.
Remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) and model aircraft (drones) must request an approval from the administering authority listed in the AIP and conditions of entry may be imposed. We recommend drone operators check the advisory message in a CASA-verified drone safety app.

Crewed and uncrewed aircraft operators should update their documentation to reflect the introduction of these MOAs.

All operators and pilots must review the Aeronautical Information Package (AIP) before planning a flight.

More information is available on our Extraterritorial airspace webpage. You can also watch our webinar on special use airspace to brush up on the rules.