Airspace around Ballina Byron Gateway Airport now includes Class D and Class C controlled airspace.
Air traffic control services operate daily from 7 am to 8 pm local time.
Before you fly in the Ballina region
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Check the updated airspace information
Review the updated:
- Gold Coast visual terminal chart (VTC)
- En Route Supplement Australia (ERSA)
- relevant Aeronautical Information Package (AIP) publications
- Learn where the new control zone and associated controlled airspace is, along with visual flight rules (VFR) approach points and checkpoints. Ensure you know how to use them.
- If you operate a drone, check a CASA-verified drone safety app before you fly. It shows where you can fly and if you need approval.
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Update your flight planning tools
- Update your electronic flight bag (EFB), charts, databases and any physical copies before you fly.
- Allow time for updates to sync and check they are available offline.
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Confirm transponder requirements
- Check your aircraft is equipped and you can operate the transponder before you fly around Ballina.
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Plan before your flight
- Check NOTAMs, AIP SUPs, AICs and Ballina aerodrome ERSA entry.
- Plan your correct route, altitude and radio calls.
- Know how to submit a flight plan or flight notification if operating in Class C or Class D airspace – you may be delayed in the air if you don’t do this before you fly.
Summary of changes
There is new controlled airspace around Ballina Byron Gateway airport.
Airspace changes
- Ballina control zone (CTR) is from surface to 1,500 ft, extending to 7 nm from the airport reference point (ARP) in line with runway directions and approximately 4 nm laterally, parallel to the runway.
- Class D airspace steps extend to 20 nm from Ballina and up to 4,500 ft.
- Class C airspace lower limit is 4,500 ft.
- Detailed information can be found in AIP Supplement H80/26.
Flight paths
- Six arrival flight paths (Standard Instrument Arrivals or STARs) and 3 departure flight paths (Standard Instrument Departures or SIDs) have been introduced.
- When the Evans Head military restricted area (RA) is active, flight paths through the RA cannot be used.
VFR approach points and check points
- New VFR approach points have been introduced: Abeam Suffolk Park (ASFK) and Newrybar (NEWB) from the north, Clunes (CLUN) and Wollongbar (WOBR) from the west, Coraki (CORK) and Broadwater (BROD) from the south.
- New VFR check points have been introduced: Lake Ainsworth (LAWT), Epic Farm (EPFM), Boral Quarries (BORQ), Breakwater (BRAK), Burns Point Ferry (BURN), Saltwater (SALT), Everlong (EVLO) and Dalwood (DALW).
Lismore Airport
- Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) at Lismore Airport have been introduced.
Provide feedback
We welcome feedback from pilots about your experience operating in airspace surrounding Ballina Airport.
Your feedback will help us understand the overall pilot experience, measure operational impacts, assess the effectiveness of the airspace and identify opportunities for improvement.
Provide your feedback through our Airspace insights form.
15 Sep 2026