High altitude operations broadly refers to operations above FL600 or altitudes greater than 60,000 feet above mean sea level.
Most aviation in Australia occurs below FL450 or 45,000 feet above mean sea level. In recent years, new entrants to the aviation sector have operated, or plan to operate, above FL600.
The type of operations includes:
- high-altitude pseudo-satellites (HAPS)
- high altitude long endurance (HALE) RPAS
- balloons
- supersonic and hypersonic aircraft.
These operations can either be:
- piloted
- highly automated
- autonomous.
These new operators above FL600 might not be compatible with existing airspace users. This means they may require a new form of air traffic management to ensure safe operations.
Research and development is underway for the design and production of supersonic airliners. This work is at an early stage. We expect deployment of supersonic airliners before the end of 2029 based on statements of intent by current proponents.
Activity status in the immediate to near term
We expect required workforce capability preparations from 2024 to support the start of policy work in early 2025, assuming proponents keep their timelines.
Activity status in the medium term
We expect policy work to continue into the medium term.
We expect rulemaking to take place during late 2027 through to late 2028.
We expect implementation activities to start in mid-2028, continuing through to deployment date in late 2029.
Activity status in the longer term
We expect to absorb safety regulatory activities related to high altitude operations into business-as-usual activities in the longer term.