Adelaide, Parafield and Edinburgh airfields are all in close proximity.

Generally controlled airspace is circular steps centred on Adelaide with Edinburgh military airspace embedded as a wedge to the north. Parafield Control Zone is between these two fields with VFR entry/exit routes to the east below controlled airspace steps and to the west below the controlled airspace steps along of the Edinburgh wedge.

RIS is available to the east of Adelaide/Parafield to 36NM on 130.45 subject to controller workload. This frequency is re-transmitted on 118.2 Adelaide Approach.

 

Where do VCAs occur around Adelaide?

Most Common

• Southern side of R265 Edinburgh CTR - pilots tracking to Parafield training areas / transit area must remain south of the Bolivar Strobe light and west of St Kilda not above A015 until past St Kilda to remain clear of controlled airspace.
  
• R295 (Port Wakefield firing area) - pilots must remain east of Port Wakefield road.
  
• R253 to the north of Edinburgh A035 to A065 active Weekdays H24 - a clearance is required and will normally be given subject military traffic and workload.
• East and north east of Parafield. When arriving or departing Parafield, aircraft must not operate above A015 without a clearance within the boundary of the Parafield CTR, then must remain at or below A025 when outside the Parafield control zone but inside the Adelaide 20DME step. Frequent RPT jet movements arriving at Adelaide descend to A030 in this area.
  

 

Recommended VFR routes clear of the Adelaide Control zone:

• From Parafield to the west or north west via St Kilda and Dublin or inbound from Dublin to River Mouth and Outer Harbor. Caution should be used as this route lies within the confines of the Parafield Training Areas.
  
• From Parafield to the east via Dam Wall and inbound from South Para to Sub Station.

 

Several Restricted/Danger Areas exist within the Adelaide area, some notable ones include:

• R295A Port Wakefield H24. R295B,C,D,E, & F activated by NOTAM.
  
• R265 A,B,C & D H24 + R253 W-H24 + R255 & R259 by NOTAM comprise Edinburgh military airspace. Clearances through this airspace are subject to military activity.
  
• The Adelaide Soaring Club based at Gawler obtains permission to use various portions of the Edinburgh airspace on most days. When this occurs NOTAMs are issued identifying the airspace affected and reducing the service from Class C to Class G. Although clearances are then not required, the airspace may be recalled for RAAF use at any time, or the gliding operations may cease, and Class C services will then resume. Even if NOTAMs have been issued, pilots must always check the airspace status with Adelaide Approach on 128.6 prior to entry.
  
• R298 near Outer Harbor based around Pelican Point Power Station exhaust towers.
  
• R261 North West of Adelaide active Weekdays- HJ Clearance is required at all levels.

 

Adelaide ATC provides radar services H24 to 36nm Adelaide and to the north in R265 to 50nm Adelaide. The area is divided into three Approach positions:

• Adelaide Approach West on 124.2

• Adelaide Approach East on 118.2 combined with RIS to the east on 130.45

• Adelaide Approach North on 128.6 and 306.3 for Military traffic in R265.

 

During quiet traffic periods positions are combined for controller rest/meal breaks with frequencies re-transmitted.

• Edinburgh Tower is open as per ERSA EDINBURGH – outside these times an CTAF(R) on 118.3

• Parafield Tower is open as per ERSA ADELAIDE/Parfield – outside these times an CTAF(R) on 118.7

If in doubt, ask ATC.

Remember that ATC is here to help you. If in doubt ask! A controller would much rather help you avoid a situation than have to help you get out of one. Controllers are there to keep everyone as safe as possible.